Support for the bipartisan Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, continues to expand each day as members of Congress receive an outpouring of support for the bill from racers and the motorsports’ parts industry. It’s clear the letters that enthusiasts and businesses have sent are being noticed on Capitol Hill and are making a difference (108 members of the House and 15 Senators have cosponsored the RPM Act).

If you’ve already sent a letter to Congress about the RPM Act, please follow up by making a short call to their office to voice your support for the bill. PRI has made it easy to call your elected officials by clicking here.

Below is a list of things of other things you can do right now to help to pass the RPM Act:

• Send a personal letter to your lawmakers at: saveourracecars.com. A letter has already been drafted. It takes less than a minute.

• Sign a letter to your lawmakers on company letterhead. Email erics@sema.org for a template and for more information.

• Post about the RPM Act on your company’s social media accounts using the toolkit of digital assets.

• Become a member of PRI and learn more about PRI’s Political Action Committee. Performance Racing PAC allows PRI members to support the lawmakers that stand up for racing in Washington.

Over the past two weeks, ten U.S. Senators and seven U.S. House members have agreed to co-sponsor the bill, including Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Todd Young (R-IN), and Tim Scott (R-SC), and Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Billy Long (R-MO), Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

The RPM Act must be enacted into law to guarantee your right to modify street cars, trucks, and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and ensure that industry can offer parts that enable racers to compete. It is imperative that lawmakers continue to be reminded of the importance of passing the RPM Act. For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Wade Kawasaki

Legendary Companies has announced that Wade Kawasaki has decided to transition from the role of CEO while remaining a partner in the business. Legendary Companies includes Coker Tire, Wheel Vintiques, Universal Vintage Tire, Phoenix Race Tires, Specialty Wheel, MOR, Vintage Wheel Works, PS Engineering, Roadster Wire Wheel, and Paragon Corvette Reproductions.

Industry veteran Doug Evans will join the Legendary Companies team as interim CEO as the company searches for a new leader.  

“After guiding Coker Tire through the acquisition process, I agreed to stay on as CEO for a three-year term to build the management team and add more companies to the portfolio,” said Kawasaki. “As that term draws to a close, I am excited to take some personal time and pursue new interests. It’s been a tremendous honor serving as CEO and I know the company has a bright future.”

After the sale in 2018 of Coker Tire and Wheel Vintiques to Irving Place Capital (IPC), Kawasaki led Legendary Companies and helped the organization identify acquisitions and expand the company’s management team.

For more information, visit legendarycompanies.com. 

NASCAR has announced new body updates for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series beginning in 2022.

Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota will be able to update their race truck noses and tails “to better match production trucks for consumers, while adding more identity from the front fascia (nose of the truck) to the A-post,” a NASCAR article said. This changes from the current rules, which dictates all manufacturers must run a common lower fascia. 

With the announcement, manufacturers’ on-track vehicles will better replicate the Silverado, F-150, and Tundra passenger trucks, beginning with the 2022 season schedule, which will be announced at a later date. 

For more information, visit nascar.com. 

Holley has announced it will host an event for all-electric vehicles on November 13–14, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. Holley’s “High Voltage Experience” will offer multiple high-performance driving events and an opportunity for the emerging EV culture to come together.

“Community, performance, and fun is important to automotive enthusiasts,” Holley Chief Marketing Officer Sean Crawford said. “With a growing population of EV owners, we want to provide a place for them to get out and have fun with their vehicles and community. The High Voltage Experience is the perfect place to meet other EV enthusiasts, see incredible vehicles, and enjoy their own vehicle on the track in a safe environment.”

Motorsports events will include autocross, road course, drag racing, and the 3S Challenge, which combines performance aspects of all of the above. Driving instruction will also be available by professional driver and EV lap record holder, Randy Pobst, on the full Sonoma Raceway road course. 

The event will also feature a dedicated car show along with daily drifting exhibitions and drag racing passes by the world’s first 200 mph EV dragster.

Influencers, builders, cars, and drivers such as Rich Rebuilds, Bisimoto Engineering, Jehu Garcia, and more, are expected to be in attendance.

For more information, visit holleyhighvoltage.com.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has signed on as title sponsor of the Magic 8 race on October 15 at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, Georgia, part of the four-day No Mercy 12 drag racing event produced by Duck X Productions.  

As presenter of the Friday evening program, PRI will be on-site to help promote the sport of racing and raise awareness of the threats currently facing the motorsports industry.  

Recently, race tracks have come under fire for holding in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic; local and state governments have sought to curtail tracks’ lawful operations; and officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued fines and penalties to performance suppliers and retail businesses over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act.     

PRI’s Save Our Racecars initiative urges industry members, enthusiasts and fans to become involved with efforts to stop government overreach and help get the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsport (RPM) Act bill passed into law. 

“Along with the worldwide motorsport industry, Duck X Production events are experiencing challenging times,” said Donald “Duck” Long, No Mercy promoter. “At the forefront of the issues is that of government overreach. While we’ve endured and survived through hurricanes and extreme temperatures, never have we had to contend with the government threats that we are experiencing today. We are proud to join PRI in supporting the RPM Act.”   

The RPM Act is a bipartisan bill that is currently being considered by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The bill looks to clarify in federal law that transforming motor vehicles into race cars used exclusively for competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. This American tradition was unquestioned for nearly 50 years until 2015, when the EPA took the position that converted street vehicles that compete on the track must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are not driven on public streets or highways. The EPA also maintains that the equipment used to transform a street vehicle into a race car is prohibited.  

“Passing the RPM Act into law is the only way to guarantee the future safety of the racing industry,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, PRI President. “We need everyone at the Magic 8 Race to join in the effort and ensure that drag racing events like No Mercy can continue. It’s critical that we unite to protect our racing rights.” 

The RPM Act enjoys unprecedented energy in 2021, as racers and motorsports parts businesses have sent more than 1.5 million letters to federal lawmakers urging passage of the bill this year. PRI will be at the Magic 8 Race on October 15 at South Georgia Motorsports Park to urge racers and fans to continue contacting their lawmakers in support of the RPM Act.  

“We must continue to push in order to get the bill passed into law,” said Meyer. “Only then will the industry have the confidence and the clarity needed to ensure that it is legal to modify a street vehicle into a dedicated race car that is used solely on a track.” 
 
Racers and race fans will be able to join the industry’s advocacy efforts by contacting their lawmakers about the RPM Act. Supporters can easily send letters to their representatives by visiting SaveOurRaceCars.com. Supporters will also be able to join PRI Membership during the No Mercy race. To learn more about the RPM Act and the Save Our Racecars initiative, visit SaveOurRaceCars.com. To attend the Magic 8 Race on October 15, click here.  

Formula 1’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix dates have been announced, with the race set to take place on May 6–8, 2022.

The Miami Grand Prix will see Formula 1 stars race in Florida for the first time since 1959. Drivers will battle on the recently named Miami International Autodrome on a 3.36-mile track set within the city’s Hard Rock Stadium campus. 

“We’ve worked hard to create a track with great racing and a venue with unparalleled fan experiences,” said Tom Garfinkel, the Miami Grand Prix’s Managing Partner. “There has been tremendous enthusiasm and anticipation for this event, and we’re happy to be able to announce the date so that people can start planning for it.”

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Dynabrade has recently acquired one of its strategic suppliers, Manth Manufacturing, located in Tonawanda, New York. 

“This is an excellent opportunity for Dynabrade to expand the scope of our vertical integration strategy,” Dynabrade President Michael Buffamonti said. “Manth has been a legacy business partner of ours for over 45 years, and we are excited to enhance our operational and financial flexibility that will allow us to continue to grow as a company. This acquisition will strategically position us to build out the manufacturing team and further scale our production.”

Manth Manufacturing was founded as a tool and die shop in 1962 and has evolved into a high-tech production machine shop with over 40 CNC turning, milling, and grinding machines.

For more information, visit dynabrade.com.

Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles has announced that IndyCar will become the sanctioning body and promoter of the Indy Lights series following 2021. The agreement was made with Andersen Promotions Owner and CEO Dan Andersen.

Indy Lights serves as the final step on the “Road to Indy” ladder system that develops drivers and teams to compete in the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

“For many years, Dan Andersen has been integral to the success of Indy Lights,” Miles said. “His leadership since his group took over promotion in 2014 was crucial. However, with the Penske acquisition of IndyCar, we have an opportunity to bring the series in-house, which we think can provide greater opportunity for the growth of the top level of the ladder series.”

Andersen Promotions will continue stewardship of Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000.

“It has been our pleasure and honor to oversee the promotion and organization of Indy Lights for these past eight seasons,” Andersen said. 

Over its 35-year history, Indy Lights served as a pipeline for open wheel stars. Past graduates include Paul Tracy, Cristiano da Matta, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, and Josef Newgarden. Currently, 20 drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series are Indy Lights graduates, including Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and Rinus VeeKay, and Oliver Askew.

The 2022 Indy Lights schedule and remaining details will be released at a later date.

For more information, visit indycar.com.

Purdue University and Juncos Hollinger Racing have partnered to expand experiential education opportunities for Purdue students who want to explore careers in the motorsports, automobile, and mobility industries.

The three-year partnership establishes several internships with Purdue students, targeting the College of Engineering, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and Krannert School of Management.

Juncos Hollinger Racing fields cars in the IndyCar, Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000, and IMSA, and is also involved with the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

“This will open the doors for everyone,” said Ricardo Juncos, president of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “Racing teams need graphic designers, safety experts, dietitians, accountants, lawyers, and more. We need to have everything for a racing team.”

For more information, visit juncosracing.com or purdue.edu.

P&E Distributors has announced the hiring of Don Dolan as its new vice president of sales. He will manage overall sales functions, including wholesale B2B, retail B2C marketplace platforms, and P&E Distributors’ Tennessee Speed Sport retail store. 

Prior to joining P&E Distributors, Dolan gained experience in sales and marketing, most recently with Driver Industrial and later the Covert Track Group. There, he was responsible for developing and implementing all sales and marketing in domestic and international channels. 

For more information, visit pedistributors.com.