| Performance Racing Industry

2018 PRI Trade Show Set For Grand Opening

More than 1,100 companies exhibiting at the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show put the finishing touches on their displays Wednesday ahead of the official start of the three biggest business days in racing.

Top motorsports product manufacturers and service providers will showcase the latest developments in auto racing technology in more than 3,300 booths during this year's Show, and tens of thousands of buyers from all 50 states and 70 countries will be on hand to conduct business and discover innovative solutions.

As exhibitors readied for the blockbuster trade-only event, taking place December 6-8, various motorsports-related conferences, seminars and special events filled the Indiana Convention Center as part of Race Industry Week.

Seminars like the Race Track Business Conference, Advanced Engineering Technology Conference and International Council of Motorsport Sciences' Annual Congress provided unlimited business opportunities and unparalleled education on the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world.

To view photos of today's events at PRI 2018, view the online photo gallery here. For more information or to register for the 2018 PRI Show, visit pri2018.com.

December 2018

PRI 2018: Insurance Among Hot Topics At 30th ICMS Congress

"To be properly prepared and protected, you need to have protocols and safety plans in place," said MP2B Assurance's Tom Derouin as he addressed a packed room of industry professionals on improving safety and performance for motorsports participants during the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Congress at the 2018 PRI Trade Show.

In addition to the importance of insurance and incident reports, speakers at the 30th annual ICMS Congress discussed new techniques used for concussion diagnosis, the evolution of a safer barrier, and liability risks for medical and safety workers, which delved into the possession of controlled medication.

"Controlled substances have to be registered with the DEA--they take that very seriously--and if they were to be stolen, the incident needs to be reported," said Sherry Fabina-Abney, a partner at the law firm Ice Miler in Indianapolis. "You're better off writing prescriptions so they can go get them at a pharmacy, instead of you running that risk."

AMA Supercross/Motocross Medical Director John Bodnar added, "You can carry controlled drugs with you, but they have to be with you 24/7. You can't leave them in your hotel room to go out to the track. You're supposed to carry them with you at all times, and it gets to be a little too much."

Attendees at the annual congress were enthralled by the different subjects discussed at this year's conference.

"It's a great event to network and learn how we can help each other out," said Jason Cormier, a neurosurgeon representing Motorsports Safety Group in Lafayette, Louisiana. "It's great we're discussing insurance, and if you really need insurance in every single state. Malpractice insurance is already expensive, so if there is a way to have coverage across the board, that's certainly beneficial."

The opportunities to discover new ideas and network were also extremely valuable to Shirley Benson, who attended the congress on behalf of the Canadian MTS Response Team.

"Every session has provided something we can take back home and use in our programs," said Benson, who was attending ICMS's conference for the first time. "It's essentially one-stop shopping with all the information that is made available to you. It's been incredibly beneficial."

For more information or to register for the 2018 PRI Show, December 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center, visit pri2018.com.

December 2018

PRI 2018: Networking, Opportunities Shine At Race Track Business Conference (RTBC)

This year's Race Track Business Conference (RTBC) at the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, which featured nine jam-packed educational sessions, opened with panels of experts covering topics on event operations, betting in the sports arena and event security at the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis. Also included during the full-day event was the future of racing, eSports, motorsports country clubs, sports finance and media.

"The clientele that are here are a lot of the 'who's who' of the industry, from small-time circle tracks to international motorsport operations," Lucas Oil Director of Race Operations Ritchie Lewis said, who attended the RTBC for the third time this year. "So it gives you a broad spectrum and opens your eyes to a lot of very smart people sharing their best practices."

The session on sports betting, which was headlined by Jimmie McMillan of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Wes Zirkle of Keller Macalluso LLC, covered one of the hottest topics in racing—and the sports arena in general. Gambling on races, which is illegal in most states, was made legal in Delaware earlier this year with several states expected to follow suit in the future.

"We're at the forefront of this opportunity, and the motorsports community has an opportunity to shape this," Zirkle said of betting in the racing industry. "Not just at the NASCAR and INDYCAR levels, but those at the local level have an opportunity to shape [sports betting] in a way that works for them."

Key takeaways include preparing the racing industry for the world of betting, keeping racing businesses' integrity intact when it comes to gambling, and, perhaps most importantly, is the fact that sports betting expands the "revenue pie" in racing, rather than competes for a piece of the pie.

Another valuable topic incorporated into the conference was event security, which informed track operators, promoters and related personnel on how to ensure a safe atmosphere during race weekend. Lauri Eberhart of Apollo Sports Law Group, David Froscheiser of Security4Sports and Shaun Johnson of Charlotte Motor Speedway went over how to prepare for large events, the lessons learned from recent security incidents, and working effectively with law enforcement and authorities.

Eberhart, who has been a repeat panelist of the RTBC for several years, had a message for track personnel regarding facility security.

"Between a lawyer and a security firm, you can come up with a really good plan," Eberhart said. "Have a security plan. Follow the plan and keep the plan updated. That's the best thing you can do to insulate yourself from bad things from happening, and also insulate yourself from legal liabilities."

Later in the day, PRI's Dan Schechner headed a panel of media members sharing their experiences on reporting in the racing industry. Representatives from several esteemed publications, including PRI Magazine, ESPN.com, Turn 3 Media, ScoreShots and more, explored topics on getting the word out, reaching the proper audience channels, and choosing the best media platforms.

For more information or to register for the 2018 PRI Show, December 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center, visit pri2018.com.

December 2018

PRI 2018: Engine Technology Collaboration Among Hot-button Topics At AETC

A standing-room-only crowd of engine builders, designers, engineers, manufacturers, business owners and racers learned about the benefits of collaboration and testing on Wednesday during day two of the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) at the 2018 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

"We found it's a lot more advantageous for a customer, to get what he wants, if we worked together," said S&S Diesel Motorsport Owner Luke Lagellier about the working relationship he and noted engine builder Jeremy Wagler of Wagler Competition Products have built to offer customers optimal engine packages that deliver peak performance.

Lagellier and Wagler were part of Wednesday's speaker lineup that included ECR Engines' Gary Patterson, Excel Engineering's Doug Sobotka, Automotive Specialists' Keith Dorton and Driven Racing Oils' Lake Speed Jr.

"There is a lot of knowledge being shared that I'll take back to my company," said Lance Nagorski of BluePrint Engines in Kearney, Nebraska, who attended the AETC for the second straight year. "It's a good way to learn, interact and build relationships with the speakers and other attendees. Every speaker brought something new that makes perfect sense when you hear them explain it."

During his presentation on direct injection engines and low-speed pre-ignition, Speed discussed the importance of oil changes and the role the government plays on suggested oil-change intervals by OEMs.

"The reason OEMs have long drain intervals is because they get CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] credit, because they are reducing the amount of waste oil," Speed explained. "They all pay CAFE fines, and they can reduce the amount of fines they pay by having a longer drain interval."

For more information or to register for the 2018 PRI Show, December 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center, visit pri2018.com.

December 2018

PRI 2018 Exhibitor News: Race Winning Brands Acquires MGP Connecting Rods

Race Winning Brands, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Giannone Performance Products, Inc., also known as MGP Connecting Rods, a manufacturer of aluminum connecting rods for the racing and high-performance markets. MGP represents the fifth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands.

Race Winning Brands is a manufacturer of high-performance and racing-related components for the automotive and powersports markets. RWB is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, and markets its products globally through brands including JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Dart Machinery, Rekluse Motor Sports, Falicon Racing and ProX Racing Parts.

“The company is set to reach full potential now as part of the Race Winning Brands family” said Darcell Giannone, owner and wife of MGP founder Michael Giannone. “I am excited to see the brand continue to grow and prosper in alignment with Michael’s vision for MGP.”

Race Winning Brands CEO Brian Reese added, “We continue pursuing our vision of leading racers to victory with the best engine parts in the market, MGP is further investment in our expansion to adjacent categories.”

Bob Fox, RWB’s President of Diamond Pistons and Trend Performance, will assume the role of President of MGP Connecting Rods. “MGP is a leader in aluminum racing rods, technology, and manufacturing,” said Fox. “Our plan is to offer customers a high-quality connecting rod that is co-engineered to work perfectly with our pistons.”

Pictured, from left to right, are Bob Fox, Darcell Giannone, Anthony Giannone and Brian Reese.

December 2018

Drag Illustrated To Reveal Annual '30 Under 30' List At PRI Trade Show

Drag Illustrated’s annual 30 Under 30 list will be revealed during its official press conference and magazine cover reveal at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

The fourth annual list will be announced in the PRI Media Center, Rooms 116 & 117, and one-on-one interviews will be available with Drag Illustrated Founder and Editorial Director Wes Buck, as well as the 30 Under 30 honorees in attendance following the press conference. The cover of Drag Illustrated #139 will also be officially released at that time.

The 30 Under 30 list spotlights 30 top drag racing drivers, crew members, fabricators and industry insiders who are all less than 30 years old. The distinguished and highly anticipated list has become a coveted honor within the sport, highlighting the upcoming stars in all areas of drag racing.

“It has been a thrill to see all the excitement generated from the Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 list, making the press conference one of the highlights of the weekend at the PRI Show,” Buck said. “It is truly rewarding to honor the young stars in the sport and their families, and the support the 30 Under 30 list has received within the industry has been immense. We annually get thousands of submissions through the ZP Performance Steering Nomination Process and this was our biggest year yet. The interest in the 30 Under 30 list continues to skyrocket and that is evident with the amount of people who make their way to the PRI Media Center for the official unveiling. It makes me extremely excited for the future of the sport and I can’t wait to honor this year’s 30 Under 30 list at the press conference and in the pages of Drag Illustrated.”

The event will also mark the second straight year the 30 Under 30 list will be released in its entirety during the press conference at PRI, and nearly all 30 of the honorees are expected to be in attendance.

For the complete PRI Trade Show Press Conference Schedule, click here.

Photo credit: James Sisk

December 2018

Race Industry Week Underway As Move-In For PRI 2018 Takes Shape

Top motorsports product manufacturers and service providers have arrived in Indianapolis ahead of the "Three Biggest Business Days in Racing" in preparation for this year's blockbuster trade-only event.

The 2018 PRI Trade Show will feature over 1100 companies exhibiting in more than 3300 booths, showcasing the latest developments in auto racing technology. Tens of thousands of buyers from all 50 states and 70 countries will be on hand to conduct business and discover innovative solutions from December 6-8.

In addition, this year's Race Industry Week - currently underway - offers a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center. Numerous conferences, seminars and other special events provide unlimited business opportunities and unparalleled educational programs on the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world.

To register for PRI 2018, log on to pri2018.com.

December 2018

NHRA Livestream Broadcast Set For 2018 PRI Show

The Dodge brand is bringing the 2018 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show right to enthusiasts and race fans as official sponsor of NHRA livestream coverage from the annual event, scheduled for December 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. “NHRA on Fox – Powered by Dodge” will offer three full days of livestream coverage from the 2018 PRI Show, available for viewing at NHRA.com.

“We are excited to partner with Dodge to livestream our NHRA on FOX studio from the PRI Show,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president of sales and chief development officer. “Everyone is going to enjoy seeing the Dodge Challenger 1320 and the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by our booth. These impressive automobiles are sure to be a crowd pleaser.”

Mopar Dodge Top Fuel driver Leah Pritchett and Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car driver Matt Hagan will stop by to participate in livestream interviews with Tony Pedregon and John Kernan from the “NHRA on Fox – Powered by Dodge” broadcast team. Hagan and Pritchett will also take part in autograph sessions at the NHRA display, Booth #7032, on Thursday, December 6.

In addition to the livestream sponsorship, Dodge will also display a number drag-race themed vehicles next to the NHRA exhibit at PRI. Display vehicles will include a historic “Direct Connection”-themed Plymouth Duster “package” car, showcasing the Dodge and Mopar brands’ tradition of factory-built race vehicles designed strictly for the drag strip, as well as a modern-day version of the “package car,” the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. Also featured will be the drag-oriented, street-legal 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320, scheduled to begin arriving in dealerships in the first quarter of 2019.

For more information or to register for the PRI Trade Show, visit pri2018.com.

December 2018

Stand 21 Safety Foundation Presents Racing Safety Seminars At PRI 2018

The Stand 21 Safety Foundation will present three back-to-back, one-hour seminars during this year's PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

The sessions take place Friday, December 7, from 9 a.m to noon in Room 235 of the Indiana Convention Center.

"This year we'll cover three different subjects, in rapid-fire, so that busy PRI attendees can pick and choose whichever session, or sessions, they would like to attend," said Yves Morizot, founder and President of the Foundation.

In "Fire & Heat Protection" at 9 a.m., Dr. Terry Trammell will discuss simple ways for drivers to better protect themselves in a fire situation, and off-road racer Danny Ebberts will talk about his recovery after a serious pit fire.

At 10 a.m., the topic will switch to "Head and Neck Protection." Ed Becker, Executive Director and Chief Engineer, Snell Memorial Safety Foundation will speak on helmet selection basics and offer useful tips that drivers, and crew, should know for proper helmet care. Following that, Tom Gideon, NASCAR Safety Advisor, will review the history of the HANS development, and what all racers need to know about the device. Drag racing champion Larry Dixon will be on hand to tell of his personal experience with the HANS.

The third session, at 11 a.m., will cover the racers returning to racing, the sport they love, after suffering injuries and going through the process of physical and psychological healing. Nick Bennett, USMC, of the Wounded Warrior Project, will tell his personal story of healing after injury in Iraq.

Each seminar will include detailed presentations by the speakers; questions with follow-up discussion is encouraged.

These seminars are presented free for all PRI attendees, but RSVP is requested.

For updated information on the event or the Foundation, visit RacingGoesSafer.org, or contact its Director, Don Taylor, at dtaylor@RacingGoesSafer.org.

December 2018

Potential New Sponsorship Model For NASCAR

NASCAR has proposed a new sponsorship model that will see nearly $20 million for top-tier sponsorship slots, according to a report by the Sports Business Journal.

NASCAR announced earlier this year plans to consider a multi-tier sponsorship model to replace the series title system, a long-held program that saw big names promoted alongside NASCAR including Monster Energy, Camping World and Gander Mountain Outdoors, and Xfinity.

No immediate changes will be made until 2020, which is after Monster Energy completes its final year of sponsorship. After the debut of the multi-tiered model, which is similar to the one used by the NCAA, the premier series would be known as the NASCAR Cup Series (with no title sponsor).

According to SBJ, a template for the highest tier would cost around $20 million annually, which is close to double the estimates experts made when the model was originally announced. The $20 million sponsorship would include $5 million for media marketing and $15 million worth of assets across the series and tracks.

NASCAR is said to be looking for about five sponsors for the top-tier division, which would include title deals for Cup Series races, signage for TV and opportunities to have brands involved in other areas of sponsorships.

For more information, visit NASCAR.com.

December 2018

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