What are you most looking forward to about this year’s Performance Racing Industry Trade Show?

Tough question, I know—it’s like asking, “What’s the best Led Zeppelin song?” or “What do you enjoy most about bacon cheeseburgers?”

That’s OK, you don’t have to respond right away.

(For the record, the correct answers are “Good Times Bad Times” and, of course, bacon.)

But back to the matter at hand, which happens to be the most important event of the year for motorsports professionals from coast to coast and around the world. Set for December 12–14 at the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) in downtown Indianapolis, this year’s PRI Show promises to deliver countless race-winning parts and solutions from well over 1100 of the industry’s top manufacturers and service providers.

That’s to be expected, as aisles upon aisles of specialty products will once again be introduced to the trade and media over three days that, for many in attendance, will seem to fly by faster than a Red Bull pit stop.

Which brings us to the next point: It’s important to be prepared. In addition to longtime Show favorites like the world-famous Machinery Row, Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes and Featured Vehicles Display, PRI 2019 will roll out several new and expanded features that we’re particularly excited about, including…

* Dozens of first-time exhibitors, including Dragonfire Tools, which will showcase the company’s line of workbenches and tool cabinets from booth #7511; Salenbien Performance, which plans to offer a selection of parts and fluids for pulling and diesel performance from booth #7528; and Sparta Evolution, whose brake calipers, rotors, pads, fluids and lines you’ll find in booth #6010.

* A blockbuster Grand Opening Breakfast featuring new emcee Ralph Sheheen of SPEED SPORT and Don Schumacher Racing drivers Jack Beckman, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson Jr. and Leah Pritchett. The event starts a bit earlier than usual this year—7:45 a.m. sharp—so arrive at the ICC’s Sagamore Ballroom early for prime seating.

* A wide-open display of race trailers, haulers, motor coaches and toterhomes right on the Lucas Oil Stadium field, as well as a larger and more user-friendly location for PRI’s popular Featured Products Showcase, which moves into the Stadium’s Exhibit Hall. Both will be easily accessible from the Convention Center’s main halls and adjacent parking lots.

* Our most comprehensive lineup ever of business education and training sessions broken out into six separate tracks. Professional speakers, industry leaders and expert presenters will cover everything from sponsorships and social media to sales strategies and hiring qualified employees, along with can’t-miss seminars on cam selection, induction systems, oils & fuels, and much more.                 

Hopefully we’ve given you a few things to think about as you begin, continue, or wrap up preparations for this year’s PRI Show. For more information or to register for the Show, including sign-ups for PRI’s free business education seminars, visit prishow.com. And stay tuned for next month’s issue—our big Trade Show Guide that’ll be packed with exhibitor listings, event schedules, product previews and all the details you’ll need to take full advantage of PRI 2019!

The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) & Museum, located near Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, will honor the late sprint car driver Greg Hodnett in 2020.

Next year’s “Salute To Champion” exhibition, which will feature Hodnett’s cars and racing memorabilia, was announced during the 57th annual Willams Grove National Open in Pennsylvania. There, Hodnett’s widow, Sherry, accepted the 2018 North American Sprint Car Poll Thomas J. Schmeh Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award on Greg’s behalf.

The “Salute To Champion” is tentatively scheduled for the NSCHoF & Museum from May 1 through October 1. The exhibit will be the 10th and final display of its type for the organization. Past honorees include Tony Stewart (2011), Jeff Gordon (2012), Mario Andretti (2013), Steve Kinser (2014), Doug Wolfgang (2015), Hall of Fame Inductees at Indy (2016), Sammy Swindell (2017) Bryan Clauson (2018) and A.J. Foyt (2019).

For more information, visit sprintcarhof.com.

Three-time Texas Motorplex Top Fuel winner and 34-time Top Fuel NHRA national event winner Cory McClenathan will be honored at the upcoming 34th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals as the first recipient of the Texas Motorplex Legend award.

McClenathan—who announced he would race the final three NHRA Mello Yello Series national events of the 2019 season and then retire—last appeared at the FallNationals in 2018. He has 18 starts, two No. 1 qualifiers, five finals, three wins and 32-15 record at the NHRA super-track located just south of Dallas. McClenathan will be racing a Top Fuel dragster owned by Dexter Tuttle and sponsored by Revchem Composites and Nordic Boats.

Most notably, McClenathan was the first driver to exceed 320 mph when his McDonald’s sponsored Top Fuel dragster blazed down the all-concrete track at a speed of 321.77 mph in 1997. That run was voted the Top 5 all-time Motorplex Moment.

Additionally, McClenathan is recognized in the No. 9 all-time Motorplex Moment which was Don Prudhomme’s last professional victory as a driver. McClenathan was in the opposite lane against Prudhomme during that race in 1994.

“Cory McClenathan is a big part of the record-setting history of Texas Motorplex and the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals,” Texas Motorplex General Manager Andy Carter said to TexasMotorplex.com. “We are thrilled he is closing out his amazing career with another race in Ennis. We are honored to recognize him as the first Texas Motorplex Legend award recipient. We will have a special presentation for him during opening ceremonies and he will forever be recognized in the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club.”

The AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals will be contested from October 18-20 with two days of qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

For tickets and more information, visit texasmotorplex.com.

Image courtesy of NHRA

The automotive sales and application manager for Sunnen Products Company, Bob Dolder, has retired from his position after more than 22 years with the honing experts, according to published reports.

Dolder, who began his automotive career nearly 50 years ago, was also recently honored during the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association’s (PERA) Annual Convention in San Diego, California. He received a plaque from PERA President Matt McGraw for his contributions to PERA’s Program Planning Committee and his service to the engine remanufacturing industry.

Dolder first ran an automotive machine shop in Columbus, Ohio, in 1971, later moving to the position of vice president and general manager of an automotive parts store.

Later, Dolder served in the sales department for Kwik-Way Manufacturing before teaching and running the machine shop program at Macomb College in Warren, Michigan.

He then joined Sunnen in 1998 as the automotive sales and application manager for the company. There, he was honored as a top salesman with the Joe Sunnen Award.

For more information, visit sunnen.com.

Photo courtesy of PERA

Following more than two years of development from concept to reality, NASCAR’s Next Gen car hit the track for the first time for a two-day test at Richmond Raceway.

The much-anticipated car, which is slated to debut at the 2021 Daytona 500, will honor stock car racing’s roots with bodies that resemble their street versions while incorporating new vehicle technology and innovation.

“This is an important milestone for the Next Gen car and the future of stock car racing,” NASCAR Senior Vice President of Innovation and Racing Development John Probst said. “There are so many new systems on the car from the front to the back that our main goal with this test was to log laps and put miles on them. The test has met—and even exceeded—our expectations, and we are well on our way to developing the final iteration of the car.”

Austin Dillon was behind the wheel of the car, which was assembled by Richard Childress Racing in collaboration with NASCAR.

“I really enjoyed driving the car,” Dillon said. “I like the way that it looks, you can see the finished product down the road. The OEMs can make the body look really good, like a street car that you see on the road today. When it comes together, and they all get their cars on the track, we’re going to have something to work with that also looks really good.”

The car is one of two prototypes currently built. The other was assembled by NASCAR and was tested in the wind tunnel for the first time on Oct. 1. Another on-track test is anticipated before the year concludes.

“We have a very comprehensive test plan,” Probst said. “We will be doing extensive wind tunnel testing to ensure liftoff speeds are appropriate before moving to larger tracks. As we move into 2020, we will begin testing on intermediate tracks, superspeedways, and road courses.”

While many components on the current versions of the car will remain, some major elements—including each OEMs body design—are still in development.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR

The ARCA Menards Series will end a 54-year hiatus when it returns to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the first time since 1965 on May 30, 2020.

The event, held in conjunction with the NASCAR XFINITY Series weekend, will take place at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn natural terrain road course in Lexington, Ohio.

"We have worked diligently with [Track President] Craig Rust and his team at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for several seasons trying to get the ARCA Menards Series back on their schedule, and we're really happy to make it happen for the 2020 season," ARCA President Ron Drager said. "We have a lot of excitement building for 2020 and additions to our schedule like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are a big part of it."

Like all Mid-Ohio events, children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult, plus free parking is available. The complete 2020 event schedule will be released later this fall.

For more information, visit midohio.com or arcaracing.com.

Photo courtesy of ARCA

Bristol Motor Speedway officials have confirmed the Short Track US Nationals returns in 2020 with a similar date and program from the successful 2019 event.

The event again takes place over two days—Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30—and will showcase four classes headlined by Super Late Models followed by Pro Late Models, Street Stocks and Compacts.

The two-day format will provide competitors with additional practice opportunities throughout the day on Friday and will be followed by practice, qualifying and racing on Saturday.

"We've received tremendous feedback from teams and spectators alike on last year's two-day schedule of events and look forward to making 2020 even better," said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. "Our collective teams are developing new programs that will help pave the path for future stars of NASCAR to cut their teeth on the high banks of Bristol and this coming year is shaping up to be the best yet." 

The sanctioning bodies leading the efforts in 2020 for the Super Late Models are the ARCA/CRA Super Series powered by JEGS, The Southern Super Series and the CARS Tour. The Pro Late Models will be sanctioned by the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance. The CRA Van Hoy Oil Street Stocks will oversee their portion of the show, while the Vore's Compact Touring Series will handle the sanctioning of the Front Wheel Drive Compacts.

Additional details regarding the event, including new programs for 2020 will be announced in the coming months.

For more information, visit bristolmotorspeedway.com.

The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame will induct nine individuals from different sectors of racing during its 2019 induction ceremony scheduled for November 2, 2019, at the soon-to-open new Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Central City, Kentucky.

The latest inductees—all born in or lived within the state—are a mix of people involved in the sport of motorsports that have made a major impact on the segment.

Hydroplane racer Jim McCormick, drag racing duo Bill Thornberry and Tom Seigle, traveling series promoter Mike Libs, engine builder Ira “Red” Jackson Cornett, expert wirer and car builder Joe Keller, race track promoter Jake Gibson, drag racer Benitta Rusell and multiple track champion Chris Harmon will be honored.

For more information on the Class of 2019, visit kentuckymotorsportshalloffame.com.

The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show’s Featured Products Showcase returns for a third year in 2019, providing exhibitors with unmatched opportunities to boost their products and brand awareness before, during and after the world’s premier event for motorsports professionals.

As part of the Showcase experience, PRI will once again host international media from key regions of the world to participate in the Global Media Awards program. Participating journalists will select 10 Featured Products Showcase products that are likely to be well-received in their home country.

The winning exhibitors are then invited to attend a special reception in the Indiana Convention Center to receive their award and meet the international journalists. Last year, 70 Global Media Awards were presented for 53 different Showcase products.

The deadline to preregister products at a discounted rate online is Monday, December 9. After, exhibitors may submit their products on-site, based on space availability.

The PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths from Dec. 12-14, 2019, in downtown Indianapolis.

For more information on the Featured Products Showcase and how to enter products, visit here. For more information on PRI 2019, visit prishow.com.

The aeroscreen IndyCar will adopt in 2020 is stronger than the halo device used in Formula 1 and other single-seater categories, according to developer Red Bull Advanced Technologies.

The device, which also features a halo-like structure, was tested on-track for the first time on Wednesday at Indianapolis, after which IndyCar drivers Will Power and Scott Dixon suggested it would be ready immediately if required.

The halo device F1 introduced for 2018 is tested with a load of 112 kilonewtons on the car, and can take a reported maximum load of 125kN in total, but the aeroscreen is thought to be capable of withstanding 25kN more than that.

"We've adopted it [the halo, in F1], however, the forces which this device [the aeroscreen] or the hoop will take is 150kN," said Red Bull Advanced Technologies commercial development officer Andy Damerum. "So I think that at the moment [this will take] more than the F1 halo. 150kN this will take."

IndyCar will conduct three more aeroscreen tests before the 2020 season. Dixon and 2019 champion Josef Newgarden will run at Richmond on October 7, while James Hinchcliffe and Sebastien Bourdais will head to Sebring on November 5.

IndyCar is hoping one of the tests will be in the wet to trial how the aeroscreen will react to rain, but a number of built-in features, including wipers, left Dixon and Power unconcerned.

"They've got a heated screen for the fogging because I think that's actually worse than the water on the screen," said Power.

“But [products like] Rain-X or wax, there's things you can make so it [rain] just beads off.

"That's something they'll have to test, but I think if it doesn't fog, it should be not bad."

Dixon added: "I think the hardest situation would have been like maybe Detroit race one this year where it was misty, but then they had re-ground the back straight, the concrete, so there was a lot of white dust, and when that got on the visor it was a bit annoying, but it'll be interesting.

"We race with visors, you have tear-offs. It's a similar kind of deal."

Speculation had mounted as to whether the extra weight as a result of the aeroscreen's addition will place more load on the front-right tyre.

But Power said cars could actually be easier on their Firestone tires thanks to a weight-distribution shift.

"It actually makes the car more forgiving, the weight distribution, because this car, when it was built, came with two rearward weight distributions, so everyone has done all they can to move it forward," explained Power.

"So it actually puts [the car] in a pretty good window in my opinion of weight distribution, and, with a few adjustments, it worked pretty well.

"I felt over the whole stint there was a pretty good balance.

"They really didn't feel that different to what we had, it's just a bit more forgiving now because you've got more weight up in front."