Photo courtesy of Track First

In an age of advancing technology, doing business person-to-person may be viewed as outdated. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most effective methods of activating sales, especially at the race track.

In a world of Skype calls, Zoom meetings, Facebook pages, and Instagram Reels, there are more ways than ever for racing entrepreneurs to conduct business from afar. 

But for many of the most successful business owners in the performance industry, nothing beats personal relationships. That is why it’s still important for them to be at the race track to improve a company’s overall business strategy. 

It’s the personal interaction, the handshake, the looking a customer straight in the eye, and the real-time problem solving that can’t be beat in business.

“You keep in touch with your customers,” said Bernie Stuebgen of Indy Race Parts, Indianapolis, Indiana. “If they have a question or a parts failure, you are able to be there and understand what the issue is. It’s easier being at the race track to diagnose and help a customer or to see what the issue is as opposed to trying to watch it on the computer, or have him try and call you, or you get hearsay. It’s better to be in touch with them by being at the track.”

Stuebgen understands the importance of conducting business the old-school way. “I go around and call myself the mayor,” he said. “I shake hands and ask the customers how things are going and ask them if they are happy or whatnot. If they have any questions.

“We don’t have a parts truck that goes to the races, but we hand deliver lots of parts to the races when we go to watch,” he added.

In addition to owning and operating Indy Race Parts, Stuebgen also owns a race team and serves as the crew chief. In turn, that has helped him expand his retail business.

“We can try things on the car and see how they work,” Stuebgen said. “I’m a pretty open book. My wife gets mad at me. Whatever we do, whatever I try or whatever parts, I share that information with the customers.

“We’re really busy at the shop,” continued Stuebgen, “so I don’t get to race as much as the other guys, but we still race 30 times a year.”

Stuebgen’s job duties don’t stop there. He is also the co-promoter of Terre Haute Action Track, the half-mile dirt oval in Terre Haute, Indiana, so he is at all the races at that famed track.

Stuebgen cited several examples as to why it is important for him to be at the track as far as business is concerned. “You get to the race track and some customers might be customers of the competition, and they are not happy with their service,” he said. “I’ve gone to the races and ended up selling someone a couple of race cars.

“Being there to pick up someone else’s slack is a good thing,” he continued. “Being in the right place at the right time, that happens in everyday circumstances of living.”

He is always willing to share his expertise with racers, including new entrepreneurs, about what they should and shouldn’t do when conducting business at the track. “You should never criticize a customer on their performance,” Stuebgen said. “Always offer words of encouragement.”

Visible in Victory Lane

Larger companies, such as Rocket Chassis and Mark Richards Racing, Inc. in Shinnston, West Virginia, feature an elaborate and sophisticated website. But for Steve Baker, the importance of being at the track is one of the reasons Rocket Chassis has become the most successful dirt track car in racing.

In 1986, Richards and Baker started the business with the goal of producing the fastest dirt late models in the United States. Nearly 5,000 chassis later, Rocket Chassis has become the winningest dirt late model manufacturer in the world.

Baker has five people who travel to the tracks to conduct business. The company has 22 employees. “We are racers providing services for racers,” he explained. “They are local racers going out racing that represent our company.

“That’s our advertising,” he continued. “That’s how we advertise our product, being at the race track.”

He stressed, “You have to be visible.”

Nothing is more visible and validates a product better than winning. With all the success Rocket Chassis has enjoyed since 1986, it is the best way to market its products.

Proof in Action

The main focus of Wasted Diesel of Huntington, Indiana, “is diesel repair for pickup trucks with the pursuit of performance,” said Chris Hoffman. “We are pushing the performance side of it more and more as we grow.

“Being at the track is significant because it’s a proof of concept and proof of parts, proof that we know what we are doing and the parts work really well.”

With its location in the hotbed of racing in Indiana, Wasted Diesel can focus on both racing and tractor pulling, along with its street-based clientele. “We do a lot more with the street stuff, guys who want to play with their dailies,” Hoffman said. 

“I’ve been doing the diesel stuff 10 years now,” he continued. “I go to events, but it’s based on what my schedule allows me to get to. It’s been just a handful. I’m short-staffed and so busy that it makes it hard to get there and get everything together and ready for the track.”

Building Awareness

Track First in Richfield, Ohio, opened in 2013. The company sets up displays at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, better known as Pitt Race, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and at local drag strips, asphalt, and dirt tracks in the area.

The company is the official trackside support for the Northeast Great Lakes NASA tour. It specializes in safety apparel and other safety equipment for drivers and cars.

“It’s important to be at the track for awareness,” Sally Wadsworth said. “Our business grows through word-of-mouth from it. We’ve done Facebook and all the other social media, but being at the track, people are very grateful we are there. 

“It’s not something we sell a lot of things at. It’s awareness and helping the community,” she stressed.

It’s important for Wadsworth to take enough inventory to each race, predicting what parts may be needed for racers as well as keeping helmets, fluids, and the basic trackside essentials in stock. Her son deals with electronics and shoes. 

The display tent is a miniature version of their showroom. “We have samples where people come, they can get fit, and they can feel it,” Wadsworth said. “They can take it if we have it, but on the whole we dropship items. 

“Woody Hyman, in the MX5 Cup, we met him at an auto interest event at Mid-Ohio about seven years ago,” she continued. “We introduced him to NASA. He has since moved into endurance racing. He still comes back to us to get all of his safety equipment, and now he races MX5 Cup.”

Wadsworth looks for events that are most useful to grow the company’s customer base, such as NASA and SCCA competition, but not pro series racing. 

“My advice to other businesses is they should show they are there to help, rather than to just sell,” she said. “The motorsport community is one degree of separation, not six degrees. Everybody knows everybody. 

“Most people are very loyal and have a great experience from it. Most people return to us. We have a great return rate in our customers because they know we are authentic. We’re not just trying to sell them T-shirts and helmets,” Wadsworth added. 

Need to be Seen

Todd Sherrer of Everything Horsepower in Abercorn, Quebec, Canada, takes the “out of sight, out of mind” approach as a reason to be at the track. He realizes it’s important just to be seen at the races.

“It doesn’t take long for people to forget about you,” Sherrer explained. “It’s great exposure, especially if you can do something good while you are there. You become irrelevant quickly if you are not participating and showing your wares.” 

Sherrer has been in racing since 1984 and has operated out of his current shop since 1993. His role at the track is easy to explain. “We are racers, and we end up providing service,” he said. “A lot of clients bring our cars here [to the track]. We end up doing a lot of tuning and service at the track. People always need help with suspension and engine stuff.

“I’m the old-school guy. I stay with the carb stuff, and my son is the fuel-injection guy,” he continued. “We cover everybody. We do full service from chassis to engine shop, fab shop. We do the whole car. If somebody comes in with a blank slate, we’ll build them a car.

“We have a little bit of everything. The bulk of our work is the job somebody started and didn’t finish. That covers the gamut of people out there. 

“I wouldn’t say we have a majority of any one type of racing,” said Sherrer. “Any door car, we are all over the place. We do a lot of the small-tire stuff. I don’t think that makes us unique.”

Although Everything Horsepower began as a restoration and engine shop, its focus has evolved. “If I look at the shop right now,” Sherrer revealed, “it’s all race cars. It’s odd, but it gets us where we want to go.”

Sherrer’s main benefit of being at the track is picking up new work and meeting clientele. He doesn’t advertise, so the track exposure is crucial.

“People come to me for parts and tires,” he said. “That’s all track exposure, that’s the only advertising we are doing right now because we can’t keep up with everything. It’s 80% to 90% of what we do right now during the season.

“Being at the track is very important if you want to grow your business, especially in the racing venue. It’s everything.”

For Sherrer, it all started out just to have some fun racing. Then it grew into helping other racers. “Our race car is 100% built here,” he explained. “We always made it faster and faster because that is what we wanted to do. It has drawn a lot of attention, and we ended up building a clientele through that.

“We have a few customers that we babysit, for lack of a better word. Some of them really want you there to walk them through the weekend to get them from A to B. We’ve had good success with that, too. Once you win one event, they want you there every time.

“It’s fun,” Sherrer continued. “We like doing it. It’s not all building the business, it’s a personal passion thing for us, too.”

Sherrer is also a strong believer in professionalism, which should be a top priority for any trackside operation. “Don’t be unprofessional,” he stressed. “Don’t show up looking like a slob. Don’t take junk leaking all over the place to the track and make yourself look like you shouldn’t be there. If you are there representing yourself as a professional and a business, try to present yourself as a professional. That is the simplest piece of advice I can give anybody.”

Take Notes

Edward Bertram of K&E Sales in Clintonville, Wisconsin, has been in business for 22 years. He is the trackside parts supplier for two dirt oval tracks in Wisconsin—Outagamie Speedway in Seymour on Friday nights and Shawano Speedway in Shawano on Saturday nights.

He is the epitome of doing business the old-fashioned way. “If you don’t have a parts trailer and go to the race track, it’s difficult to let those people know about your company,” Bertram said. “Just because you have a Facebook page doesn’t mean they are going to see it.”

Bertram stocks tires, wheels, suspension parts, spindles, tie-rods, ball joints, tear-offs, radiators, fan belts, gaskets, as well as helmets and fire suits.

“You can’t really predict what is going to sell on a given night,” he said. “Anything can break, anybody can crash. A lot of times something never moves for months, but if you don’t have it, you can’t sell it.”

Bertram has plenty of small-ticket items, but with more than 100 cars at some of his races, by the end of the night he can easily have $3,000 or more in sales. “You could have 20 different people looking for little pieces,” he said.

Bertram believes loyalty and territory are important. He does not go to any other tracks that already have a parts vendor. He expects the same in return.

He also has one key bit of advice to anyone in the parts business that conducts business at the track. “The most important thing I think to anybody running a parts trailer is, every single item you sell goes on a notepad automatically,” he explained. “Whether you have three of them hanging on a wall or 10 of them hanging on the wall, if you sell one part number, you have to write that number down so when you come back on Monday, you have enough inventory back in the trailer.

“Too many parts guys tend to forget to jot down the part number,” he continued. “The next week when they go to the track and the guy wants to buy what they didn’t write down, guess what? They don’t have it.

“Also, pay attention to your customers. They will tell you what to put in,” Bertram added.

Meeting customers, forging relationships, shaking hands, and getting to know the client base may seem “old school” by today’s standards, but those business concepts have stood the test of time.

Sources

Everything Horsepower
facebook.com/everythinghorsepower/

Indy Race Parts
indyraceparts.com

K&E Sales
kandesales.net

Rocket Chassis
rocketchassis.com

Track First
track-first.com

Wasted Diesel
wasteddiesel.squarespace.com

This institution’s commitment to racing ranges from backing several teams to providing a suite of services that benefit motorsports businesses, all enhanced by its newly acquired status as a PRI Founding Member.

Business—any kind of business—is all about building alliances with prospective partners and securing the resources to meet laid-out goals. Nothing happens in racing, or anything else, without a proper foundation of financial strength. More than most lending and financial institutions, Fifth Third Bank, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a deep grounding in providing fiscal guidance not only to business partners in motorsports, but also to everyday customers who just happen to really like racing. At this bank, motorsports is more than just a marketing tool. 

“Because of the nature of our business, originating in the Midwest and being more than 160 years old, we’ve been assisting automotive or racing businesses for a long time, starting in Ohio and now in the Carolinas where a lot of NASCAR is rooted,” Fifth Third Senior Vice President David Morton said. “But we didn’t have a real focus around it with a motorsport practice like we do today until about 2010, when we started a banking relationship with what was then Roush Fenway. They ultimately moved their banking to us.”

It was the first step in a process that led to Fifth Third Bank becoming a lead sponsor on the No. 17 Ford Mustang driven by Chris Buescher of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing in the NASCAR Cup series. Fifth Third is now in its 11th year as a partner of RFK Racing. Based on that success, Fifth Third has since landed as a sponsor of Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s IndyCar program, and also backs the NHRA Top Fuel dragsters of Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon at Kalitta Motorsports. “It’s a business-development platform that’s unlike any I’ve seen,” said Morton. “It accelerates the sales cycle, and it makes us an authentic part of the motorsports community.”

Gaining that level of credibility and public acceptance in the racing world is what compelled Fifth Third—the name comes from the two predecessor banks that merged in 1871 to form it—to join forces with PRI and achieve Founding Member status.

“We’ve been involved with PRI for at least eight years now, and as far as being a Founding Member, it provides a meaningful platform for building meaningful relationships with key companies and decisionmakers outside of the PRI Show, including drivers, because the best way to help the industry is by building these relationships,” Morton explained. “Beyond that, we view it as a badge of relevancy and authenticity, which we’ve stepped up by being a Founding Member in support of racing.”

Motorsports is much more than advertising to Fifth Third Bank. It offers banking services directly aimed at racers, as Morton described: “Helping companies gain access to capital with financing or other means to grow their business is an important and valuable service. We also provide a range of solutions that enable companies to improve their efficiency and cashflow through better, smarter accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, including business credit cards and automated AP/AR systems. For businesses looking to expand their business through acquisitions or perhaps sell their business, we have robust capital-markets expertise, including access to our complimentary business transition advisory team to ensure business owners maximize their personal wealth upon the sale of their business.”

With a pandemic-upended global economy and the related, chronic supply issues, racing executives need partners to help them navigate the undulating fiscal landscape, something else Morton said is a Fifth Third specialty. “It all comes back to advice,” he said. “Over the past several years, we certainly helped thousands and thousands of small businesses survive by helping them navigate the Paycheck Protection Plan loan process. More recently, higher interest rates, supply-chain issues, rising costs, and labor shortages have been top of mind for most businesses, including racers. We are addressing this for our clients with creative solutions from asset-based lending to offset higher inventory levels, to supply-chain financing to ease cashflow, and to interest-rate hedging to better manage risks during a rising rate environment.”

Morton said that some Fifth Third customers are pulling back on borrowing, but he added that this offers opportunities in areas such as foreign exchange and commodity hedging as buffers against rising interest rates. “We also believe that now is the time to invest in ourselves to benefit our clients long term, including being well-capitalized while also making smart investments in technology to provide an even better customer experience.”

Fifth Third has given back to motorsports consistently, through philanthropic giving including Speedway Children’s Charities, the NASCAR Foundation, Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Motor Racing Outreach, and the North Carolina Motorsports Association, on whose board it has served for 10 years. Fifth Third also regularly provides complimentary financial education courses for racers. Mergers and acquisitions are expected to remain strong as aging business owners cash out, and outsiders represent today’s new infusions of capital. The trend toward electrification will benefit racers who move first to embrace it, he predicted. 

All of this leads Morton to express confidence that despite some current rockiness, racing will ultimately thrive. “During COVID-19, racing thrived, bringing new fans into our sport,” he said. 

“NASCAR, with the Next Gen car and new tracks, has had some of its best racing ever. Fueled by Roger Penske’s vision and passion, IndyCar is poised to reach a new high,” Morton predicted. “New teams in NHRA are bringing excitement to the series, challenging the proven titans of the sport. And the heart and soul of motorsports, grassroots/short-track racing, has been amazing with great racing and fan enthusiasm.”

 

SCORE’s new marketing sales manager is plotting a course to expand the sport’s reach to a wider audience while building new opportunities for manufacturers and fans.

 

Kurt Miller recalled the pivotal event that helped spur his career in off-road racing when he was in his early 20s.

“It was just a lucky break,” he said. “My father lived across the street from off-road motorsports legend Mike Thomas of Chenowth Racing in La Mesa, California. Mike was an exceptional man, and he introduced me to many prominent racers, sponsors, and builders in the mid-1980s. He provided me a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity.”

That opportunity, Miller explained, gave him unique insight into the time commitment, planning, strategy sessions, and engineering required to succeed in the brutal Baja environment. “After experiencing the people and beauty of Mexico, and talking with racing icons like Ivan Stewart, Bob Gordon, and Walker Evans, I was addicted to off-road racing,” he added.

Fate stepped in again when Mickey Thompson offered Miller a position in his tire company, where he stayed 17 years. “That position helped to open doors within the industry. After Mickey created SCORE International with Sal Fish in 1973, he dreamed of filling stadiums across America with side-by-side short-course racing. That convinced me he could bring the exhilaration of desert racing to the masses. The MTEG Series generated significant network TV and media exposure, which drew celebrities and racers from other motorsports and was foundational to today’s popularity and growth of off-road racing.”

Miller recently shared with us his goals and plans for his new role.

PRI: Have you been a racer yourself?

Miller: During my time at MT Tires, I first co-drove with a team we sponsored in Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts (SNORE), LaRana Desert Racing and MDR, and then later as a driver, in a Class 7 2WD Ford Ranger. I also raced as part of the classic Dirt Sports Magazine Class 11 Volkswagen “Das Elf” team in a vintage NORRA (National Off Road Racing Association) race. Aside from potential future Wide Open Baja trips with SCORE Journal clients and advertisers, my racing days are likely behind me, but not the memories.

PRI: What are you most looking forward to in this new role?

Miller: Sharing the vibe of Baja California, Mexico, and the community lifestyle of off-roading with new readers and fans of SCORE Journal. Also, showcasing the innovative products readers can use to equip their daily drivers and recreational rigs with Baja-proven products.

PRI: Describe the enthusiasm you have for off-road racing, and why it is unlike any other sport.

Miller: Baja is so unpredictable that just completing the quest is often the goal. You can find a comfort zone and a budget range to compete—from a motorcycle, UTV, Trophy Truck, or maybe join a chase team, or follow the live tracking experience during the race.

PRI: Does off-road racing offer any specific marketing challenges, and if so, how do you plan to address and overcome those?

Miller: Yes, starting with the logistics of capturing a race spread over hundreds of miles, with numerous classes and countless evolving variables is a massive undertaking. SCORE has had almost 50 years to refine the process but has recently used technological advancements to take coverage to new levels. Live tracking and live streaming options put the entire race course within the scope of coverage, and the levels of photography, video, drone footage, and satellite uplinks have also progressed to unprecedented levels. These advances afford manufacturers and advertisers new opportunities to see their products and sponsored teams in action while branding to a global audience. I hope to work with new companies to harness this reach and excitement.

PRI: What are your near-term and long-term goals in this position?

Miller: With the record growth of overall race entries across the spectrum, from UTV classes to record numbers of entries in Trophy Trucks and TT Legends, I want to reach a younger audience of future buyers and make a new generation familiar with manufacturers’ offerings. Utilizing the newest technology, I hope to modernize and expand the methods and toolbox available to help advertisers customize campaigns capable of achieving these goals.

PRI: What is one professional or personal accomplishment you are most proud of?

Miller: Having been a part of Dirt Sports Magazine from its inception, I enjoyed showcasing the full spectrum of racing from the drawing board to the pits to the podium. I’m also proud to have delivered motorsports coverage and built excitement and fans for more than a decade.

PRI: What is a mistake you’ve learned from?

Miller: I’ve had a few setbacks, so I try to live by pro hockey player Wayne Gretzky’s philosophy, which is, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” So, don’t be afraid to get beyond your comfort zone, but don’t get too comfortable either.

PRI: Who do you look up to, and why?

Miller: I’ve had lots of influences. America’s founding fathers and pioneers were inspiring to me.

PRI: What non-fiction book has been most influential on you and why?

Miller: The Bible. It shows mankind’s warts and all, but it still offers hope.

PRI: Excluding your cellphone/tablet/computer, what’s one thing you can’t live without?

Miller: Family time.

Kurt Miller

Title:
Marketing Sales Manager

Organization:
SCORE International

Hometown:
Vista, California

Fast Fact:
When he’s not immersed in following off-road racing, Miller said he loves watching baseball and surfing, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.

 

While the two machines are very similar, the downforce offered by winged sprint cars necessitates a unique approach to racecraft, setup, and technique. But for many racers, the choice between the two often comes down to driver preference and where the opportunities exist.

 

Non-Winged Sprint Cars:

Justin Grant,
USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car Racer

I started out racing midgets in California, and then I moved to Indiana to crew for a team for a year or so before I was able to get into a non-wing sprint car. I ran at a lot of local Indiana tracks for a while, and 2017 was the first year I followed the whole USAC schedule. Growing up in Northern California, which is kind of winged sprint car country, I remember watching the Sprint Week DVDs back in the day and thinking that the non-wing sprint cars were really cool. I always liked the wild nature they have. They’re rowdy, and they spend a lot of time going sideways. That was exciting to me—it has sort of an ‘X-Games’ factor built into it. But I like sprint cars in general, and what ultimately drew me toward non-wing cars is that it’s simply where the opportunities presented themselves.

For a time, I think that the non-wing racing was more fun to watch because there was more opportunity for passing, but the winged cars have started to catch up in that regard in recent years. Still, the lack of a wing on these cars changes things up significantly in terms of both driving technique and car setup, which is interesting in and of itself. I think that at times the lack of stability in these cars requires a little more of the driver to get the job done, whereas things are happening so fast with the winged cars that it’s more about the ability to react and quickly make decisions. Although the non-wing cars are less stable and a bit sketchier in turns, things are happening at a slower rate, and that allows you to be more deliberate about strategy.

In a non-wing sprint car you can also run right on the back of a guy, but with the winged sprint cars you have to worry about your position relative to the other cars on track and how that’s going to affect the air that’s getting to you. With a non-wing car that’s not really a factor—the air doesn’t really have any effect on how fast the car is going to run or how much grip you have. That opens up your options a little bit more. Instead of being concerned about downforce, in a non-wing car you’re really more concerned about finding moisture on the track to maintain those grip levels. Conditions change as the cars are running, so you spend more time searching for what’s left of the race track. You’re always looking for some moisture for your tires in the non-wing cars. With a wing car you can just get grip with more mph—the faster you go, the more downforce the wing generates.

The lack of downforce on non-wing cars means that the approach to setup is pretty different, too. We set our cars a lot lower in the back, so our left rear corner sits a lot closer to the ground. Our right-side tires are also a lot further out because that exaggerated offset adds some stability to the car. We’re basically trying to create the same attitude of the winged sprint cars without the downforce, so we’ll run a lot more rebound in our left-rear shock just to try and hold that corner down.

I came up through quarter-midgets and outlaw karts, and I’ve noticed that the kids who are coming out of the 600cc micro sprints are switched on really quick. But I don’t know if there’s anything that can truly prep you for the way that you need to drive non-wing sprint cars. You’re so sideways in these things, and you have to really bend the car around to get it into a corner. In most everything else you’re leading with the front tires. With a non-wing sprint car, you’re basically steering with the throttle.

Winged Sprint Cars:

Geoff Dodge,
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Racer

I started off in karting, and early on I was mostly focused on road racing. I had ambitions of going to Indy, but the budget was not going to allow for it, so I got to a point where I couldn’t take the next step and I had to make a decision. My dad was a sprint car racer and I grew up around it, so I naturally gravitated in that direction at that point. At the time there was still a decent number of car owners in the game, and I felt like there might be an opportunity to get hired to drive someone’s race car. I started in winged 360s back in 2003, and by 2005, someone put me in their race car, which gave me my first shot at winged 410 racing. In 2007, I also did some 410 non-wing racing. While I like both winged and non-winged cars, I was more competitive in the winged cars, and I enjoyed it a little more.

When I got into sprint cars, I wanted to stand on the gas and go as fast as I could, and the non-winged cars feel kind of slow by comparison. The World of Outlaws is also just the greatest show on dirt, and part of the allure was the big names, the big purses, and being on the road. All of that sounded pretty cool as a young kid. Watching my dad race winged sprint cars locally was a major factor, too.

Ultimately winged sprint cars are capable of doing things that a non-winged sprint car just can’t do. You’ve got more downforce at 100 mph than the car itself weighs, and that has a profound effect on the car’s behavior at speed. In a winged sprint car you not only have the grip levels of different tracks and the things you can do based on those conditions, but you also have an added
layer of aerodynamic grip based on setup and what the other cars around you are doing. It brings another level of complexity to the racing. A non-winged sprint car is probably a little bit harder to get around the race track, but a winged sprint car is harder to be truly competitive in. It takes a lot longer to get good with these cars.

Winged cars also require a very different approach to setup because the ride height changes significantly at speed, whereas a non-wing sprint car doesn’t have something pushing down on it more and more the faster you go. That said, I think the most important thing is to give the driver the feel they need to drive the car as hard as it needs to be driven to win. You don’t see everybody doing the exact same tricks on their cars—it’s really just about giving the driver the confidence to drive wide open into a corner. More speed equals more grip here.

Because of that, I also think it’s really important to build a strong relationship with whoever is doing your engines. In winged sprint car racing the faster you go, the better the car works. So if you don’t have your engine running hard, you can’t really begin to work on the rest of the car. If you find another 2 mph of straightaway speed, you might discover that it fixes that handling problem you were chasing. But for the aero to work right, the engine needs to work right, too. Winged sprint cars are more competitive than ever now, and small things can be the difference between success and failure. 

As the ultimate marketplace for go-fast parts and solutions, PRI provides attendees and media with unparalleled access to over 1,000 of the industry’s leading manufacturers and service providers. Among the Trade Show’s aisles of innovative products, tools, machinery and gear, buyers will also find dozens of first-time exhibitors showcasing a bevy of never-before-seen offerings, from transmissions to motor oils, parts washers, stud kits, engine stands, and so much more.

* List and booth numbers current as of August 31

ACME Trading

Booth 4448

acmediecast.com

Diecast Replicas of Sprint Cars & Race Car

--

Aero Exhaust

Booth 4451

aeroexhaust.com

Performance Mufflers & Exhaust Systems

--

Affordable Fuel Injection Inc

Booth 2212

affordable-fuel-injection.com

LS & Ecotec Harnesses, TBI EFI Superchargers

--

Allstate Carburetor

Booth 2010

allcarbs.com

Carburetor, Carburetor Parts, Fuel Pump

--

American Flat Track

Booth 7009

americanflattrack.com

Race Motorcycles, Lounge Area & Giveaways

--

Autotuner

Booth 2605

autotuner-tool.com

ECU Reading/Writing Tool 

--

Black Belt Racing

Booth 1837

blackbeltracing.com

Plastic Wheel Covers, Washers RR Breakaway

--

Boss One Media LLC

Booth 7192

boss1media.com

Media Production & Live Events

--

Carr Lane Manufacturing

Booth 3728

carrlane.com

Toggle Clamps, Ball Lock Pins, Hand Knobs

--

Carter Bearings

Booth 7049

carterbearings.co.uk

Monoball Bearings, Rod Ends & Bearing Tools

--

Click Bond

Booth 2108

clickbond.com

Adhesive-Bonded Assembly Fasteners

Defiant Metal

Booth 5438

defiantmetal.com

Welding Glove, Sleeves, Welding Kits

--

Dirtwrap

Booth 1241

dirtwrap.com

Race Car Decals, Wraps

--

Ecoroll Corporation Tool Technology

Booth 5614

ecoroll.com

Roller Burnishing Tools

--

 

EcuFast

Booth 3426

ecufastusa.com

ECU Tuning Company

--

Eddie Motorsports

Booth 2241

eddiemotorsports.com

Pulley Kits, Hood Hingers, Billet Accessories

--

Exergy Performance

Booth 7178

exergyengineering.com

Diesel Fuel Injectors & Pumps

--

First Brands Group

Booth 3557

firstbrandsgroup.com

Brakes, Rotors, Spark Plugs, Oil Filters

--

FMB Machine

Booth 5059

fmbmachine.com

CNC Tooling Racks for Engine Builder’s Shop

--

Foggit

Booth 2038

foggit.com

Fogging Oil, Protects Against Rust Formation

 

Fuel Factory

Booth 2943

fuelfactoryusa.com

Race & Performance Fuel

--

Full Race Motorsports

Booth 2033

full-race.com

Turbochargers, Exhaust Manifolds, Engines

--

Gladiator Parts Washers

Booth 5311

arnoldmachine.com

Gladiator FRT + Gladiator TRT Parts Washers

--

Grannas Racing

Booth 3327

grannasracing.com

Bellhousings, IRS Rear Ends, Transmissions

--

Grex Airbrush

Booth 5417

grexairbrush.com

Airbrush, Spray Gun, Orbital Tools

--

Heritage-Crystal Clean

Booth 5555

crystal-clean.com

Parts Washer

ICT Billet

Booth 2704

ictbillet.com

LS Engine Swap Components, Etc.

--

Ignite Industrial Technologies

Booth 5536

ignitecleaners.com

Parts Washers & Degreasers

--

International Lubricants Inc - Stellar Automotive Group

Booth 2604

lubegard.com

Automatic Transmissions, Parts & Fluids

--

Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales

Booth 8327

jasondietschtrailersales.com

Custom Aluminum Race Trailer & Toterhome

--

Kaiser Manufacturing

Booth 2911

kaisermanufacturing.com

Kaizen Shadow Foam for Tool Organization

--

KNKUT

Booth 5608

knkut.com

US-Made Drill Bits & Cutting Tools

--

KORE Software

Booth 4831

koresoftware.com

Sponsorship Software

--

Lafrance Performance

Booth 2904

lafranceperformance.com

“Fuel Sider,” Carb Spacers, Engines

--

Longhorn Fab Shop

Booth 5236

longhornfabshop.com

Rotating Engine Stands

--

MAREDUTTI Motorsports Clothing

Booth 1336

maredutti.us

Polos Shirts, Jerseys, Caps, Accessories

--

Maven Performance Products

Booth 4707

mavenspeed.com

Turbo Mounts, Ignition Coil Mounts, Elec. Connector

--

MAXX-D Trailers

Booth 8626

maxxdtrailers.com

TTX 36, N6X 24’, A6X 24’

 

ME Racing Service AB

Booth 7166

meracing.com

Multi-jig, Docol Tube R8

 

Mecka Inc

Booth 2845

mecka.com

An Automated Cloud-Based eBusiness Platform

--

Melin Tool Company

Booth 5415

melintool.com

Endmills, Drills, Custom Tooling

--

Mercedes Benz Grand Prix Applied Science

Booth 3912

mercedesamgf1.com

Engineering Services

--

MME Motorsport

Booth 3028

mme-motorsport.com

Paddle Shifting Components

--

Mo-Kan Dragway

Booth 2409

mokandragway.com

Drag Race Timing System Equipment

--

Monit Motorsport

Booth 4043

monitmotorsport.com

Brake Bias Adjusters and Rally Tripmeters

--

Motive Components Ltd

Booth 3308

motivecomponents.co.uk

Engine Components & Bespoke Range

 

Neat Gearboxes

Booth 2328

neatgearboxes.com.au

Gears, Shafts, Axles, Splined Couplers

--

Orthene

Booth 236

orthene.co.uk

Brake Fluid

--

P1 Manufacturing

Booth 1936

p1mfg.com

Performance Fasteners & Engineering Services

 

PMAS Technologies

Booth 3231

pmas-maf.com

Performance MAF Sensors & Air Intakes

 

Pro Spot International

Booth 5659

prospot.com

Welders, Rivet Guns, Dent Repair, & Sanding

--

Progression Ignition

Booth 641

progressionignition.com

Distributors

--

Pure Drivetrain Solutions

Booth 4551

puredrivetrainsolutions.com

Transmissions, Torque Converts, DCT

 

QMP Racing

Booth 5716

qmpracing.com

Measuring Equipment

 

Race Face Brand Development

Booth 7007

racefacebranddevelopment.com

Marketing & Branding Digital Trading Cards

--

RaceTrack Connection

Booth 3448

racetrackconnection.com

Free Racing App

--

rusEFI LLC

Booth 1539

rusefi.com

microRusEFI, Proteus, hellen121nissan

 

SimsByRacers.com

Booth 2810

simsbyracers.com

Custom Racing Simulators & Driver Coaching

 

Slade Precision Shocks

Booth 4806

sladeshocktechnology.com

High Performance Shocks & Accessories

--

SoundGear

Booth 2338

soundgear.com

Custom Race Receivers & Hearing Protection

 

Spring Mountain Motor Resort
and Country Club

Booth 3042

racespringmountain.com

New Race Track

 

Star CNC Machine Tool Corp

Booth 5540

starcnc.com

Swiss CNC Machine Tool Builder

--

Steering Buddy

Booth 3210

steeringbuddy.com

Steering Buddy Dirt & Asphalt Version

--

Sunshine Metals

Booth 4249

sunshinemetals.com

CNC Machined Parts

--

Surge Industrial

Booth 1908

surgeindustrial.com

Surge Industrial Branded Products & HOCL

 

 

THG Automation

Booth 5718

thgautomation.com

Robotic Welding System

--

Titan 7 Wheels

Booth 2924

titan-7.com

Racing Wheels, Racing Wheel Accessories

--

Total Transmissions Chicago

Booth 3224

totaltransmissions.com

Automatic Transmission Hard Parts

 

 

Track Yard Agency

Booth 2820

trackyardagency.com

Brochures & Monitors Displaying Websites

--

Trackside Systems

Booth 7003

tracksideapp.com

Racing POS, Online Ticketing, WiFi Systems

 

 

 

 

Trailer Capital USA

Booth 8618

trailercapitalusa.com

Enclosed Race Trailers

--

Trensor - 3FP

Booth 3142

trensor.com

Pressure Sensors, Switches, Actuators

--

TriboDyn Lubricants

Booth 3024

tribodyn.com

TriboDyn Motor & Gear Oils, Greases & ATF

 

 

TSS - The Sponsorship Seminar

Booth 3408

Printed Literature

--

Turbo Time USA

Booth 3747

turbotimeusa.com

Turbo, Solenoid, Spectrum, Gauges

--

WDIFL

Booth 1742

wediditforlove.com

Nostalgic Drag Racing Photos

--

Xcentrick Innovations Ltd

Booth 2873

xcentrickinn.com

Supercharged FI, Manifolds, TBs & Demo

--

Yarde Metals Inc

Booth 5132

yarde.com

Metals, Processing

Expect more of what makes the annual PRI Trade Show so special—over 1,000 exhibitors displaying advanced motorsports technology, parts, and services—plus, new developments and expanded sections that will keep you busy all three Show days!

This year’s edition of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show is a can’t-miss event for anyone in the business of motorsports. Slated for December 8–10 at the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) and Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, this mega-event is where more than 1,000 companies will showcase their latest products, services, machinery, technology, vehicles, and trailers to attendees from all 50 states and around the world. 

Moving through the Trade Show aisles are members of professional race teams, retailers, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers, and media members—all on the lookout for what’s innovative and new to market. Because Indianapolis is centrally located, the Show’s travel costs are mitigated for thousands of attendees and exhibitors who are within a few hours’ drive. And, since most racing series aren’t in action in December, it’s also the perfect time to network and learn new tricks of the trade that will help attendees go faster, work smarter, or make more money in the new year.

All forms of motorsports are represented at PRI, including drag racing, short track, road racing, stock car, off-road, endurance, karting, truck and tractor pulling, performance marine, and more. 

Plus, a slate of high-level conferences and a broad-based education program encompassing three separate learning tracks provide further value for buyers, media, and others who descend on Indianapolis each December for the PRI Show.

New, Expanded Features

One big change in 2022 is that all PRI Trade Show attendees must now be members of PRI. Costs range from $40 (Pro Member) to $250 (Champion Member) annually for individuals. And each level comes with different benefits. PRI Membership is open to everyone, including racers, service providers, and now even fans. However, all PRI Trade Show attendees still must qualify to be admitted into the Show.

Why is this necessary? Racing is a very fragmented sport, and we live in an increasingly complex society. New environmental regulations pose significant challenges to the sport. And PRI as an organization that unites the industry, helping it adapt to change and advocating on its behalf. It provides support for race tracks to prevent them from closing; it lobbies for the racing community’s interests against legal threats; and its educational programs help racing businesses and racers succeed. 

The Show’s membership requirement is a direct reaction to threats facing the racing industry. And under the PRI Membership brand, the organization is working to build, protect, and promote the racing community. 

In addition, PRI Members are eligible to join the Performance Racing Political Action Committee (PAC). This is the industry’s central location to lobby lawmakers and work to protect motorsports at the local, state, and federal levels. 

A group of enthusiasts banding together to advocate for its interests is not new. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), for example, when founded in 1951, was not a drag racing organization, but rather one devoted to supporting hot rod hobbyists and clubs. It also sought to burnish the reputation of hot rodders who were being unfairly treated in the press.

“Race tracks, race teams, and motorsports businesses are facing unprecedented challenges,” said Jules Bush, PRI Membership marketing and communications manager. “PRI Membership was created in 2021 to unite the racing community and help build, promote, and protect the industry. Membership allows PRI to support race tracks, sponsor race events, help businesses, and contribute to legislators that support those issues that matter most to our industry. 

Among PRI Membership’s recent activities:

• Educating and hosting lawmakers at race-related businesses
• Promoting the RPM Act and Save Our Racecars initiative at race events
• Participating in motorsports industry events in key states
• Creating tools that have generated more than 1.5 million letters supporting the RPM Act in Congress
• Developing and sharing captivating content featuring race-related businesses with millions of fans throughout the world
• Opening the PRI Membership headquarters to provide members with a central hub to gather in the racing capital of the world, Indianapolis

In the future, PRI’s membership headquarters will also host automotive events on a regular basis and further amplify the fun and excitement of the racing industry by generating additional innovative content.

To become a PRI Member, visit performanceracing.com/membership.

Another platform the PRI Trade Show will showcase in 2022 is the growing electric vehicles (EVs) market. Resist it or embrace it, EVs are in our future, and the PRI Show and its partners aim to help educate and inform racers on the opportunities that exist in this emerging space.

“It’s coming, and it’s going to create some interesting scenarios,” said Chet Christner, who compiled a video on EVs he saw at last year’s PRI Show for FloRacing. His video included some action footage of a prototype electric midget. Like other EVs it was extremely quiet, which would drastically cut down noise complaints from residents who live near race tracks. 

“Think about it,” Christner said in the video. “It’s a vehicle that has maximum torque from a dead stop, doesn’t need to be push-started, has an engine life expectancy of more than 20 years with no maintenance, and it burns no fuel so there are no fumes to contend with at an indoor event…. We are already running crate engines in sprints, Late Models, and modifieds, so how big of a stretch is it to go from a crate engine to a crate motor?”

The PRI Show’s EV Zone, which debuted in 2021, will occupy more space in 2022 to showcase the role of EVs in the sport today and going forward. In addition, at press time six seminars on the EV movement are planned as part of the PRI Education lineup, which also offers sessions on business and tech topics.

Seminars relating to EVs include an all-star panel featuring record-breaking EV drag racer Steve Huff of Huff Motorsports, John Metric of Lonestar EV Performance, Farmtruck and AZN from Street Outlaws, and others examining advances in EV performance and engineering, and how EV trailblazers are pushing the envelope and breaking records.

Other sessions in the EV space will cover computer modeling tools that are readily available to simulate hybrid or full-electric race cars and hot rods; the business opportunities and profit potential within the EV conversion and motorsports markets; the basics of getting the wheels spinning on an EV system, what to look for in an EV powertrain, and how the main systems in an EV get connected in order to transfer power to the wheels; emerging capabilities in electrification, and considerations for everyone from builders and integrators all the way through to safety crews; and the skills necessary for the next generation of racing professionals to succeed as a team today and in the future. 

Another area that debuted in 2021 and will expand in 2022 is the Content Creation Zone. It features cutting-edge AV gear and software, plus information from skilled content creators and influencers on strategies for creating an impact online.

Returning for 2022 and better than ever, the Featured Products Showcase is a high-traffic display in Lucas Oil Stadium that gives exhibitors and attendees access to the hottest products in racing and performance. Also in Lucas Oil Stadium, the Show’s trailer exhibit area enables attendees to make side-by-side comparisons of the latest race trailers, motorcoaches, haulers, and toterhomes. 

The Indiana Convention Center itself will be filled with aisles upon aisles of exhibitors and displays. One large section in the Yellow Hall is occupied by Machinery Row, where dozens of exhibitors showcase tools, fixtures, fabricating gear, and more, and stage all type of precision machining equipment wired for live demonstrations. 

The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow, a nationwide engine-building competition for high-school students, will remain prominent at PRI, as the organization will determine its dual national champions at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 1–4, followed by the PRI Show in Indianapolis.

PRI also will host the 11th annual Race Track Business Conference, which is held on Wednesday, December 7, leading up to the Show opening, and carries a separate registration fee. The gathering focuses on cutting-edge presentations on the current status of motorsports. It includes individual sessions and a keynote speaker during a full day of activities. Details can be found at
rtbc.speedwaysonline.com.

Returning in person this year after going virtual in 2020–2021 due to COVID-19 is the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress. The ICMS is a 501(c) not-for-profit corporation that strives to inform the industry on the latest innovations and initiatives in motorsports safety. The Congress is offered through a separate fee from the organization; more info is available at icmsmotorsportsafety.org.

Networking is a vital component of the PRI Show, with ample opportunities throughout. There’s an exhibitor reception on Wednesday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. The show’s famous Grand Opening Breakfast, which is free to attendees and exhibitors alike, takes place Thursday morning in the ICC’s Sagamore Ballroom before the Show opens. Once again the program will be hosted by Speed Sport’s Ralph Sheheen, and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Later Thursday is the PRI Happy Hour and the Save Your Race Car Rally at Lucas Oil Stadium; the latter will be focused on support for the RPM Act. 

The bottom line is that PRI is the singular event where professionals across all forms of motorsports meet to learn and swap ideas on how to go faster, work smarter, and enhance their businesses and operations for the upcoming race season and beyond.

Don O’Neal of Streetway Marketing & Media in Evansville, Indiana, told us his group attends PRI each year “because it is where our business is impacted. [If the show] would go to Florida, Indy, or Vegas, we would be attending. Business is relationships, and PRI is what we like.”

New Exhibitors

New exhibitors are a hallmark of every year’s PRI Trade Show—it’s part of what makes the Show a must-attend event. 

Dozens of companies will exhibit for the first time in 2022. So, what are they hoping to accomplish? What products or services are they showcasing? And why should attendees make it a point to visit their booths?

According to Todd Crutcher of Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club in Pahrump, Nevada, “We have been making major strides in developing our facility and race track, so this was the perfect time for us to showcase what’s new at Spring Mountain. We now officially have more than nine miles of race track due to the addition of our 3.2-mile premier racing circuit named Charleston Peak, which makes us still the longest road course in North America. 

“PRI is the best show to promote directly to the racing community,” he continued. “Specifically, our membership and track rentals have given even the most seasoned drivers the chance to challenge themselves on our race track. Our focus is to launch our Radical Racing School and increase track rental and membership awareness. Today, with the expansion of our road course, Charleston Peak is the ideal track for testing, training, and best of all, racing.

“We’re excited to show off our new and improved club member atmosphere with our new track and soon-to-be upgraded clubhouse,” he added. “We are also offering several new driving programs, currently in the new C8 Corvette and Cadillac V-Series Blackwings, with Radical Sportscars to come soon. Next year we will also launch our very own karting facility. We’ll be displaying a Radical SR3XX in our booth, as well as video content showcasing our track’s development and future plans.”

Kevin Hein of PMAS Technologies in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, said his company has been an exhibitor at the SEMA Show in the past, but he realized the PRI attendee is more closely aligned with many of the products his company offers. 

He believes exhibiting at PRI will help his company “grow its business and help identify market opportunities in which our airflow measurement and optimization expertise can excel.” He’s looking specifically for sales growth and expanding PMAS’s dealer network. 

“In addition to our high-performance MAFs and cold-air intakes, we are launching a high-flow Modular Inlet System (MIS),” Hein said. “While testing a turbo inlet application, restriction was reduced as compared to an open inlet. We offer an inlet as a stand-alone or with a rock screen, wire-mesh filter, or paper filters in many different sizes. These filter options create the ultimate performance flexibility at the track.”

PMAS’s booth will have video and graphics demonstrating the improved airflow achieved by adding its new MIS system, as well as product samples. 

Why should attendees visit the PMAS booth? “PMAS Technologies not only possesses unrivaled airflow measurement expertise, but we also have the equipment and know-how to test and optimize our products for optimum performance,” he said. “We also offer benchmarking and R&D airflow services for manifold, exhaust, and intake tract components, for example.”

Representing new exhibitor Maven Performance Products of Hebron, Kentucky, Jared McCombs said the Show provides “opportunities to network with people and companies in the industry unlike any other event. As a small, growing company, we value the platform and opportunity the PRI Show gives us to showcase our products and get them in front of the right people.

“Many of our customers attend the Show, and more often than not we only know them through social media, phone calls, etc.,” he continued. “Exhibiting at the Show gives us a chance to meet them face to face, network with others in the industry, and display our products for those who are unfamiliar. Our product development ideas come from listening to the needs and wants of the people in the industry. What better opportunity is there than PRI?

“We will have all of our products on display, including turbo mounts, ignition coil mounts, wiring components, and our new tube clamp switch panel mount,” McCombs added. “Make sure to stop by the booth. We will have a special show offer for PRI attendees.”

Click Bond of Carson City, Nevada, has been manufacturing adhesive-bonded products in the United States for more than 35 years, but 2022 will mark its first time exhibiting at the PRI Trade Show. 

“After our success exhibiting at SEMA in 2021 in the Racing and Performance hall, consumer feedback consistently indicated that our products were well suited for applications displayed at PRI, too,” said TJ Stoltz. “Our adhesive-bonded product line is perfect for composite materials found in today’s automotive designs. We’re excited to connect with as many of those applications as possible to provide unique solutions that will help reduce weight and installation time, and preserve structural integrity.”

What does Click Bond hope to accomplish at PRI? “Our strategic objective for the event is centered around educating future customers about our industry-changing benefits, and how we can support each phase of their programs’ lifecycles, from design to production, through sustainment,” Stoltz said. “We’re very excited to display our adhesive with our series of adhesive-bonded nut plates, studs, standoffs, and mounts currently used in today’s top racing programs.”

He added that Click Bond is bringing two of its most popular activities to its PRI booth. “Attendees will have the opportunity to experience both hands-on product demonstrations and extended reality demonstrations using our adhesive-bonded fasteners,” he said. “Companies can receive free, onsite training from our field application engineers.”

Show special product offers for Click Bond can be found at the SRI Performance booth (SRI is Click Bond’s distribution partner).

“We were pleased to discover during our visit last year to the SEMA Show how many types of applications attendees found for our adhesive-bonded fasteners,” Stoltz noted. “Our design engineers will be available to chat through show-goers’ current challenges and help find the solutions they are looking for.”

For a list of first-time exhibitors at the 2022 PRI Trade Show, visit here. 

Hundreds of new product announcements cross the desks of PRI editors each month. Following are our top picks for October.

ECORSA Motorsport Non-petroleum Racing Oil

Evolve Lubricants
evolvelube.com

Environmental concerns are putting pressure on motorsports, especially in the area of increasing sustainability in fuels, lubricants, and even tires. The new ECORSA Motorsport racing oil from Evolve Lubricants in Reno, Nevada, is an advanced plant-based oil that is proven to be very efficient in reducing heat and friction in a racing environment.

“There’s no sacrifice in racing green,” stressed Rick Lee.

Currently available in 20W50, 10W40 and 10W40 for motorcycles with more viscosity options coming soon, ECORSA Motorsport oil comes from carbon-negative base stocks that can be made from a variety of plants, including soybean, palm, rapeseed, and others. While bio-degradable engine lubricants have been around for some time, they were esters and not true hydrocarbons. Evolve has developed a process that produces a true hydrocarbon molecule with a thicker carbon backbone and extreme linear design.

“We have a unique molecular structure that draws heat through this long chain more efficiently,” explained Lee.

Testing by Porsche AG with results presented at a prestigious engine conference showed low viscosity changes and a 12-horsepower gain over the course of a 100-hour test. That oil was the company’s production-car formula, which has the basic formula as the race oil, the latter boasting additional additives for extreme use. Evolve also has a diesel formula for tow vehicles. —Mike Magda

Forged Superlite (FSL) Sprint Inboard Race Kit

Wilwood Engineering
wilwood.com

When it comes to brakes in the sprint car market, racers must balance the benefits of weight savings, costs, and performance along with the driver’s personal style. In addressing all those objectives, Wilwood Engineering in Camarillo, California, developed the Forged Superlite (FSL) rear inboard brake kit.

“Danny Dietrich—who is one of the hardest drivers on brakes in sprint cars—asked for a setup to meet his braking demands in the central Pennsylvania sprint world, and we developed this package,” said Dave Brzozowski. “After numerous wins during 2021, we have finally released this setup, and it has taken off with teams.”

Anchoring the kit is a 12.19- x 0.81-inch rotor constructed from proprietary Spec37 high-friction iron. The rotor features 36 directional cooling vanes and is dynamically mounted to an aluminum two-piece hub and adapter. The forged-aluminum FSL4R Superlite caliper is unique in that the two piston bores are different diameters: 1.88 and 1.75 inch. This arrangement provides progressive engagement and increased brake pad life.

“This kit provides the highest brake torque available with pad options to customize feel and track conditions,” added Brzozowski. “A FSL4R stagger bore caliper, fade-free Spec 37 rotor, and .80-inch thick pads all contribute to the most reliable brake lap after lap in the harshest environment.” —Mike Magda

Viking 2450 ADV Series Welding Helmet

Lincoln Electric
lincolnelectric.com

Welders have long been asking for integrated LED lights on their helmets, and the new Viking 2450 ADV series helmet now offers that feature as standard equipment. 

“The intelligent modular LED light was custom designed to improve productivity, quality, and safety in one simple attachment. It dynamically adjusts to the environment to improve users’ visibility of the weld, work piece, and weld joint,” said Mike Clifford of Lincoln Electric, Cleveland, Ohio.

The LED light is turned on and off with a low-profile external control. The light illuminates the work area for increased workspace visibility during off-welding time. The LED automatically turns off when the welder strikes an arc to save battery power. The light also features a removable battery pack powered by one AA battery. 

These auto-darkening helmets also feature a cutting-edge user interface and 4C optics. Moisture- and abrasion-resistant push buttons easily control shade, sensitivity, delay, and mode. The 4C optics provide 1/1/1/1 optical clarity to provide the best view of the material, arc, and puddle.

The helmet features an extra-large 9.3-square-inch lens, and the helmet comes with a three-year warranty. Comfort is enhanced with the innovative X6 headgear that distributes weight and optimizes balance. —Mike Magda

HBM453 Flow Meter

J-Tec Associates
j-tecassociates.com

Need a quick check of possible blow-by in your race car’s engine? J-Tec’s HBM453 flow meter provides an indication of piston-ring leakage under actual operating conditions by measuring the flow out of the crankcase vent or sump vent.

“Just hook it into one of the crankcase vents on the engine, most likely on the valve cover, and plumb it in with a fitting of their choosing. Use a rubber hose and hose clamps for an airtight seal,” said Tom Oliver. 

The flow meter can help detect problems of ring flutter, improper ring gap, cylinder wall distortion, ring clearance, and ring tension. The handheld meter is easy to use in the field with a digital readout.

Baseline readings can be noted when the engine is assembled and running for the first time. Then if there’s any perceived problem, a reading can be obtained quickly in the field. Oliver said the flow meter will not work if the engine is equipped with a vacuum pump.

“The vacuum pump would have to be disconnected,” added Oliver.

The readout unit is powered by four AA batteries, and it supplies the necessary power to the actual flow meter. The meter measures flow from .80 to 16 CFM. —Mike Magda

Big Block Chevy 3-inch Intake Manifold Kit

Hilborn Fuel Injection
holley.com/brands/hilborn/

Nostalgia-racing gassers and dragsters will drool over this Hilborn EFI-R intake manifold that features 3-inch butterflies and stacks.

“Hilborn EFI-R injector manifolds are designed to deliver extreme airflow for high-horsepower racing engines and produce an intimidating aesthetic,” said Evan Perkins of Holley Performance Products, Bowling Green, Kentucky. “They combine the benefits of stack injection and tunable runner length with all of the modern attributes of electronic multiport fuel injection.”

Separate kits will work with either a 9.800- or 10.200-inch deck height. The intake is a heat-treated aluminum casting with dark gray ceramic coating. The machined valley cover provides two -10AN O-ring sealed ports for crankcase breather or dry-sump scavenge pickup.

Large 3-inch butterflies provide maximum airflow and are recommended for race applications. Similar BBC intakes are available with 2 7/16- or 2 5/8-inch butterflies for street performance. High injector placement helps optimize fuel conditioning.

“The big difference with Hilborn EFI-R injector manifolds is the integration of Holley’s years of EFI experience. This is a very ‘old school meets new school in all the right ways’ type of product,” added Perkins. “For example, a series of tubes converge into a vacuum block to deliver a more consistent signal to the MAP sensor. Rather than a manifold that leaves the end user piecing the rest of the setup together, Holley’s involvement creates a complete racing manifold solution.” —Mike Magda

Digital Nitrous Pressure Gauge

Nitrous Outlet
nitrousoutlet.com

Tired of getting out of the car and opening the trunk to check the pressure in your nitrous bottle? Now you can monitor the pressure in the system at all times from the driver’s seat with the new digital nitrous pressure gauge from Nitrous Outlet in Waco, Texas.

“Reading nitrous pressure with a sensor is typically far more accurate than a mechanical gauge. Racers can also mount the sensor at any location along the main feed line or in the gauge port on their bottle, and have the gauge mounted somewhere else. This helps make pressure readings more accessible and easily readable at a glance,” said Mark Wennin.

The gauge measures 2 1/16 inch and comes with a 0–1,500 psi pressure sensor, wiring, and mounting hardware. It also features a backlit display, tinted lens, and LED digital readout. Installation is simple: mount the gauge; install the pressure switch; plug in the harness; and connect to a power source, ground, and headlight dimmer switch.

“When combined with our remote bottle opener, the racer can operate the entire nitrous system from the driver’s seat,” added Wennin.

The remote bottle opener allows the racer to open and close the nitrous bottle from the cockpit of the vehicle. The high-torque motor operates on 12 volts and will fully open and close the bottle valve under full pressure. —Mike Magda

Extreme Duty Inconel Exhaust Valves

Manley Performance Products
manleyperformance.com

Higher combustion pressures achieved with increasing boost levels put a strain on exhaust valves, so Manley Performance Products in Lakewood, New Jersey, expanded its Extreme Duty valve line. Originally developed for supercharged, nitromethane-burning engines, these valves are manufactured from the company’s unique XH-432 XtremeAlloy Inconel material and proprietary heat-treat process. They are engineered to operate in temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees F.

“For racers and engine builders who have engines producing excessive EGTs, combined with higher stress levels, these properly manufactured and heat-treated Inconel exhaust valves provide the safety margin necessary to prevent catastrophic engine failure,” said Trip Manley. 

In addition to stocking a line of application-specific valves for most popular engine families, Manley offers Extreme Duty valves through its Gen II program for custom valve orders. Manley keeps an inventory of ‘blanks’ in popular stem diameters and finishes them to the desired length and head specs. Notable features of the Extreme Duty line include swirl polishing, chrome stems, and hard tips. 

“Our 3/8-inch stem, overcut fillet area, special heat-treated Inconel exhaust valves help allow Top Fuel and Funny Car teams get down the track without failure in a brutal high temperature and stress environment,” added Manley. “The same goes in many offshore powerboat applications.” —Mike Magda

For the first time since the introduction of Legend Cars more than three decades ago, U.S. Legend Car International and INEX executives have announced that the minimum age requirements for Bandoleros will move from eight to seven and for Legend Cars from 12 to 10, effective immediately.

The entry-level Bandolero Bandit division will now include drivers ages seven to 12, and the entry-level Legend Car Young Lions division will include drivers ages 10–15. 

“Bandolero and Legend Car racing is the premier developmental platform for aspiring race car drivers, and it’s time to introduce our product to a younger demographic,” said Graham Smith, managing director of U.S. Legend Cars International. “We’re proud of the safety and affordability of our cars and look forward to working with talented, young drivers as they join our field of competitors around the world.”

National events with larger car counts may include select groupings for less experienced drivers for them to compete against their peers. In addition, organizers will continue to work with drivers to develop their progression at their own pace, promoting elevations to more competitive classes as their skills and performance improve.

U.S. Legend Cars is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports and is located in Harrisburg, North Carolina. INEX is the international sanctioning body for Legend Car and Bandolero events.

For more information, visit uslegendcars.com.

TFR Distribution—the retail and wholesale distributor of LFR and Troyer Race Cars based in West Boylston, Massachusetts—has announced a new strategic alignment with two companies: Buzze Racing and Hamke Racecars.

Buzze Racing is the sales and service provider of racing drivetrain and steering system components based out of Mooresville, North Carolina. 

Hamke Racecars, also based in Mooresville, builds and manufactures race cars and parts. 

To better serve Southern modified racing customers, Buzze Racing will serve as the official dealer for all Troyer Modified and LFR Modified needs, including fully completed chassis to parts and components. Hamke Racecars, meanwhile, will serve as the official repair facility for Troyer and LFR customers. 

“I think for the Southern customers, I think it’s a pretty big deal for them as far as logistics and all that,” said Cody Glick, general manager of Hamke Racecars.

“The Modified deal has grown down here immensely since the SMART [Modified] Tour started,” said Tom Buzze, owner of Buzze Racing. “It’s no secret; they’ve got a really good thing going on there. With our business doing what we do, we’ve been doing a lot with Troyer and LFR anyway with the services we provide. So it just makes sense.”

The news follows Buzze Racing’s recent move to a facility next door to Hamke Racecars. 

For more information, visit tfrdistribution.com, 
buzzeracing.com, and hamkeracecarsandparts.com.

Officials with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) have confirmed its Sportsman racing programs, including the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering, the IHRA Ironman Classic, the IHRA Summit Team Finals, and the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals, will continue in 2023 and beyond. There are no plans to “bring back Nitro or Pro Mod racing,” officials stated. 

In addition, several race tracks have confirmed or reconfirmed involvement in the series, including Gleason Raceway Park (Gleason, Tennessee); Ozark Raceway Park (Rogersville, Missouri); Wilkesboro Dragway (Wilkesboro, North Carolina); and Xtreme Raceway Park (Ferris, Texas).

The news follows Larry Jeffers’ recent purchase of the racing sanctioning body from IRG Sports + Entertainment. 

For more information, visit ihra.com.