Transtar Holding Company has announced the sale of its Nickels Performance business based in Kansas City, Missouri, to Summit Racing Equipment, headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio. 

Nickels Performance is a wholesale distributor of high-performance racing parts, and Summit Racing Equipment is a global retailer of performance and replacement automotive parts and accessories. 

Nickels Performance will continue to operate under its current brand name and continue to provide speed shops, engine builders, and installers with drag race, circle track, and street performance products. 

“Along with the competitive prices and service they have come to expect, customers will also benefit from an expanded product assortment,” Summit Racing Equipment President and CEO Scott Peterson said. 

Transtar Holding Company is the parent company of Transtar Industries, a distributor of automotive aftermarket parts based in Cleveland, Ohio. 

For more information, visit summitracing.com or nickels-performance.com.  

Left image: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and PRI/SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola. Right image: Spagnola and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)

As part of SEMA and PRI’s campaign to pass the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), PRI and SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola has recently traveled to Washington, DC. There, he met with key members of Congress who are integral to the legislative process on the bill—urging them to move the RPM Act.  

With strong legislative support from over 155 members of Congress, thanks in part to unprecedented grassroots advocacy from industry members and enthusiasts, the RPM Act is well-positioned to be passed. Still, it must be voted on to become law this year.  

In an effort to help get the bill over the finish line, Spagnola met with key elected officials, including strong bill supporters and members who are best positioned to shape automotive policy. Specifically, Spagnola met with the following lawmakers about the RPM Act: 

• Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), an RPM Act co-sponsor and Ranking Member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 
• Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), RPM Act co-sponsor & Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 
• Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), an RPM Act co-sponsor 
• Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), the senior Republican on the Energy & Commerce Committee 
• Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), one of the strong voices on automotive issues on the E&C Committee. Rep. Dingell’s new district will include Plymouth, MI, which is home to SEMA’s Detroit Garage. 
• Mike Thompson (D-CA), an RPM Act co-sponsor and the Chairman of the Congressional Motorsports Caucus 

“We had very productive meetings with some of the most important lawmakers in the automotive policy space last week,” said Spagnola. “The momentum for passing the RPM Act is building, and the progress we are making is in no small part thanks to the phone calls and letters SEMA members, the racing community, and automotive enthusiasts have made to Congress. Now is the time to keep our foot on the gas and continue to remind lawmakers that they must pass the RPM Act before the November election. It is time that Congress delivers for the men and women in our community and protects the right to convert and sell parts for race vehicles.” 

The RPM Act (H.R. 3281/S.2736) is a bill that would protect the future of racing by clarifying in federal law that it is not illegal to modify and convert a street vehicle into a dedicated race vehicle. The House and Senate must pass the RPM Act by Jan. 3, 2023, for it to become law during the 117th session of Congress. Businesses and enthusiasts are urged to continue to reach out and contact their legislators at saveourracecars.com and push for passage of the RPM Act this year. 

Congress will be in session in July before the House and Senate go into recess during August, which is an ideal time to invite lawmakers to your race track or motorsports business. The PRI staff stands ready to facilitate these visits. For more information on hosting a lawmaker, visit here or contact erics@sema.org.  

Left image: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) and PRI/SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola. Right image: Spagnola and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

Photos courtesy of NHRA 

 
Bill Bader Sr., who helped transform Summit Motorsports Park (Norwalk, Ohio) into a fan-favorite facility, has passed away. He was 79 and succumbed to injuries from an accident near his home. 

Bader purchased Summit Motorsports Park (formerly Norwalk Dragway) in 1974 and managed the it until 1998, when he turned over control to his son Bill Bader Jr., and briefly assumed the presidency of the IHRA. The track hosted its first NHRA event in 2007. 

“With an incredible work ethic and a remarkable dedication to hospitality, Bill taught us all important lessons on how to make a race a memorable experience for drag racing fans. He turned Summit Motorsports Park into one of the premier facilities on the NHRA tour, and one that was loved by all racers and NHRA fans,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. 

The 2022 PRI Trade Show, December 8–10, is shaping up to be the best yet. The entire racing industry will once again reunite under one roof at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Buyer and attendee registration for the 2022 PRI Trade Show will open online on Tuesday, July 12. 

Racing professionals are invited to streamline the registration process by joining or renewing their PRI Membership today.  

PRI Membership—launched in 2021—is critical to the industry’s advocacy efforts. By uniting the racing community, PRI is building, promoting, and protecting motorsports, right now and for many years to come.

PRI is excited to share that thousands of individuals at the 2021 PRI Show signed up for a PRI Membership. As a result, PRI has been able to support race tracks, subsidize race events, assist businesses with legal questions, and develop the PRI Political Action Committee (PRI PAC) to contribute to legislators who support vital motorsports issues.

Please note that PRI Membership is required to attend the 2022 PRI Trade Show.

For more information or to renew or join PRI Membership, visit performanceracing.com/membership/individual. 

It’s time to start preparing for the 2022 PRI Trade Show, the three biggest days in the racing business! The PRI team is planning for one of the best Shows yet, and we’re looking forward to seeing the entire racing industry back together under one roof. 

Taking place December 8–10, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, the PRI Show is the annual event where motorsports businesses, professionals, racers, media, and influencers gather in one single location. It’s also the best place to network in person with the industry, discover new products, attend cutting-edge educational business and technology seminars, and conduct business with quality buyers. 

Here are some important dates and reminders as you start preparing to head back to Indianapolis this December:

• The PRI Trade Show is December 8–10, 2022.
   
• The PRI Trade Show Floor Plan goes live on Thursday, July 7. The interactive floor plan called the PRI Show Planner allows attendees to easily navigate the lineup of exhibitors to maximize the time on the Show floor. Choose the companies you want to see and the events you want to attend—and access it straight from the Show floor on your phone. Attendees will also be able to view the lineup of world-class PRI Education seminars featuring industry experts and business professionals, which will be available in the coming weeks. 
   
• Attendee Registration opens on Tuesday, July 12. This is when qualified attendees and buyers will be able to register to receive credentials for the Show. Like 2021, PRI Membership is required to attend the 2022 PRI Trade Show. Individual programs start as low as $40 per year and grant access to all three days of the Show along with exclusive, year-round benefits while contributing to PRI’s mission to build, promote, and protect the racing industry for many years to come. Learn more about the benefits and advocacy efforts—and secure your membership—at performanceracing.com/membership/individual.
   
• Hotel reservations are available online here. We are proud to team up with the Visit Indy Housing Bureau as the ONLY official housing partner for the PRI Show.

For more information, visit performanceracing.com/tradeshow or contact mail@performanceracing.com. 

Marx Buscemi Eisbrenner Group (MBE Group), the full-service marketing communications agency focused on automotive and more industries, has hired Gretchen Bennett as an account coordinator.

Bennett—who will support account teams with social media content development, news release writing and distribution, media relations, event coordination, research, and more—will be based out of the company’s Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, office.

Prior, Bennett was an intern with MBE Group, where she focused on content creation while working with the agency’s marketing team.

“Throughout her internship, Gretchen was engaged with client and internal marketing activities and fully embraced the experience,” MBE Group CEO and Chief Creative Officer Frank Buscemi said.

For more information, visit mbe.group.

Bridgestone Americas has opened its new Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) in Akron, Ohio. With 60 tire builders and manufacturing professionals, the ATPC will manufacture all Firestone Firehawk race tires for the NTT IndyCar Series. 


Bridgestone has invested more than $21 million into the facility, located across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, one of three global Bridgestone R&D centers. The 80,000 square-foot ATPC features state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies designed to help advance innovation in race tires. The ATPC will also manufacture small batches of specialty prototype tires for testing and development purposes for racing and street applications. 

“The new ATPC is a reflection of both our proud history in Akron and racing while also exemplifying our company’s vision for sustainability in all aspects of our business,” said Bridgestone Americas President and CEO Paolo Ferrari. 

For more information, visit bridgestoneamericas.com. 

QA1—the manufacturer of high-performance shocks, suspension, driveshafts, and other components—will host its ninth annual Open House event on Friday, July 15.

The QA1 Open House will feature facility tours, display cars, and more from 7–9 a.m. CDT at the company headquarters in Lakeville, Minnesota.

The event will also feature the #goDRIVEit Cruise, where enthusiasts can “cruise” together to the 2022 Street Machine Nationals at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota, and compete in the QA1 Autocross event.

QA1 encourages those interested in the #goDRIVEit Cruise to pre-register for the Street Machine Nationals. More information can be found at streetmachinenationals.net. To register for the QA1 Open House, visit the event page. 

Photo courtesy of Maxim Chassis/Maxim Racing
 

Chuck Merrill, the founder of Maxim Chassis based in Springfield, Illinois, has passed away at 78.  
 
Merrill founded Maxim Chassis in 1988 and, soon after, launched a campaign in 1989 with Johnny Herrera behind the wheel. By June 1989, the company grew to six employees in a 7,000-square-foot facility. Its customers included legendary car owner Karl Kinser, which led to the development of the Kinser Lightweight Standard (KLS) or K-car, which changed the standards of sprint car racing, the company stated. 
 
In 2002, Maxim Chassis moved to its present location with 15 employees in a 12,600-square-foot facility with a two-story showroom. In 2014, Maxim Chassis Director of Operations Dan Musselman and his brother Ron Musselman formed a partnership and acquired the company from Merrill. 
 
Merrill, a longtime sprint car team owner, was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2014. He also served on the board of directors for the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation and as the board’s president.  
 
In addition, Knoxville Raceway named Merrill “Owner of the Year” in 1985, and the North American Sprint Poll has honored him as “Builder/Manufacturer of the Year” in the 410 category nine times. 

Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI) has announced Matthew Botos as its new lead engineer and designer. He will help design new products and improve current products.  

“It’s great to have Matt on the team, and we’re thrilled to work with him on developing new products,” DEI Product Manager Mike Buca said.   

Botos brings experience in mechanical engineering, computer aided design (CAD), computer numerical control (CNC) machining, and information technology (IT). Botos was also a longtime owner of Botos Design & Distribution, the provider of Synergy R/C Helicopter components and related R/C accessories.  

For more information, visit designengineering.com.