Heath Norton (right), Callies Performance Products vice president, displays a crankshaft to Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH).

Do you want members of Congress to pass bills that protect motorsports and enable the racing parts industry to thrive? If the answer is yes, now is the time to get involved with PRI’s efforts to connect industry businesses with their members of Congress. 

Whether in Washington, DC, or state capitals around the country, public policy battles are won by organized interests that have relationships with lawmakers. The organizations that shape public policy are comprised of businesses and individuals who know their lawmakers. More importantly, their lawmakers know them. 

Hosting members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators at your businesses is integral to developing meaningful relationships with lawmakers that help them to understand the industry so that they can advocate for policies that defend and grow it. If you would like to get to know your members of Congress, we stand ready to help! 

The first step in developing these relationships is to introduce yourself and invite them to your business. PRI staff will draft up an invitation, send it to your lawmakers, coordinate the visit by providing a briefing prior to the event, and manage day-of logistics in coordination with you and your company. Our government relations team is ready to do the heavy lifting! If you’d like to host your elected officials, please email Eric Snyder, PRI’s Director of Congressional Affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

 
World Products has appointed Lance Stillwell as the director of Operations. Stillwell will oversee the development and manufacturing of World Products’ engine blocks and cylinder heads, plus interact with customers.  
 
In 1997, Stillwell founded the parts provider and engine builder Motorsports Unlimited in Terra Haute, Indiana. Today, he has over 25 years of engine machining experience and in-depth knowledge of World Products’ product line, the company stated.
 
For more information, visit worldproducts.net. 

 
The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campus in Bloomfield, New Jersey, has opened UTI’s Welding Technology Training Program. The 36-week program teaches students soft and hard skills needed for welding in careers in industries, including automotive fabrication. 
 
“Welding complements our core technician programs and will give our students and graduates opportunities in an even greater range of industries,” said UTI-Bloomfield Campus President Shawn Alexander.  
 
The new welding lab features Lincoln Electric’s Virtual Reality Arc Welding Trainers, also known as the VRTEX welding simulator, featuring real-world welding and fume equipment in an engaging, gaming-inspired environment.  
 
For more information, visit uti.edu/programs/welding. 

Sean Kim

Hyundai Motorsport has announced a change to its senior management, with Korean Sean (Seon-Pyung) Kim taking over the role of president. He replaces outgoing President Scott Noh, who is set to take up a new position at Hyundai Motor Company in Korea. 
 
During Noh’s tenure, Hyundai Motorsport secured consecutive world titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (2019 and 2020) and the FIA World Touring Car Cup (2018 and 2019). The company also established a manufacturer entry into the inaugural FIA ETCR–eTouring Car World Cup, as part of “a new era for Hyundai in electric motorsports.” 
 
“I am delighted to take over the role of president at Hyundai Motorsport from Scott and continue the work he has so successfully overseen for the past four years,” Kim said.  
 
For more information, visit motorsport.hyundai.com. 

Meyer Distributing—the automotive specialty products marketing and distribution provider—has announced the addition of its Reading, Pennsylvania location. The cross-dock will have a direct, next-day feed from Meyer’s distribution hubs in East Hanover, New Jersey, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. 

“More distribution points lead to shorter routes and happier drivers,” states Jeff Braun, CEO of Meyer. “In today’s environment, finding the right balance between the complexity of a logistics network and driver retention is key. We look forward to providing more consistent and reliable service from this dock from Maryland to New York and everywhere in between.” 

For more information, visit meyerdistributing.com. 

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) has announced its 2023 induction class, which will be honored during the 35th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Racing, in Daytona Beach, Florida, March 6–7, 2023. 
 
The Class of 2023 includes:

• “Father of the Corvette and Corvette racing,” the late Zora Arkus-Duntov (Sports Cars)
• longtime USAC official and safety pioneer, the late Henry Banks (Historic)
• America’s successful enduro racer, Dick Burleson (Motorcycles)
• Air racer, the late Art Chester (Aviation)
• one of NASCAR’s most innovative crew chiefs, Ray Evernham (Stock Cars)
• early NASCAR fan favorite, the late Fonty Flock (Historic)
• one of the NHRA’s 50 Greatest All-Time Drivers, Darrell Gwynn (Drag Racing)
• land speed record-setter, the late Ab Jenkins (Speed Records)
• two men who revolutionized race track emergency services, Drs. Stephen Olvey and Terry Trammell (Open Wheel)

MSHFA President George Levy announced the new induction class with 2015 MSHFA inductee and road racer Tommy Kendall during Stand 21 Racing Goes Safer seminar at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. 
 
For more information, visit mshf.com. 

Holley Performance Parts has announced its widely popular LS Fest event series will head to Texas on June 17–18. Like the Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Las Vegas, Nevada, versions of the event, LS Fest Texas will be dedicated to all vehicles powered by GM’s LS and current-gen LT engines.  
 
“With numerous high-profile engine builders, performance shops, and LS enthusiasts located throughout the area, we’ve felt that Texas needed an LS Fest of its own for quite some time,” said Blane Burnett, Holley’s events manager. 
 
The evening event, which will “start late and end late to beat the Texas heat,” will take place at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.  
 
Scheduled events include autocross and Grand Champion competitions, no prep drag racing classes, burnout competitions, drift challenges, “Track X,” dyno competitions, a car show, and more. 
 
Participant registration and spectator tickets are available at lsfest.com/texas. 

Crandon International Raceway management has announced that the historic facility in Crandon, Wisconsin, and all its assets have been purchased by Cliff Flannery, the longtime track president. 
 
Since opening in 1984, the 400-plus acre track located in the Northwoods of Wisconsin has hosted some of the largest off-road races in the sport, including June’s Forest County Potawatomi Brush Run and Labor Day’s massive Polaris World Championship Off-Road Races. The most recent Polaris World Championship drew a record crowd of nearly 65,000 people at its 52nd anniversary running. The venue also serves as home to the annual Red Bull Crandon World Cup, held each Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and is scheduled to feature the AMSOIL Champ Off-Road and Ultra4 Racing series in 2022. 
 
“This next chapter in Crandon International’s remarkable story also provides members of the track’s longstanding Board of Directors time to enjoy family and a well-deserved retirement from the facility’s day-to-day operations,” a track release stated.  
 
Crandon Office Manager Tina Kulaf will remain in her role of managing the track’s business operation. Additionally, Promoter Marty Fiolka and his California-based TRG Rennsport group will continue their roles in event promotion and execution, sponsorship, marketing, content, and public relations. 
 
For more information, visit crandonoffroad.com. 

The Northeast Dirt Modified Museum & Hall of Fame will induct three new members in 2022.

Billy Decker (DIRTcar Big Block and World of Outlaws Late Model driver), Craig Von Dohren (Dirt Modified driver), and the late Don June (ASCC and Northern Stock Car Club driver, and Can-Am Speedway tech inspector) will be enshrined during a special ceremony on Wednesday, July 20, at the facility located on the grounds of Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, New York. 

In addition, Guy Madsen, Eric Mack, C.J. Richards, John “Ace” Lane Jr., and Melissa “Mimi” Lazarro will receive special recognition awards.

For more information, visit the Northeast Dirt Modified Museum & Hall of Fame Facebook page here.
 

Officials with POWRi’s Lucas Oil West Midget League presented by Realty Connect have announced Paul Atkins as the new series director. He takes over for Eric Fenton, who served as the series director since the series’ inception. 

Assisting Atkins in his position will be his wife, Felecia Atkins, who will monitor entries and scoring tasks. 

For more information, visit powri.com.