SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting is seeking recommendations of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors, which oversees Performance Racing Industry (PRI). 

These top-level executives will help serve the racing community and motorsports businesses. 

"A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process—our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the Nominating Committee," Kersting stated.

The following seats are open for this year’s election:

• Chairman-elect (1 open seat)
• Manufacturers (2 open seats)
• Distributors/Retailers (2 open seats)
• Services (1 open seat)

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. To help the vetting process, include information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience, and achievements.

For more information, visit sema.org/board-of-directors. To submit a nomination, visit the form here.

Ken Schrader Racing (KSR) will relocate from Concord, North Carolina, to St. Louis, Missouri, as announced by Ken Schrader. KSR fields entries throughout the US in various forms of racing, including the ARCA Series Presented by Menards and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

With the announcement, KSR will downsize operations and field a dirt car in various events.

“The plan was when we were done to go back. So it’s always been in the plan. It’s just that time now,” Schrader said to SPEED SPORT. 

Schrader and his wife have already sold the North Carolina-based race shop. Several items, including a race car hauler, race cars, workbenches, and more, are up for auction here. Memorabilia, primarily from NASCAR and ARCA teams, including uniforms, are also being sold here. 

Once the move is finalized, Shrader plans to take part in dirt modified events beginning in January at Alabama’s Talladega Short Track for the Talladega Ice Bowl, followed by visits to Arizona, Georgia, and Florida.

For more information, visit schraderracing.com.

Stäubli, the industrial and mechatronics solution provider, has announced Gerald Vogt as its new Chief Executive Officer. Vogt, previously responsible for the Robotics Division's global business, will take over as CEO from Rolf Strebel on January 1.

The Stäubli Board of Directors had previously nominated Vogt as the successor for Strebel at the beginning of the year. 

In his new position, Vogt will oversee the management of the family-owned company. He first joined Stäubli almost 20 years ago as a division manager. 

"We are delighted to have found in Gerald Vogt, a forward-looking manager with extensive international experience and a clear entrepreneurial spirit who is already very well connected within the Group. He has our full confidence to further advance the business of the entire Stäubli Group worldwide," Chairman of the Board of Directors Yves Serra said.

"On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the Stäubli family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rolf Strebel for more than 40 years of dedication to Stäubli and his outstanding work as CEO of the Stäubli Group over the past 14 years. We wish him all the best for the time ahead." 

The news comes as Stäubli celebrates its 40th anniversary in North America this year.

For more information, visit staubli.us.

Officials from USAC Racing have unveiled the 2021 calendar for the AMSOIL National Sprint Cars. 

The 50-event season kicks off in Ocala, Florida, at Bubba Raceway Park for the 12th annual Winter Dirt Games on February 11-13. The event, which will pay $10,000 to the final night’s winner, is one of several on the schedule with increased purses. This includes the $20,000-to-win Corn Belt Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway on July 10 and the $12,000-to-win Haubstadt Hustler at Indiana’s Tri-State Speedway on September 18. More are expected to be announced at a later date.

Notable events include the 10th annual Sprint Car Smackdown at Kokomo on August 26-28, as well as Eldora Speedway’s 39th anniversary 4-Crown Nationals, set for September 25.

Additional dates and venues are expected to be announced, including a date for the 25th annual Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway and the 54th Western World Championships at Arizona Speedway in San Tan Valley.

For the complete schedule, visit the USAC website here. For more information, visit usacracing.com.

^{Photo by Brandon Murray courtesy of USAC Racing}

Memphis International Raceway (MIR) and its parent company IRG Sports + Entertainment have announced Sam Martin as the sports venue’s new general manager. 

Martin brings motorsports industry knowledge, facility management, event marketing, and drag strip operations experience to one of the largest motorsports facilities in the Mid-South.

“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Memphis International Raceway team as we prepare for a full 2021 season,” Martin said. “I look forward to finalizing our 2021 schedule and meeting our racers and partners.” 

Martin will oversee day-to-day operations of the 342-acre, multi-use facility, which includes a combined 1/4- and 1/8-mile dragstrip, 1.8-mile road course, and 3/4-mile, high-banked paved oval.  

Martin most recently served as operations director at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. Before this, he was the West Central Services Coordinator for the NHRA. He also held stints at World Racing Group, Chris Duncan Race Cars Pro Mode Series, and the drag strip at Worldwide Technology Raceway.

For more information, visit racemir.com.

Stratasys, the provider of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology, has announced the acquisition of Origin, a 3D printing start-up company.

The transaction, set to be completed next month, includes Origin’s proprietary Programmable PhotoPolymerization (P³) technology. The platform is expected to add up to $200 million incremental annual revenue within five years to Stratasys. 

“Our customers are looking for additive manufacturing solutions that enable the use of industrial-grade resins for mass production parts with process and quality control,” said Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif. “We believe Origin’s software-driven Origin One system is the best in the industry by combining high throughput with incredible accuracy. When combined with Origin’s extensive materials ecosystem and our industry-leading go-to-market capabilities, we believe we will be able to capture a wide range of in-demand production applications on a global scale. Together with our intended entry into powder bed fusion technology, the acquisition of Origin reflects another step in fulfilling our objective to lead in polymer additive manufacturing by offering comprehensive, best-in-class technologies and solutions to create a fully digital additive value chain, designed for Industry 4.0 integration.”

Origin’s P3 technology, an advancement on Digital Light Processing (DLP) principles, cures liquid photopolymer resin with light. The company’s first manufacturing-grade 3D printer, Origin One, precisely controls light, heat, and force, among other parameters via Origin’s closed-loop feedback software. This is designed to enable customers to build parts with accuracy, consistency, size, and detail while using a wide range of commercial-grade, durable resins.

For more information, visit stratasys.com or origin.io. 

W Series, the all-female open wheel motorsports series, has announced its provisional race calendar for the 2021 season in partnership with Formula 1.

The schedule consists of eight races, all support events for the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1. The season will begin on June 26 in Le Castellet, France, and finish on October 30 in Mexico City, Mexico.

“The eight races will allow our fast and fearless female racing drivers to showcase their skills on some of the world’s most iconic racing circuits, in Europe and the Americas, and literally follow in the tire tracks of the greatest racing drivers in the world today,” W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir said. “W Series’ mission will always be to further the interests and prospects of female racing drivers and to inspire girls and women everywhere. Our 2021 race schedule, in partnership with Formula 1, will significantly increase our global reach, impact, and influence by... taking us to new audiences and territories.”

The complete schedule can be found on the W Series website here. 

For more information, visit wseries.com. 

^{Photo courtesy of W Series}

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an update to its Tampering Policy, which pertains to vehicle and engine tampering and aftermarket defeat devices under the Clean Air Act. The new memo replaces the prior enforcement, Memorandum 1A, which has been in place since 1974.

The revision states: EPA typically does not take enforcement action for conduct that might be a violation of section 203(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act if the person engaging in the conduct has a documented 'reasonable basis' to conclude that the conduct (or, where the conduct in question is the manufacturing or sale of a part or component, the installation and use of that part or component) does not and will not adversely affect emissions. This Policy Statement does not apply, however, to conduct affecting an OBD system, which may be subject to enforcement regardless of effect on emissions.

The revised policy better defines the "reasonable basis" with six circumstances, including:

• Identical to EPA-certified configuration.
• Emissions testing for replacement after-treatment systems for older vehicles, engines, and equipment.
• New after-treatment systems that decrease emissions.
• Emissions testing shows vehicle, engine, or part complies with emissions standards.
• EPA Certification of an aftermarket part.
• CARB (California Air Resources Board) Exemption of aftermarket part.

With the memo, the EPA explains that officials expect documentation of the "reasonable basis," including during the sale or installation of an aftermarket product or a vehicle's service.

The policy also details considerations such as labeling, marketing materials, recordkeeping, testing, and more that the aftermarket parts industry need to be aware of to comply. In addition, the EPA notes they will not provide a pre-approved "reasonable basis." 

Notably, the Tampering Policy does not address vehicles initially built for non-road competition use, cars converted for use solely in competition motorsports, or aftermarket parts purportedly manufactured or sold for those purposes. 

In related news, EPA seeks input regarding its ongoing evaluation of the 1986 Catalyst Policy, including a future decision to update or withdraw the policy potentially.

For more information, visit the EPA Tampering Policy here or epa.gov. 

Indianapolis businessman Kevin Garrigus has announced a long-term deal to open a new dirt track dubbed Circle City Raceway. Garrigus is the current owner and operator of the Indianapolis Speedrome. 

The facility will boast two tracks in one, with a 1/4-mile, mildly-banked oval that is 75-foot-wide and encompasses a smaller racing surface in the infield.

Officials finalized the new agreement with the board of directors of the Marion County Fairgrounds in mid-November. 

“We had a vision of bringing dirt track racing back to Indianapolis,” track owner Garrigus said in a release. 

Garrigus has recruited Indianapolis Speedrome track president Jonathan Byrd on the new Circle City Raceway project. 

“We will be showcasing a wide array of classes. There will be many ‘special events’ to go along with our local offerings. Talks are in progress with several notable national and regional racing series to compete at Circle City Raceway, as well as rules being developed for potential local divisions.” 

The track announced plans to kick off its 2021 season with a special event featuring Tony Stewart’s All Star Circuit of Champions’ winged 410 sprint cars on May 20-21.

“...this is history in a history-making affair, as these cars have never raced inside of Marion County. We are excited to be hosting the nation’s first touring winged sprint car series for our first-ever event,” Byrd said. 

Officials also discussed the possibility of visits from several racing series, including USAC National Midget and Sprint Cars, dirt late models, UMP-style Modifieds, Legends, 600cc sprints, Outlaw Karts, Front Wheel Drive cars, TQ midgets, and more. 

For more information, visit the Circle City Facebook page here. 

Miami-based NPW Companies has acquired Engine & Performance Warehouse Inc. (EPWI), the engine parts warehouse distributor based in Denver. The transaction was finalized on December 4. 

EPWI was founded over 50 years ago and today includes 13 warehouse locations in 10 states. The acquisition expands NPW’s footprint to 30 total warehouse locations and 50 storefronts.

“We are thrilled to partner with this long-established and trusted company,” NPW Companies Founder, President, and CEO Larry Pacey said. “EPWI is known for experienced, knowledgeable employees, robust logistics capabilities, substantial inventories, consistent performance, and strong supplier partnerships. They make for a fantastic addition to the NPW family.” 

EPWI currently services more than 6,500 active customers, including automotive jobbers, machine shops, and engine rebuilders. The company also holds a master catalog with more than 100 engine part product lines and more than 200,000 SKUs. 

EPWI also supports more than 100 prominent engine parts brand names and private label brands. 

For more information, visit npwcompanies.com or epwi.net.