American Powertrain, the TREMEC dealer and manufacturer of muscle car transmission systems and related components, now offers custom engines from Prestige Motorsports. 

Located in Concord, North Carolina, Prestige Motorsports specializes in custom performance crate engines for Ford, Chevy, Mopar (small and big block), Gen III Hemi, and LS/LT. The complete turn-key package includes the engine, transmission, cooling system, and fueling system in one crate.

The new partnership means American Powertrain will work directly with Prestige Motorsports to ensure each engine and transmission package matches up perfectly for your next build, according to the companies.

For more information, visit americanpowertrain.com.

Starlite Racing League, an immersive sim racing league from Sirius Play studio, has launched a global search for sim drivers to participate in its virtual championship race taking place over 20 weeks and covering 2,000 virtual kilometers.

Starlite seeks 36 sim drivers to virtually race from Africa to Asia to North America. Applicants will participate in a “try-out” session, and qualifications include having professional experience as a pro sim race driver.

Interested applications can contact support@siriusplay.com. For more information, visit starlite.racing.

When NASCAR returns to Phoenix Raceway for NASCAR Championship Weekend on November 5-7, there will be no restrictions on the number of fans allowed on the grandstands and hillside. The three-day celebration features championship events for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series West.

“Our loyal and passionate fans have shown tremendous support for Phoenix Raceway and our entire sport throughout the pandemic, including the inaugural NASCAR Championship Weekend at our facility last November,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to celebrate the crowning of four champions in front of a packed grandstand and to showcase to the world what this community of race fans in Arizona is all about.”

In addition, camping restrictions will also be lifted, and fans will have the option to upgrade to the INfield Experience, which includes access to the garage walkways, pre-race festivities, victory lane, and post-race championship celebrations.

Both NASCAR and Phoenix Raceway will work closely with local and state government and health officials on any necessary health and safety protocols.

In addition, NASCAR officials have confirmed that NASCAR Championship Weekend will remain at Phoenix Raceway in 2022. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit phoenixraceway.com.

 
Nearly 900 brand new hotel rooms will be available for the 2021 PRI Trade Show (December 9–11), allowing more racing professionals to stay downtown near the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) and Lucas Oil Stadium than ever before.

Seven new hotels have opened or are set to open in downtown Indianapolis, including Aloft, Bottleworks Hotel, Hampton Inn on the Canal, Homewood Suites on the Canal, Hotel Indy Marriott Tribute, TownePlace Suites, and Tru by Hilton. These new additions join the dozens of premier housing options already available in the downtown region.

Housing reservations for the 2021 PRI Trade Show open on June 8. The Visit Indy Housing Bureau is the only official housing partner for the PRI Show. For more information, visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/hotel-travel. 

Aloft Indianapolis Downtown
Aloft, described as a tech-forward hotel, features keyless check-in and new technologies along with live acoustic music performances and bar life. 

Bottleworks Hotel
Built for modern travelers, the Bottleworks hotel occupies two floors of the historic bottling works administration building. It features a restaurant and bar, a central atrium, along with several pet-friendly room and suite options. 

Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites on the Canal
Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Canal is a seven-story hotel with two brands under one roof. The hotels utilize the existing Bethel AME Church as part of an effort to preserve its history for the community and feature an indoor pool and fitness center along with 11,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor terrace, bistro bar, and an on-site parking garage. 

Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel 
Hotel Indy is highlighted by 180-degree views of Bankers Life Field house and the art garden, along with premier dining experiences. The hotel also offers a rooftop lounge with incredible views of downtown, which is dedicated to Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker, one of the first drivers to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909.

TownePlace Suites 
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown is located across the street from the ICC and Lucas Oil Stadium and offers spacious suites complete with full kitchens. Also available are private meeting rooms which include conference call capabilities and TV connectivity.

Tru by Hilton
Tru by Hilton is located adjacent to Lucas Oil Stadium and features efficiently designed guest rooms with large bathrooms and counter space, complimentary hot breakfast, and rolling desks in each room. The hotel also features semi-private workspaces in the lobby, free Wi-Fi, several power outlets, and free wireless printing. 

Additionally, The Westin Indianapolis is undergoing a transformation with new meeting spaces, including banquet tables, chairs, and more, along with the addition of 3,500 square feet of private meeting space overlooking the Indiana State Capitol. Guest room updates will include expanded bathrooms for 70% of rooms and new designs. Plus, guests will be able to enjoy the new Grab & Go market, expanded lobby seating, a new lobby bar and dining area, the new Westin Club lounge.

The JW Marriott has also undergone renovations, including all guest rooms styled with enhanced comforts of home, along with the implementation of the new Stay Confident cleaning program, which involves multiple sterilization measures. The hotel's Starbucks location has also been expanded. 

For more information, visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/hotel-travel. 

Rep. Delgado, Rep. Keller, Rep. Harshbarger, and Rep. Pence

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2021 (RPM Act), H.R. 3281, enjoys strong bipartisan support in the US House of Representatives as lawmakers voice their enthusiasm for passing the vital piece of legislation. With the racing world’s eyes on the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend, the Indy Star printed an article from Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) that advocated for Congress to pass the RPM Act titled “Indiana's auto-racing tradition is under attack. Here's how we save it.” Rep. Pence is a leading voice on the US House Energy & Commerce Committee for the RPM Act and understands the importance of racing and the motorsports parts industry in Indiana and throughout the country.

Back in Washington, DC, Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) took to the US House floor to speak to his colleagues about why he was proud to serve as an original cosponsor of the RPM Act. Click here to watch a video of Rep. Keller’s speech.

Support for the RPM Act continues to grow with each week that passes. Currently, 58 members of the House have cosponsored the bill, including new cosponsors Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). Click here to see the current list of RPM Act cosponsors, and don’t forget to send a letter to your US Representative asking them to support the bill and fight for it to become law. For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

The Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) has established the new Australian Drag Racing Championship (ADRC), set to launch with a 2021-2022 season beginning next month. 

For the inaugural season, ADRC events will be held across four states and five venues in Australia, including the Hidden Valley Drag Strip, Alice Springs Inland Dragway, Adelaide International Raceway, the Perth Motorplex, and Calder Park Raceway.

“This is something that I think everyone will agree we have needed for a long time, and we are looking forward to being part of building a great Group One championship for Australian drag racing and its fans,” Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association President Matt Abel said, who also competes in Top Doorslammer.

The 2021-2022 schedule, subject to change, includes:
Round one – Hidden Valley – July 16-17, 2021
Round two – Alice Springs Inland Dragway – July 24-25, 2021
Round three – Adelaide International Raceway – October 16-17, 2021
Round four – Perth Motorplex – November 27, 2021
Round five – Calder Park Raceway – February 5-6, 2022
Round six – Perth Motorplex – March 5-6, 2022

Classes will include Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle. Each event will also include a round of the 2021-2022 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.

For more information, visit auandra.com.au.

Holley has announced participant pre-registration is now open for the second annual MoParty. The all Mopar-powered event is scheduled for September 17–19 at Beech Bend Raceway.

The event is dedicated to anything Mopar powered, including both classics and late models, as well as non-Mopar vehicles with Mopar powerplants.

Popular event segments include numerous drag racing classes, autocross, a Grand Champion event, the burnout challenge, car show classes, a vendor midway and swap meet, and more. 

Holley’s MoParty will also feature the rare opportunity to see some of NASCAR’s legendary wing cars, including those driven by “The King” Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and more in honorary parade laps.

For more information, visit moparty.com.

Three things I think while admiring the accomplishments of the great Bobby Unser, 87, who sadly passed away as this issue was going to press. The industry, indeed, has lost one of its fiercest competitors:

1) I THINK SOME OF THE REVELATIONS in our behind-the-scenes report on PRI’s groundbreaking Road Tour surprised even me. Rewind to last fall, when PRI made the difficult decision to shelve our illustrious Trade Show for the first time in 32 years. Not much of a decision, really, as our hand was all but forced by powers beyond our control. Unfortunately, it also left us with few viable options to fill the void and, most importantly, serve our industry. But out of misfortune came opportunity, and the team here quickly rallied behind a concept that essentially flipped the script on our annual gathering in Indianapolis: “If we can’t bring the industry to PRI, why not bring PRI to the industry?” And just like that the PRI Road Tour was born. In a nutshell, we proceeded to take some of the world’s top content creators, load them into a van, and send them to nearly 100 motorsports parts manufacturers, speed shops, engine builders, car builders, tuners, WDs, race tracks, museums and more over two-and-a-half months to capture the images, tell the stories, and uncover the treasures from our innovation- and heritage-rich motorsports community. Taking this program from idea to reality was a journey in itself, and you’ll no doubt enjoy discovering how it all came together, straight from those who made it happen, beginning on page 50.

2) I THINK AFTER READING THIS MONTH’S Industry Insights column featuring Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Executive Director Megan Leatham, my bucket list just grew by one. Leatham, who took the position with no motorsports experience to speak of, has leaned instead on her natural leadership and organizational skills to shepherd the iconic event through a decade of growth and good financial stewardship. Her resume is even more impressive when you consider the logistics involved in hosting a one-day race that’s twelve-and-a-half miles up the side of a mountain. It starts with a unique partnership between the Hill Climb, the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Peak National Forest to maintain the venue. “It’s not meant to be a race course,” Leatham told us, “and that is what makes it so exciting. For one fantastic day each year, everything goes away and the road turns into a race course.” As for the people, a crew of about 15 full-time staff and contract workers balloons to a few hundred race officials, volunteers and seasonal employees each June. For more on the event’s racer selection process, why EVs are so effective at altitude, and what makes the Peak such a draw, see our coverage beginning on page 38.

3) I THINK WHAT MANUFACTURERS like Eagle Specialty Products, Anderson Composites and others are experiencing, as highlighted in our piece titled “Still Spiking,” is not unusual among motorsports parts suppliers. After a month or so of uncertainty last spring, a number of companies saw sales take off around summer. Well, here we are a year later and demand hasn’t let up. This scenario no doubt falls into the “good problem” category. But it’s nonetheless created challenges—order fulfillment, labor shortages, shipping delays, etc.—that require smart solutions. Get the inside story on how some of the industry’s brightest operators are adjusting to this unprecedented (and unpredictable) reality in our story beginning on page 112.

Larry Montante, Steve Whipple, Brian Reese, Lindsay Hubley, Kim Pendergast, and Kyle Fickler

Kyle Fickler of Driven Racing Oil has been elected chairman-elect and will help the SEMA Board of Directors lead the association over the next several years. Fickler fills the position held for the past two years by James Lawrence (Power Automedia), who will begin his term as chairman in July when Tim Martin (Aftermarket Advisors) concludes his term in that position.

Brian Reese (The Retrofit Source), Larry Montante (Keystone Automotive Operations), and Lindsay Hubley (Lodestone Events) were also voted onto the SEMA Board of Directors, while Kim Pendergast (Magnuson Superchargers) and Steve Whipple (Jegs High Performance) were re-elected and will serve another term.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, manufacturers’ representative, distributors/retailers, and services.

The entire 2021-2022 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation & Gala on July 30 in Las Vegas. At the same time, outgoing SEMA Immediate Past Chair Wade Kawasaki (Legendary Companies) and board members Donnie Eatherly (P&E Distributors), Dan Kahn (Kahn Media), and Brian Lounsberry (One 6 Motorsports) will be concluding their volunteer terms and honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to 2021 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Jessi Combs, Rick Love, Bob Moore, and Carl Schiefer.

For more information, visit sema.org.

Photo of Jim Farley and Lyn St. James courtesy of Ford Performance
 

Lyn St. James, a pioneer in sports car and Indy car racing who has since become a tireless promoter for opportunities for women and minorities in the sport, was presented the prestigious Spirit of Ford Award as part of the 26th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

The Spirit of Ford Award is Ford Motor Company’s highest honor in auto racing, recognizing lifetime achievement and contribution to the industry on and off the race track. St. James becomes the 27th recipient, joining an international list of honorees from all forms of racing and racing media.

St. James began her professional racing career with Ford in the early 1980s, competing in more than 100 SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA races. She won her class twice at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring once, and became the first and only woman to win an IMSA GT sports car race solo in 1985 at Watkins Glen.

She went on to run the Indianapolis 500 seven times, including being the first woman to win Rookie of the Year honors in 1992.  St. James held 21 international and national closed-circuit speed records for women over a 20-year period, including 225.722 mph during qualifying for the 1995 Indy 500.

“Lyn’s achievements on the track are special, but what she has done off the track is just as important to us in defining her legacy,” CEO of Ford Motor Company Jim Farley said. “Lyn, while racing for us, was also a consumer advisor to Ford on women’s issues, including educating women on the car-buying process and how to maintain their vehicles during their ownership.”

Currently, she is part of NASCAR’s Diversity Council, the A.C.C.U.S. North American Representative on FIA Women in Motorsports Commission, and part of the A.C.C.U.S. Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel.

For more information, visit performance.ford.com.