Officials from Formula DRIFT have announced its 2023 schedule during a press conference at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The venues for the eight-round PRO Championship remain unchanged from 2022, with the PROSPEC Championship again to be decided at Utah Motorsports Park in Grantsville, Utah, and the PRO Championship culminating at its traditional Irwindale Speedway venue in Irwindale, California. The entire schedule is below. 

In addition, Formula DRIFT will celebrate its landmark 20th anniversary in 2023 with new initiatives.
 
One of the first significant changes is the removal of the 37 driver cap on both the PRO and PROSPEC Championships. This will allow more teams to enter the series but makes qualifying more crucial than ever, as only 32 drivers can compete in the head-to-head competition.

The PRO Prize Purse has also been increased with the payout per round doubled from the 2022 numbers. The 2023 PRO Champion will also receive $50,000 for their win. 

The new, official Formula DRIFT Podcast hosted by Jacob Gettins will allow fans to follow their favorite teams and drivers. 

Officials have also announced the creation of the Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame (FDHOF), a move that “signifies the maturity and longevity of the series.” The first inductees will be honored at the 2023 opening round in Long Beach. Each inductee will be awarded a unique FDHOF ring, which will be custom-made for the recipient and encrusted with diamonds and gemstones to a value of $10,000.

Furthermore, a Formula DRIFT monument will be erected in downtown Long Beach to commemorate the sport, and the name of each Hall of Fame inductee will be etched into the monument to preserve their part in history.

For more information, visit formulad.com. 

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced a five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into an “all-city” experience. Officially called SEMA Week, the expansion’s goal is to create the most passionate and exciting automotive event in the world. SEMA Week will kick off in 2023 with new concepts, activities, and events introduced over the five-year roll-out period.

SEMA Week will be headlined by the SEMA Show, which will remain a trade-only event Monday through Friday. On Friday, the final day of the SEMA Show, a limited number of enthusiasts will be able to attend the SEMA Show through the Friday Experience program, which launched at the 2021 SEMA Show. Beginning on Friday evening of SEMA Week, SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds through Saturday night with an all-new SEMA Fest.

“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.”

For 2023, SEMA Fest will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and be open to everyone, bringing together automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry in a high-octane and immersive festival-like celebration of car culture. SEMA Fest will feature top music and entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports. It will run alongside the popular SEMA Ignited Cruise and SEMA Show after-party, which draws thousands of enthusiasts on Friday night.

SEMA Week is also scheduled to include a SEMA Auction, featuring some of the best builds from SEMA and many more amazing vehicles to headline the festivities. SEMA will continue to expand and refine SEMA Week over the next five years, rolling out new events and activities throughout the city of Las Vegas. The evolution of SEMA Week preserves the trade aspects of the industry and business components of the SEMA Show, while enabling enthusiasts from all over to join in the festivities and enjoy car culture-focused events throughout the SEMA Week experience.

Additional details for the 2023 SEMA Show, SEMA Week, and SEMA Fest will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, visit sema.org. 

PRW Industries (PRW)—the designer and global manufacturer of racing and performance aftermarket engine parts and accessories in Perris, California—has announced Steve Whipple has joined the company as president and general manager.

Whipple brings over 40 years of experience in the industry. He most recently served as the director of Private Label New Markets at JEGS in Delaware, Ohio. Prior, he served as the vice president of Sales and Marketing at Edelbrock, now based in Olive Branch, Mississippi. 

Whipple is also current member of the SEMA Board of Directors and the Custom Automotive Network (CAN) Board of Directors. He previously served on SEMA’s Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC). 

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to lead PRW. The management team is highly experienced and... has the scope to roll out multiple new initiatives. The growth opportunity is tremendous and has a well-established foundation to launch into the future. [PRW Founder] Bill [McGloghlon] and his team have worked hard to get the company to this point,” said Whipple.

For more information, visit prw-usa.com.

The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series has a new final level: INDY NXT by Firestone. INDY NXT will feature a new generation of global racing talent, competing for podiums and the opportunity to join the NTT IndyCar Series.

The rebranded racing series, formerly known as Indy Lights, will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg and competing on a diverse set of ovals, road courses, and street circuits.

INDY NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience.

“Having been in the series previously, we know how important it is for the development of the next generation of drivers, and we are proud to support them again. INDY NXT provides opportunities for Firestone to engage with new audiences and develop and showcase our technology,” said Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports for Bridgestone Americas.

Starting with the 2022 season, IndyCar took over the management and operations of the developmental series. The launch of the new era included an enhanced collaborative partnership with the NTT IndyCar Series, featuring integration in paddock spaces, marketing, digital assets, and race officiating.       

The 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone championship will compete on the same tracks and weekends as the NTT IndyCar Series events.

For more information, visit indycar.com/indynxt.       

Officials with the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) have announced its 10th season schedule will feature eight points races for the 1/8-mile championship drag racing series.

Stops include GALOT Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina; Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Virginia; Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio; Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland; US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan; and Darlington Dragway in Hartsville, South Carolina. 

In addition to the eight points races, the 2023 PDRA schedule features the third annual Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars specialty race, set for July 21–22 at Virginia Motorsports Park. 

“I’m truly excited about the 10th Anniversary schedule in 2023 for the PDRA,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “...Marking the 10-year anniversary of the PDRA is an important milestone, and with the schedule line-up below, we feel it could be the most competitive and exciting season yet for our racers and fans.”

For more information, visit pdra660.com.

The United States Auto Club (USAC) has announced Tommie Estes as the new competition director for USAC Racing’s circle track division.

Estes will lead the USAC Silver Crown National Championship and serve as an advisor to USAC National Series Director Kirk Spridgeon, who will continue to oversee USAC’s AMSOIL National Sprint Car and NOS Energy Drink National Midget divisions. He will work directly with tracks and teams during a “time of resurgence” for the Silver Crown series.

Estes, a former sprint and midget racer, has previously served as the competition director for both the ASCS National Sprint Tour and the Chili Bowl Nationals. Estes also oversaw the racing operations at Dodge City Raceway Park in Dodge City, Kansas, for over 10 years.

“It’s a great asset to have someone to fully devote their time to the promoters, track, and competitor base to build up the momentum the Silver Crown series is experiencing,” Spridgeon said.

For more information, visit usacracing.com.

Phoenix native Latasha Causey has been named the new track president at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, ahead of this weekend’s NASCAR championship events in the desert. She will officially assume her new role on Monday, November 28. 

The longtime community development executive will become the first female Black track president in NASCAR history and the second woman to hold the position at Phoenix Raceway. She replaces Julie Giese, who will finish her term over the coming month before fully beginning her new position as track president of the new Chicago Street Course.

“I have been fortunate to call The Valley ‘home’ my entire life, and I could not be more grateful to become the next leader of Phoenix Raceway,” Causey said in a track release. 

Causey, who grew up in the West Valley, has been widely recognized for her substantial work in the Phoenix community and is also a founding member of the NASCAR Accelerators host committee. Established in 2020, the committee is comprised of recognized community and business leaders who serve as Arizona’s ambassadors for NASCAR.

In addition, in 2021, Causey was named one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona by AZ Big Media, and in 2018 the Phoenix Business Journal honored her as part of its Outstanding Women in Business Awards. She was also featured in Frontdoors Magazine for her philanthropic accomplishments in 2017.

For more information, visit phoenixraceway.com. 

Officials with the World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Models have announced that current Series Competition Director Steve Francis will take over as the new series director starting at the Sunshine Nationals on January 19–21. 

Casey Shuman will finish off his tenure as series director this weekend at the World of Outlaws World Finals, before taking on a new role as the general manager of I-70 Speedway in Odessa, Missouri. 

Francis, the 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Champion, was brought on as the Competition Director in August. Also a National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer, Francis is 10th all-time on the World of Outlaws wins list with 28 victories.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Francis said. “I’m fortunate enough that Brian (Carter) and World Racing Group gave me the opportunity to take the Late Model schedule and build it the way I would as a racer. And hopefully, the race teams respond.

“We’ve changed the purses and built them how I would as a racer. We put a lot of money toward the third through 13th-14th place positions. I’m just really pleased that they gave me the opportunity to do this and try to build purses and make many teams strong. I want us to have 12 strong teams.”

For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels.

The Wheel Group (TWG), a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, has announced that current board member Wade Kawasaki has agreed to expand his role to executive chairman.

Prior to joining TWG, Kawasaki served as the president and CEO of Legendary Companies, which grew under his leadership from Coker Tire into one of the largest collector car wheel/tire and restoration parts providers in the industry. Kawasaki, who is also currently the executive director of SEMA and PRI Political Action Committees, has also served as SEMA’s Chairman of the Board, was selected as SEMA’s Person of the Year, and in 2014 was inducted into SEMA’s Hall of Fame.

“Wade has an impressive history of strong leadership in the wheel and tire industry. We are very pleased to bring his long track record of success with auto aftermarket acquisitions, import/export, supply chain management, sales and marketing to TWG,” Wynnchurch Capital Managing Partner and TWG Board Member Frank Hayes said. 

For more information, visit thewheelgroup.com. 

RaceTec Pistons has been acquired by Taglich Private Equity. RaceTec joins the AFR, Scat Crankshafts, and Procar By Scat family of companies. 

The Huntington Beach, California-based piston manufacturing company was founded in 2007 by Wayne Brooks, a former owner of JE Pistons. Jeremy Gillum will retain his position as vice president of RaceTec Pistons. At the same time, its management team will also remain in place, along with its production facility and employees in Huntington Beach. 

"RaceTec Pistons has a fantastic brand, strong team, and an impressive legacy, which we are fortunate to add to our company. I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with and learn from Jeremy and the rest of the team," said Shawn Sterling, CEO of AFR and Scat. 

For more information, visit racetecpistons.com.