The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has released the 2020 IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering schedule, which will feature an 18-race schedule over nine double-race weekends.

Top (Box), Mod (No Box / Footbrake) and Junior Dragsters will have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious IHRA Ironman at each event, which comes with the coveted oversized championship checks. Class runners-up will receive the limited-edition Sportsman Spectacular silver medals in addition to their winnings.

The weekend program includes a test & tune and golf cart race. First, second and third-round prizes will also be featured during the weekend.

IHRA members can also maximize their weekend winnings from several IHRA contingency program partners.

The IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering will kick off the 2020 season February 22, at State Capitol Raceway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

For more information on the 2020 IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering visit ihra.com.

2020 IHRA Sportsman Spectacular Schedule presented by Hagerty and Moser Engineering
February 22, State Capitol Raceway, Baton Rouge, La.
March 22, Holly Springs Motorsports, Holly Springs, Miss.
May 2, Amarillo Dragway, Amarillo, Texas
May 15-17, Dragway 42, West Salem, Ohio
June 6, Mo-Kan Dragway, Asbury, Mo.
July 10-12, Darlington Dragway, Hartsville, S.C.
June 26-28, US 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Mich.
August 21-23, Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville, Md.
TBD, Farmington Dragway, Mocksville, N.C.

Engine Parts Group, Inc. (Engine Pro) has appointed Jesse C. Jones as president of the engine parts distribution group. Jones has prior experience with automotive aftermarket and OE suppliers, including holding senior management positions at MAHLE Clevite, Dana Incorporated and Cometic Gaskets.

“We are fortunate to be able to bring someone of Jesse’s caliber to Engine Pro. He has an enviable record of performance in sales and marketing management, product line development, sourcing, and overall operations management. We are confident that Jesse will be an effective and enthusiastic leader,” EPGI Chairman Paul Van Woensel of Engine & Performance Warehouse, Inc. said.

Jones will be based in Michigan, close to many of the group’s supplier partners and central to the national Engine Pro distributor network. The group’s headquarters and business office will continue to be located in Wheat Ridge, a suburb of Denver, Colorado.

As the new company president, Jones will be responsible for the group’s growth initiatives and strategic planning. His focus will include strengthening supplier programs and relationships, expanding product line coverage, and developing new market opportunities.  He will work closely with the group’s shareholders and Engine Pro staff to expand the company’s private label programs which provide competitive products, pricing, and service to the engine professionals who purchase and support Engine Pro products.

Engine Pro is the engine parts distribution network for the US, Australia, and Europe. The group’s independent specialty engine parts distributors operate 37 warehouses and inventory a full line of internal engine components for domestic and import applications.

For more information, visit enginepro.com.

We completely understand—it’s easy to get caught up in the activity and excitement of the annual PRI Trade Show.

After all, the most recent edition, held December 12-14 in downtown Indianapolis, may have been our best yet, as there was something for everyone at the jam-packed affair inside the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS). Consider that PRI 2019 featured...

* Nearly 1,200 exhibiting companies—about 30 more than the previous year—representing all types of racing and performance

* Almost 21,000 registered buyers from across the US and dozens of overseas markets (including Senegal, Israel and Azerbaijan)

* Just under 29,000 net square feet of trailer exhibits on the field of LOS, a 21% increase over the prior year

* Over 750 parts and equipment from 300 participating exhibitors highlighted in PRI’s Featured Products Showcase

* An expanded PRI Education program including top-level seminars on everything from digital marketing and pricing strategies to cam selection and engine controls

* The ultimate feel-good, as Sunnen’s Engine Charity Sweepstakes raised a record $120,000 for the kids at Victory Junction

So yes, it was a lot to take in. But here’s the catch: PRI 2019 isn’t really about last year. It’s a launching pad for 2020 and beyond. Because what you take away from the experience, and how you apply it to your business or racing program in the coming months, will determine just how valuable those three glorious days in December truly were.

The products that caught your eye at the Show—maybe it was AEM Performance Electronics’ CD-5/7 Carbon Digital Dashes, or Delta PAG’s Brushless Water Pump, or ProCharger’s D-1X Supercharger System, or StopTech’s new Competition Brake Kits, or any of the countless other innovations on display—could very well be this season’s bestseller. Or the difference between a podium finish and a DNF.

And what you learned about getting your business unstuck and realizing your true growth potential; or how to be your authentic self on social media; or where to find—and how to retain—qualified employees; or any of the countless other lessons from PRI’s two-dozen educational seminars, could very well position your company for success in the near- and long-term.

We encourage you to keep that in mind as you review our retrospective on the most recent PRI Show, which begins on page 20 of this month's issue of PRI Magazine. Enjoy the look back, but also consider how you can advance the ball, so to speak: What were the big takeaways? How can you follow up on what you discovered, or whom you met, or what was confirmed in Indianapolis?

In short, what steps can you take in the coming days and weeks to ensure PRI 2019 sets the tone for a prosperous 2020? Don’t leave those opportunities in the rearview!

Mike Thermos, the co-founder of NOS and owner of Nitrous Supply, has acquired an inventory of nitrous oxide-related components from Edelbrock. Edelbrock will continue to offer nitrous oxide kits, accessories, controllers, bottles, jets, nozzles, and more.

“We will be able to fulfill kit orders from their major retailers, like Summit and Jegs, and supply ancillary items. Our technical staff at Nitrous Supply can provide support needed by owners of Edelbrock nitrous kits, as well as replacement parts and performance upgrades,” Thermos said in published reports.

"Edelbrock is still very much in the nitrous business,” a company release said, which also stated Edelbrock, LLC is not affiliated with Nitrous Supply other than as a product vendor.

Edelbrock, based in Torrance, California, designs, develops and manufactures specialty automotive and motorcycle parts.

Nitrous Supply, based in Huntington Beach, California, is the manufacturer of nitrous oxide parts and accessories. The company also provides custom plumbing, system testing, and bottle refills.

For more information, visit edelbrock.com or nitroussupply.com.

QA1 has announced the move to its brand-new headquarters, located just two miles from its previous facilities in Lakeville, Minnesota.

QA1’s new address, effective immediately, is 9574 217th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044.

The new building combines all of QA1’s operations under one roof, improving efficiencies across the company. Providing over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing, office, and distribution space, the new headquarters will allow QA1 to continue adding to its line of performance shocks, suspension components, driveshafts, rod ends, spherical bearings and related products.

“We are excited to provide this new facility to everyone at Team QA1. The investment and move show our commitment to our employees, our customers, and our community,” QA1 President Melissa Scoles said. “We are proud of what we’ve built in Lakeville and are excited to continue making quality American-made products here for years to come. The new facility provides space for more equipment, inventory, and innovation, while providing modern workspaces for our team to be more comfortable and efficient.”

The state-of-the-art facility features improvements such as dedicated machining, fabrication, and composites manufacturing cells, an R&D center, complete climate control, and planned space to grow into.

For more information, visit qa1.net.

NASCAR has announced changes to the NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination and induction processes, including reducing the annual number of inductees from five to three and splitting potential nominees into two ballots—one for contemporary stars and one for the sport’s pioneers.

Starting with the upcoming Class of 2021, the existing Nomination Committee will provide 10 nominees for the Modern Era Ballot. A new Honors Committee—largely comprised of all living Hall of Famers, Landmark Award winners and Squier-Hall Award winners—will evaluate and provide five nominees for the Pioneer Ballot.

The Voting Panel will meet in Charlotte on Wednesday, May 20, to ultimately vote for the three-member Class of 2021—two from the Modern Era Ballot and one from the Pioneer Ballot.

Competitors are eligible for the Modern Era Ballot if their career started within the past 60 years (1961 for Class of 2021). Nominees can stay on the Modern Era Ballot for up to 10 years. Those whose careers began more than 60 years ago or who have been on the Modern Era Ballot for 10 years will be eligible for the Pioneer Ballot.

"When we opened the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, we had to catch up on more than 60 years of NASCAR history," said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. "Our plan has always been to evaluate the process as the Hall of Fame matured. With 55 of the sport’s greatest competitors enshrined, we felt the time was right to move to three inductees which will help maintain the high standard of enshrinement that’s been set."

Twelve representatives from the Honors Committee, including seven new voters—Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Ron Hornaday Jr., Dale Jarrett, Roger Penske, Darrell Waltrip, and Rusty Wallace—will serve on the Voting Panel.
 
Changes have also been made to crew chief eligibility to align it with driver eligibility. In addition to the requirement to participate in NASCAR for 10 years, crew chiefs must now also be retired for two years. Competitors with 30 years of NASCAR experience and those aged 55 or higher are also eligible.

In related NASCAR Hall of Fame news, five of NASCAR’s legendary competitors were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buddy Baker, Joe Gibbs, Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, and Waddell Wilson comprise the 11th Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame—now home to 55 inductees.

For more information, visit nascarhall.com.

Aeromotive, the manufacturer of aftermarket fuel systems and accessories, has announced the promotion of two employees into senior management roles.  

Johnson Barrick has been named vice president of sales and marketing, while Jeff Stacy has been promoted to executive vice president of both Aeromotive and its Waterman Racing Components sister brand.  

Barrick, who formerly held the position of sales and marketing manager at Aeromotive, surpassed sales goals and pushed Aeromotive into double-digit growth in 2019, according to a company release.

In his new role, Barrick will be responsible for communicating sales plan objectives and organizational expenditures to remain in sync with company goals; developing, implementing and managing new and existing distribution strategies; and leading strategy for marketing, public relations and creative projects.

Stacy, previously the vice president of Aeromotive Inc., brings his more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. During his three-year term as vice president, Stacy pushed Aeromotive into new markets and expanded its body of distributors, according to a company release.

Now as the executive vice president of Aeromotive Inc. and Waterman Racing Components, Stacy will be guiding the companies’ executive leaders in formulating and implementing strategic plans and overseeing their operations.  

For more information, visit aeromotiveinc.com.

Image courtesy of Aeromotive

Motorsports executive Joe Garone has accepted the chief operating officer position at Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR), the motorsports facility located in Fountain, Colorado.

The Denver native, who served last season as president of Spire Motorsport’s No. 77 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team, will continue his relationship with Spire Sports & Entertainment to obtain sponsorship for both Spire and PPIR events and programs.

Prior to joining Spire Motorsports in 2019, Garone was president and general manager of the former Furniture Row Racing team, which won the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship with driver Martin Truex Jr.

Garone’s objectives as PPIR’s new COO include growing company business while expanding the venue’s cultural music and motorsports festival-style offerings, according to a track release.

Garone also brings the Falci Adaptive Motorsports program home to Colorado, which will now be based out of PPIR. The state-of-the-art program pioneered by Dr. Scott Falci allows mobility challenged individuals to drive an 850-horsepower NASCAR Cup Series car hands- and foot-free.

“I’m beyond excited to return to Colorado and play a key role in enhancing the unique events already taking place at Pikes Peak International Raceway,” Garone said in a release. “Our goal is to build a strong foundation that will allow us to entice even larger talent to provide world-class entertainment for our audiences.”

For more information, visit ppir.com.

Racing industry suppliers can now apply for exhibit space at the 2020 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show by visiting prishow.com/exhibit. Taking place December 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, the 2020 PRI Trade Show brings industry members together for three days of business, networking, education, training, and more.

"The PRI Trade Show is where the racing industry gathers to do business,” said PRI Trade Show Director Karin Davidson. "Manufacturers are able to conduct business with key decision makers and get their products into the all-important racing distribution pipeline. Buyers from all over the world come in search of the latest engine parts, suspension components, data acquisition, safety gear and more.”

Now in its 33rd year, the PRI Show attracts 1,200 exhibiting companies and 70,000 attendees representing all forms of racing from across the US and 70 countries, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, e-commerce sites, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.

“We exhibit at PRI because it is absolutely guaranteed that we are going to be in front of the largest gathering of our target customers, anywhere in the world,” said Jason Levitt of Full Spectrum Power. “There is no other opportunity even remotely close to PRI, in being able to put yourself in front of thousands of your target customers. This is a place where you can meet anyone in the racing industry, and talk with them face-to-face.”

New companies that submit booth space applications before May 8, 2020, will be added on a first-come-first-served basis after the initial plotting of returning exhibitors in June. In addition to the Indiana Convention Center, the indoor exhibit area on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium provides additional space for the Show’s expansive display of state-of-the-art race trailers, haulers and motor coaches. In all, the PRI Show covers 950,000 gross square feet of floor space, which is just part of what makes it the world’s largest professional racing trade show.

To apply for booth space at the 2020 PRI Show, visit prishow.com/exhibit or call 949-499-5413.

Jeff Dahlin has joined Performance Racing Industry (PRI) as an Industry Sales Director, where he will oversee a portfolio of client accounts and drive revenue for the motorsports industry’s leading Trade Show, held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as its accompanying monthly publication and media channels.

Dahlin brings with him 20 years of automotive sales, marketing, and executive-level publishing experience. Notably, he spent 16 years at Source Interlink and the MotorTrend Group, where he rose through the ranks at several publications as a Director, Group Publisher, and eventually to the position of General Manager of the HOT ROD Network.

During that time, Dahlin didn’t just hone his sales skills—he also ran several departments and oversaw a staff of 40 employees across more than a dozen established automotive media brands. Most recently, Dahlin served as Chief Marketing Officer for Bullet Proof Diesel.  

In addition to an impressive track record that includes being named one of SEMA’s Top 35 under 35 in 2007, Dahlin is a passionate automotive enthusiast who spends time working on classic and muscle car projects while getting in as much off-roading as possible.

“I jumped at the opportunity to work for PRI and SEMA, as I’ve worked with so many of the employees in the past and have always respected the passion and assistance provided to our automotive industry,” said Dahlin, who will be based out of PRI’s Aliso Viejo, California, offices. “To be able to contribute to an organization that does so much great work is an honor for me, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do so.”

Dahlin received his B.S. in Communication and Media Studies from Northern Arizona University, and an M.A. in Communication and Media Studies from California State University, Long Beach.

In related news, PRI has announced that company veteran Reham Gharib will take on the new position of Sales Operations Project Manager. In this role, Gharib will manage the records of all PRI and SEMA sponsorship contracts, help ensure deliverables are accounted for, and communicate with all appropriate stakeholders.

She also will be the key stakeholder and project manager for the PRI Show’s Featured Product Showcase and SEMA Show’s New Products Showcase. Gharib has been with PRI since 2014.

In addition, PRI Industry Sales Manager Brendan Gillespie, who previously served in a sales/operations hybrid role, will now focus strictly on sales opportunities—specifically exhibit space and sponsorship sales for both the PRI and SEMA Shows, as well as advertising sales for both PRI Magazine and SEMA News. Gillespie, a six-year veteran of the company, will concentrate on the Racing and Performance market.

For more information, visit performanceracing.com.