(Left image) US Rep. Richard Hudson (left) and Todd Belcher (right), Edelbrock’s general manager of East Operations.

(Right image) Braden Liberg (left), Edelbrock’s director of compliance & calibration engineering, Rep. Hudson (center), and Belcher.

With Congress out of session during the past few weeks, US Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) has been busy meeting with his constituents. As part of this effort, he recently visited Edelbrock’s Sanford, North Carolina carburetor facility for a tour and engagement with the company’s employees.

As the Congressman for North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which stretches from just outside of Charlotte to Fayetteville, Rep. Hudson represents the heart of race country. And it’s no secret that he is passionate about fighting for the industry in Washington, as he is the lead Republican co-sponsor of H.R. 3281, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act). Rep. Hudson has also championed the legislation in the Energy & Commerce Committee.

Todd Belcher, Edelbrock’s general manager of East Operations, led Rep. Hudson on a tour of the facility, which produces everything from carburetors to throttle bodies for electronic fuel-injection systems to pumps and fuel regulators. The Congressman had a chance to see how the company manufactures and performs quality control on its high-performance products. Following the tour, Rep. Hudson addressed Edelbrock’s employees, where he discussed the RPM Act and other vital issues he’s been working on that impact the aftermarket, potentially even the parts that Edelbrock manufactures and distributes.  

“I really enjoyed my tour,” Rep. Hudson said. “Edelbrock is an incredible company with a real legacy. I’m proud of the innovation and skill and the world-class products that are being made right here in our community.”

Edelbrock is based out of Olive Branch, Mississippi, and has offices across the country including in San Jacinto, California; Sanford, North Carolina; and Cerritos, California. It also has the Edelbrock Race Center in Mooresville, North Carolina.

For additional information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Permatex, the provider of chemical technology for automotive maintenance and repair, has named Ben Grueser as associate marketing manager. He will be responsible for the management of ITW’s Spray Nine and Fast Orange brands, initiate and coordinate the launch of new products, and manage profit improvement projects.

Grueser first joined Permatex in its finance department as a staff accountant in May 2018. Later, he was promoted to be a financial analyst and was responsible for product and sales analysis, supporting accounting activities, and internal data management.

“Ben has been with our company for the past four years and has done an exceptional job in the finance department. He has an extensive knowledge of our business, and the markets we serve,” Permatex Director of Marketing Dan Clarke said.

Grueser holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in finance from The Ohio State University.

For more information, visit permatex.com.

The Dodge HEMI Challenge will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) Dodge//SRT US Nationals, affectionately known as the “Big Go,” at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. 

The longest-running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history celebrates Dodge and Mopar’s classic musical cars and features heads-up vintage HEMI-powered 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda “package cars.” 

The winner will take home a 42.6 lb. trophy made from a 426 HEMI cylinder head. In addition, all 16 drivers who reach the elimination rounds will receive cash rewards, with the winner earning an extra $15,000 prize.

Among the participants vying for the win will be driver Bucky Hess II, winner of the inaugural edition of the (then Mopar) Dodge HEMI Challenge in 2001. 

“It should be a great show for the fans,” said the 2020 winner Stephen Yantus III, who will also compete this weekend.

The final elimination round will be broadcast on FS1 on Friday 3 from 7–9 p.m. EDT. Fans can also look for the highlights during the NHRA coverage of the Dodge//SRT US Nationals on Sunday, September 5, on FS1 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. EDT and then on the FOX national broadcast network from 1–4 p.m. EDT.

For more information, visit stellantis.com, mopar.com, and dodge.com.

Wrisco Industries, the manufacturer of prefinished aluminum sheets, anodized aluminum, steel coil, and related components, has been acquired by Wieland Metal Services, the copper and copper alloy specialist.

“An exciting addition to Wieland Metal Services, Wrisco Industries strengthens our presence in specific aluminum markets. We view Wrisco as a highly strategic growth opportunity that will allow us to further expand our existing portfolio of products and services in North America,” President of Wieland Metal Services Greg Keown said. 

Wrisco Industries was founded in 1916. The company is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and operates four distribution centers out of Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and Edison, New Jersey. 

The business will continue to operate under the Wrisco name after its integration into the Wieland Group.

For more information, visit wrisco.com.

Indoor kart racing operator K1 Speed has broken ground on the nation’s first professional outdoor electric kart racing course. K1 Circuit will be based in Winchester, California, approximately 80 miles from downtown Los Angeles and San Diego, 70 miles from Orange County, and 30 miles from Riverside.

Set to open in 2022, the track will host its own pro-level electric kart racing series, said to be the first of its kind. The competition karts will be developed by Italian manufacturer OTL Electro Kart and will utilize lithium batteries.

In addition, K1 Circuit will also welcome classes of gas-powered karts from major professional kart series such as SuperKarts USA (SKUSA), United States Pro Kart Series (USPKS), ROK Cup USA, Rotax Kart, and more.

Recreational kart enthusiasts will also be able to rent a ride as part of a new Arrive & Drive program, with details set to be announced at a later date. 

The 1.1-mile configurable circuit is designed by pro racer Rocky Moran Jr. The course will feature a straightaway approximately 900 feet in length, a universal track width of 28 feet, CIK/FIA curbing, and up to 6% of elevation change.

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside David and Susan Danglard on K1 Speed’s first outdoor racetrack here in Southern California, and I could not be any more excited for the karting community with this announcement,” Moran said.

For more information, visit k1speed.com.

The AAM Group has named Sharon Cameron as its new business analyst. Cameron, who most recently served as AAM’s product data specialist, will focus on purchasing reports and predictions, product compliance reporting, and PRO Rebates tracking. 

Cameron is the third member of AAM’s vendor relations team, including VP of Vendor Relations & Purchasing John DeBalso and Vendor Relations Manager Mark Franchetti. The group conducts regular reviews with distribution members, facilitates member-supplier conversations, holds monthly purchasing calls, and evaluates brands to identify growth areas.

“I am extremely excited to jump in as AAM’s new business analyst, a role that lets me use my analytical skills in a meaningful way,” Cameron said. “Through quantitative modeling and predictive techniques, I hope to enrich our members with new insights into the automotive aftermarket, providing them with the research and analyses necessary to weather changes and challenges in the marketplace and ultimately grow their business.”

For more information, visit theaamgroup.com.

NASCAR has announced that John Ferguson has been hired to lead human resources strategy for the sanctioning body as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. In this role, Ferguson will oversee NASCAR Human Resources and provide strategic leadership around talent acquisition, employee engagement, and culture development.

For nearly a decade, Ferguson served in HR roles at Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) in Washington, DC, and most recently as vice president of People & Culture. 

Based in the Daytona Beach office in Florida, Ferguson will help develop HR strategies designed to support and engage employees across more than 20 office and race track locations in the US. He will also help build a company culture that is empowering, innovative, diverse, inclusive, and collaborative, according to NASCAR.

“John’s passion for people and his enthusiasm for building a strong working culture aligns well with our direction as a sport,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said. “John brings a wealth of experience and tremendous energy to our sport, and we look forward to the impact of his leadership as NASCAR continues on its path to growth.”

Ferguson’s hire comes less than two years since NASCAR completed the merger with International Speedway Corporation.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Samuel Zaslavsky, the founder of King Engine Bearings based in Livingston, New Jersey, has passed away at the age of 95. He founded the engine bearing manufacturing company 61 years ago. 

“After founding the company, Samuel continued his life’s work until the last few months, designing machines that would serve King [Engine Bearings] for many years to come.

“He was and will continue to be an inspiration to all of us at King,” a company announcement stated. 

The PRI team sends its condolences to the Zaslavsky family and the King Engine Bearings family. 

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs are back with a visit to Maple Grove Raceway for the 36th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil set for September 10–12.

The event serves as the first of seven playoff races during the 2021 season and marks the series’ return to the 1/5-mile drag strip in Berks County, Pennsylvania, for the first time since 2019.

Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes will be highlighted during the weekend, which will also be televised on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), including final eliminations on Sunday, September 12 at 2 p.m. (ET).

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will also compete along with the Top Fuel Harley Drag Racing Series.

To purchase tickets, visit maplegroveraceway.com. For more information, visit nhra.com.

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jesse Iwuji has partnered with NFL Hall of Fame recipient Emmitt Smith to form Jesse Iwuji Motorsports, a race team set to debut in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. 

The team will utilize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives and esports simulator racing to “connect with lower-income communities” and “serve as a pipeline for people to get in the sport. Whether they want to drive… crew chief, engineer, whatever it is,” Iwuji said to NASCAR.com. 

Iwuji will serve as a driver-owner for the team. Now in the US Navy Reserves, he served in active duty from 2010-2017. Since 2015, he has competed in five Xfinity Series races and has started in 14 Camping World Truck Series races. 

Smith, a longtime running back primarily with the Dallas Cowboys, has known Iwuji for around 20 years. Last October, Smith’s company Notable Live sponsored Iwuji’s No. 99 car in the Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. 

For more information, visit jesseiwuji.com.