U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and 150 House Republican members sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging him to rescind the agency's proposed emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. PRI and SEMA thank Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers for her leadership in opposing the EPA's draft multipollutant rulemaking for model years 2027 through 2032 motor vehicles. If finalized, the EPA estimates the rule would lead to EVs making up two-thirds of new passenger vehicles sold in the United States by 2032. PRI and SEMA oppose the rulemaking, as consumers and the marketplace should be able to choose the vehicle technology that works best for them.  

Congressional Republican members have come out in strong opposition to the EPA's proposed rulemaking, as a supermajority of the House Republican Caucus signed Rep. McMorris Rodgers' letter opposing the EPA's effort to transition the U.S. motor vehicle fleet away from the internal combustion engine (ICE).  

PRI and SEMA oppose the EPA's rulemaking, as consumers and the marketplace should be able to choose the vehicle technology that works best for them. There are many options on the road to zero emissions; it is crucial for government policy to remain technology neutral. The specialty automotive aftermarket business has been built around the internal combustion engine, although the industry is leading the way in fuel innovations and conversions of old vehicles into new and cleaner technologies. Hydrogen and other renewable fuels, including synthetic eFuels, will allow legacy vehicles to operate in a carbon-neutral manner and should have an equal seat at the table. Ultimately, consumers, not the government, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves their families, as the market should drive fuel innovations. 

Recently, six SEMA members, along with SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola, testified before the EPA in opposition to the agency's recently proposed new federal emissions standards. PRI and SEMA encourage industry businesses to submit comments to the EPA opposing the proposal while highlighting both the importance of maintaining a technology-neutral approach to motor-vehicle technology and the adverse impacts on the rule would have on the future of the automotive industry.  

Click here to sign a letter opposing the EPA's proposal, which provides an opportunity to personalize the letter and explain how the agency's push to an all-electric future will impact your business.  

For more information, visit sema.org/EPA-Proposed-Greenhouse-Gas-Rules or contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org.

Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) has announced Deluxe Corporation has expanded the Porsche Deluxe female driver development program with two more drivers, Chloe Chambers and Madeline Stewart.

Chambers and Stewart are the recipients of the program's scholarship, which includes a full-season entry with Sabré Cook in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. Additionally, they each receive one set of Yokohama race tires each event weekend, as well as direct access to PMNA competition advisor and Porsche Junior Program North America driving coach Patrick Long.

"Programs like this really help to further my career in motorsport, and it is fantastic to see Porsche Motorsport North America, Yokohama and United States Auto Club (USAC) working so hard to support females climbing through the Porsche Pyramid," said Madeline Stewart, driver of the No. 282 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

"I have worked with Porsche Cars North America in the past with a Guinness World Record title achievement, but it is super cool now to be involved on the Motorsport side," said Chloe Chambers, driver of the No. 70 TPC Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

For more information, read the announcement here.

Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment

Longtime IndyCar crewmember Paul "Ziggy" Harcus of Andretti Autosport was awarded this year's Robin Miller Award. He was honored during a ceremony as part of the Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

"Ziggy, you are an institution. You've mentored so many people in our sport for so many years," said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment CEO. 

Harcus is the first Robin Miller Award winner that is not a media member. The award honors an "unheralded individual who has devoted a significant portion of their life to IndyCar racing while bringing unbridled passion and unrelenting work ethic to enrich the sport." 

The late motorsports journalist Miller received the inaugural award in 2019, followed by TV and radio sports announcer Bob Jenkins in 2021. Two IndyCar race team communications managers received the award last year: Judi Kouba of Chevrolet and the late T.E. McHale of Honda.

For more information, visit indycar.com.

Officials with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America have announced it raised more than $1.7 million following the 27th Anniversary Ride, which took place on April 29-May 5. Funds directly benefit Victory Junction, a camp in Randleman, North Carolina, serving children with chronic medical illnesses.

Former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty led more than 125 motorcycles across more than 1,500 miles across picturesque scenes in Utah and Nevada, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

The Ride's donation supports summer camperships, building projects and maintenance programs, including the upkeep of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Water Park.

Victory Junction has served as the Ride's primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $21 million for Victory Junction and other children's charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 115,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.

For more information, read the announcement here or visit kylepettycharityride.com and victoryjunction.org.

The Board of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has announced that Jamie Reigle will step down as CEO and will be replaced by Jeff Dodds on June 5.

Reigle has led Formula E over the last four years in partnership with founder and chairman Alejandro Agag. Reigle--who oversaw the introduction of a new sporting format, the launch of the GEN3 car and more--will move to an advisory role for the remainder of the season.

Dodds, meantime, joins from Virgin Media O2 and will lead the next phase of Formula E's growth as the first electric motorsport world championship and driving force behind sustainability in elite sport.

"I am pleased to welcome Jeff Dodds as Chief Executive Officer ahead of an exciting phase for Formula E as we build upon the success of Season 9," said Agag. "I would like to thank Jamie for his leadership over the last four years and welcome his support over the remainder of the season. I enjoyed partnering with Jamie to build upon my founding vision while reimagining the definition of success for Formula E."

For more information, visit the announcement here or visit fiaformulae.com. 

Brembo--the Italian designer and manufacturer of high-performance braking systems with a North American office in Plymouth, Michigan--has completed its latest plant expansion in Escobedo, in the State of Nuevo Léon, Mexico.

The 322,917-sq. ft. expansion doubles the facility's aluminum caliper production output, from foundry to manufacturing and assembly, creating 500 new jobs through 2027, the company stated. 

"The Escobedo plant expansion greatly increases Brembo's ability to serve our customers in North America," said Stéphane Rolland, Brembo North America president. 

In addition, Brembo announces plans to expand two of its global facilities, including its China brake system manufacturing plant in Nanjing. Part of the expansion will be the renewal of its research and development center there. Work is expected to begin in the second half of 2023 and to be completed by the first half of 2025.

Brembo also decided to invest in a cast iron foundry in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland, where it currently houses a facility for producing and selling brake discs for cars and commercial vehicles. The "investment will create the most innovative Brembo foundry at the global level, which will be endowed with cutting-edge technology, also in terms of sustainability," the company stated. The first pouring of the foundry is expected in the first half of 2025.

These projects are in addition to Brembo's acquisition of the Italian property at Kilometro Rosso, an innovation hub in Stezzano. It is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023, allowing the company to expand its headquarters in Italy.

Brembo is a longtime PRI Trade Show exhibitor. Registration opens for PRI 2023 in July. 

For more information on Brembo, visit brembo.com/en.

Power Automedia--the media and automotive digital publishing company based in Temecula, California--has announced three new sales and editorial hires. 

Sean Lea has joined as a business development associate. Lea had previously worked at SoundsFast and Dearborn Classics and was also the owner and operator of The FitGarage in Bend, Oregon.

Jennifer Petraitis also joins the company as a business development associate. She comes from Driven Lighting Group. As a SEMA committee member, Petraitis worked on the all-female Ford Bronco build.

Chris Friend, meanwhile, joins Power Automedia's YouTube and video content segment named Power + Performance. Friend is a content creator and social media manager with a background in photography, videography and video editing, and he comes from Group-A Engineering with experience in road racing, off-road and classic Mustangs.

For more information, visit powerautomedia.com.

Martin & Company--the full-service marketing solutions firm based in Whites Creek, Tennessee--has announced a special promotion for the company's 30th anniversary.

Established in 1993, Martin & Company is one of the leading agencies for the specialty performance aftermarket and has helped to grow some of the most iconic performance brands, including K&N, MAHLE Motorsport, American Powertrain, Rancho and Bridgestone.

In celebration of three decades of marketing expertise, Martin & Company is offering three companies the opportunity to have a free marketing consultation that can be used for a product launch or re-launch, website development, marketing audit, new market penetration or branding campaign. To apply for the consultation, fill out this form on the Martin & Company website.

Martin & Company will select three companies for the free marketing consultation by June 30, 2023. Winners will be notified via email and also announced on the Martin & Company Facebook page.

For more information, visit martincoadvertising.com.

Unser Racing Museum

The Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, have announced plans for a merger. As a result, the Unser Racing Museum will be relocated to Lincoln. 

"The Unser family is one of the most storied families in automotive and racing history," said Carson Smith, director of Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed. "We've had racing partnerships with members of the Unser family for over 38 years and are honored to welcome the Unser collection to our museum."

Displaying over 40 race, pace and Pikes Peak cars, original racing art, trophies and memorabilia, the Unser Museum was created to honor the history of one of the most legendary families in American motorsports. The Unser Racing Museum was founded in 2003 by Al and Susan Unser and has operated as a public, non-profit 501(c)3. 

The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed will honor existing Unser Racing Museum memberships and continue to showcase engraved brick sponsors in the new location. In addition, new Unser and Pikes Peak displays are also slated to be available for viewing in 2024.  

For more information, visit the announcement here or visit museumofamericanspeed.com.

Wilwood Engineering--the Camarillo, California-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance disc brakes and components--has announced the passing of Carl Bush, the longtime racing division representative for the company. He was 67.

Bush first joined Wilwood in 1998. Prior, he worked at AFCO Racing Products, where his brother, Mark Bush, helped found the company with Jim Scales.

"Carl Bush... represented Wilwood in the field for production and formula car road racing and other motorsports competition events. For 25 years, Carl was at a track, at a Show or on the other end of the phone to lend his expertise and wisdom and help customers with their braking needs," said a company release. 

"Carl was passionate about helping people with their vehicles, with a vast repository of practical and theoretical knowledge about cars and racing. At events, he would give his phone number and email to dozens of customers, insisting they contact him with specifics so he could better solve their problems. He was a longtime Corvette enthusiast with a deep trove of information on all eras of Chevrolet's sports cars. His passion for motorsports was only exceeded by his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When not rooting for his favorite teams or out on the road for Wilwood, Carl loved to fish, hunt and cook," the company release said.

For more information, visit wilwood.com.