A proclamation by President Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks and their parts, including engines, transmissions, tires and chassis components. President Trump’s action also imposes a 10% tariff on imported buses (i.e. school buses, transit buses and motorcoaches). The tariffs apply to the impacted trucks, buses and parts that enter the United States or are withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT on November 1, 2025.  

• Read the White House's fact sheet here.

Highlights of This Recent News

• A 25% tariff will apply to the full value of imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks ranging from Class 3 through Class 8 vehicles, including large pickup trucks, moving trucks, cargo trucks, dump trucks, and tractors for eighteen-wheelers. This will have a big impact on the work truck segment of our industry.  
• Medium- and heavy-duty trucks that qualify under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be subject to tariffs on the non-U.S. content of the vehicle. 
• Medium- and heavy-duty truck parts that are covered by USMCA will not be subject to tariffs until the U.S. Department of Commerce establishes a process to apply tariffs to the non-U.S. content of the parts. 
• The tariffs do not stack on top of existing steel, aluminum, copper, automobiles and auto parts on tariffs from Canada, Brazil, Mexico or India. 

The tariffs are designed to protect the U.S. trucking and bus-manufacturing industries and are being imposed under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. According to the White House, imports of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, their key parts and buses are now deemed to pose a potential “threat to national security,” and the Trump Administration has responded with new duties.  

• Click here to read the full executive action. 

The Executive Action also includes a section designed to reduce the tariff impacts on automakers that manufacture vehicles in the United States yet source parts and components from around the world.  

• The action extends and expands a tariff offset program that allows companies assembling motor vehicles domestically to claim a credit worth 3.75% of the MSRP of those vehicles for 2025 through 2030. This credit helps to offset the 25% tariffs on imported parts and give automakers time to reshore their parts supply.  
• Previously, this offset was scheduled to expire after two years. The action notes that a similar credit will be introduced for truck-engine producers, though it will take effect later. 
• The 3.75% offset reflects the duty that would be owed when a 25% tariff is applied to 15% of the value of a U.S.-assembled automobile. 

SEMA's government relations team is closely monitoring updates from the White House. If you have any questions, contact Juan Mejia, SEMA's senior manager for federal government affairs, at juanm@sema.org. 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

RAFA Racing Team, which currently competes across multiple SRO- and IMSA-sanctioned sports car series with support from Toyota, is expanding into the ARCA Menards Series.

The team's debut will take place on November 1 at Phoenix Raceway during NASCAR Championship Weekend, competing in the ARCA Menards West Series.

2025 ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year and Toyota Development Driver Isabella Robusto will drive the No. 2 AMSYS/RAFA Racing Team Toyota Camry for the debut event.

The Phoenix race will serve as the foundation for RAFA Racing Team's broader 2026 campaign, during which the team will field Toyota Camrys for select ARCA Menards Series events featuring a diverse lineup of emerging drivers from its global development platform.

RAFA Racing Team's move into stock cars builds on its strong partnership with Toyota, where the team competes with the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 across the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, and SRO Pirelli GT4 America championships.

For more information, visit rafaracing.team.

Matt Muha has been named president and general manager of Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Florida, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Wayne Estes, who is retiring on March 31 after the 2026 12 Hours of Sebring.

Estes will serve in an administrative role for the IMSA property during the management transition.

Muha joined Sebring International Raceway as a firefighter in 2012 while serving as captain of the West Sebring Fire Department. He became safety director in 2014 and most recently served as the facility's senior director, operations.

"I am honored for this opportunity to lead the Sebring team moving forward as we make plans for the landmark 75th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2027," said Muha. "The IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship is experiencing a golden era, and it is a privilege to work with these great Sebring employees to present one of sports car racing's marquee events at this very special time.

"I also look forward to expanding our great relationships with the car clubs, racing teams, and sports car organizations that use our facility almost 300 days a year."

The facility has undergone significant upgrades during Muha's tenure, including the construction of the Gateway to Green Park bridge, 2024 renovation and rededication of the Sebring Officers Club, improvements to the Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel, roadway and landscaping improvements and upgrades to the fleet of track services equipment that serves not only Sebring Raceway, but also tracks at Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Muha also led track services teams at the Chicago Street Races and Mexico City races for the NASCAR Cup Series.

Estes joined Sebring International Raceway as president in 2015 after 17 years with Bristol Motor Speedway. During his tenure, Estes focused on facility improvements for the Florida facility.

For more information, visit sebringraceway.com.

The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) recently announced the winners of its annual awards recognizing individuals and organizations in the off-road industry.

The ORMHOF named Rose Winn, natural resource consultant for the California Four Wheel Drive Association (Cal4), as the recipient of the ORMHOF Land Use Award for her work with Cal4 and advocacy organizations, alongside the East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association for its efforts promoting safe, exciting and inclusive off-road activities across the East Coast and beyond.

Also announced recently, the Fab School, a private, post-secondary vocational school specializing in hands-on training for those exploring careers in metal fabrication, welding, digital manufacturing and composites, received the ORMHOF Helping Hand Award.

Additionally, the ORMHOF announced Lawton Shank and Christine Wait as winners of the Never Give Up Award. The recipients joined the original key management team for SCORE International in 2013, helping to lead behind-the-scenes teams in the organization.

For more information on the ORMHOF, visit ormhof.org.

NASCAR has released new renderings of the street course it will use for next year's NASCAR San Diego Weekend, scheduled for June 19-21, 2026.

"It's so exciting to finally share the street course layout and provide this first look for our long-time and new fans," said NASCAR San Diego President Amy Lupo. "Anticipation for this event is already high, and we know this course layout will raise that level of excitement even higher. We can't wait to see how the best drivers in the world meet this challenge, while celebrating America's Navy."    

Grandstand seating and hospitality will be available throughout the circuit, the longest course on NASCAR's 2026 schedule. It features a quick right-hand turn after the Ellyson Start/Finish Line, before two quick 90-degree left-handers launch competitors on a high-octane journey around the San Diego Bay and one of the world's foremost military installations, Naval Base Coronado.

Course highlights include:

• The Ellyson Start/Finish Line: Named in honor of Commander Theodore Ellyson, Naval Aviator Number One. His training at North Island laid the foundation for its commissioning as a naval air station in 1917 and eventual recognition as the "Birthplace of Naval Aviation."
• Turn 5, Carrier Corner: This sharp left-hand turn is located between the docking location of two aircraft carriers.
• Turn 8, Coronado Chicane: This begins a series of turns that will provide drivers with a steep challenge as they speed toward the interior of the base.
• Turn 14, Runway Road: Aptly named, given it is located near the north end of Runway 18/36 at Halsey Field.

NASCAR San Diego Weekend will begin with Navy Community Day on Friday, June 19, 2026, with plans to honor the military forthcoming. Friday access will be open exclusively to members of the U.S. Navy at Naval Base Coronado and a limited number of Coronado residents and then culminate with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race.

The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will headline on-track activity on Saturday, June 20, while the NASCAR Cup Series will compete in the Anduril 250 Race the Base on Sunday, June 21.

For more information, visit NASCARSanDiego.com.

A new organization dedicated to preserving and growing historic racing, the Historic Motorsports Association (HMA), recently held its first meeting, establishing a new coalition of enthusiasts and professionals, including event organizers, drivers, clubs and builders, aimed at ensuring historic racing thrives around the globe.

"Historic racing flourishes from its sense of community, honoring and preserving the sport in its historic and authentic form. HMA members endorse the principle that historic vehicle competitions should not have the sole objective of winning trophies," the organization said in a statement announcing its formation. "One of the sport's essential characteristics is the appreciation and care for authentic cars and the celebration of their histories. The association will foster a dialogue about replica and continuation cars in the sport, as well as the growing concern about the development of race cars beyond their original specifications."

The group also announced its steering committee, comprised of individuals with varying backgrounds and experience. The following were elected to the committee:

• Michael Birch
• Andy Dee-Crowne
• Nigel Greensall
• Peter Horsman
• Patrick Peter
• Andy Prill
• Carol Spagg
• Barry Toepke

For more information, visit historicassociation.com.

The IMSA-sanctioned Porsche Carrera Cup North America is returning to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2026 for two rounds as part of the race weekend, scheduled for April 17-19, 2026.

The series previously appeared at Long Beach in 2022 and 2023. In 2026, the series will host two 40-minute races, one on Saturday, April 18, and another on Sunday, April 19. Two Practices on Friday, April 17, and a Qualifying on Saturday morning will complete Porsche Carrera Cup North America's second round of the season.

Porsche Carrera Cup showcases identical road car-based Porsche 911 Cup race cars. Porsche Carrera Cup North America is one of only four Porsche one-make series that will introduce the brand new 911 Cup, based on the newest 992.2 generation of the 911, in its first season in 2026.

"We're excited to return to Long Beach in 2026. It is an important race to us as a hometown competition and was very popular with the teams competing in Carrera Cup North America," Volker Holzmeyer, president and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America, said. "The top street race and the premier single-make championship in North America are perfect matches, and we know we'll entertain the Southern California fans and introduce them to the next generation of racing stars."

"Welcoming Porsche Carrera Cup North America back to Long Beach is fantastic news for our fans and partners," said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. "The series brings world-class talent, iconic machinery, and wheel-to-wheel competition that perfectly complements the Acura Grand Prix weekend. We're thrilled to showcase Porsche's proven driver-development platform on our streets once again."

For more information, visit gplb.com.

SEMA/PRI and a coalition of 339 small businesses are urging Congress to secure passage of the "Warrior Right to Repair Act," a component of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (read more here). The bill would ensure the U.S. military can repair and maintain the equipment that it owns, a mission-critical protection of military readiness and our warfighters' ability to quickly adapt to evolving battlefield conditions and needs. 

In their letter, the coalition's automotive aftermarket and motorsports businesses remind lawmakers that the industry of which they are a part is comprised of American businesses who deliver precision manufacturing, technical innovation and high-performance engineering, and is thus uniquely positioned to help the Department of Defense meet its sustainment and readiness goals. 

"Outdated restrictions are holding us--and the Department of Defense--back right now," the letter says. "This is about ensuring the government can maintain and repair what it already owns. It’s about making sure the Department of Defense has access to every capable partner in the country to keep our military mission-ready."

• Read the full coalition letter. 

BACKGROUND 

If passed, the Warrior Right to Repair Act (Section 863 of H.R. 3838 and Section 836 of S. 2296) will: 

• Expand competition for sustainment contracts to include more U.S. businesses; 
• Drive innovation in repair processes and specialty component production; 
• Improve readiness by reducing sole-source delays and equipment downtime; 
• Lower costs for taxpayers through competitive sourcing and open access to repairs; and  
• Strengthen the defense industrial base by bringing in capable, agile suppliers.

The motorsports and automotive aftermarket industries are overwhelmingly comprised of small businesses whose products are shining examples of America's engineering superiority and unparalleled ability to innovate. Many businesses in the industry, including specialty equipment manufacturers, racing innovators and precision part suppliers, have the capability, capacity, and technical expertise to: 

• Rapidly reverse-engineer and produce specialty components and hard-to-source parts; 
• Deliver cost-effective and customized solutions on accelerated timelines; 
• Provide flexible, decentralized repair capacity to reduce downtime and increase resilience; and 
• Expand the defense sustainment ecosystem through supplier diversity and small business participation. 

For more information, visit sema.org.

Experience off-road innovations, builds and networking, all in one dedicated PRI Show exhibit. 

For more than 35 years, the PRI Show has set the pace for racing innovation, bringing together the brightest minds and boldest technologies across drag, oval, road course, off-road, and any category in between. 

Every year, Showgoers discover the breakthroughs that push the limits of performance. And in 2025, the PRI Show is raising the bar even higher with the introduction of Hammertown at PRI, a brand new exhibit area developed in partnership with Hammerking Productions, the organizers behind the King of the Hammers and the Ultra4 Racing Series.

Hammerking's founders built King of the Hammers into the toughest single-day off-road race in the world--an event so demanding that it has grown into a weeklong motorsports festival drawing countless competitors, manufacturers and fans. At the heart of that event lies Hammertown, a bustling hub where leading suppliers and fabricators support racing teams in real time.

Hammertown at PRI--located on the first floor in the Green Hall near the Westin connector--brings that competitive spirit to the PRI Showfloor and showcases the companies that power the off-road community. At Hammertown at PRI, attendees will:

• Explore top off-road race vehicle displays up-close and personal. 
• Connect directly with various off-road team members and brands. 
• Get an insider's look at the parts and products that power extreme off-road machines.

"PRI is where every form of racing comes together to shape what’s next," said PRI President Michael Good. "Hammertown at PRI brings the off-road community into that conversation, creating an authentic experience that connects disciplines, technologies and people to drive the industry forward." 

Participating exhibitors in the new-for-2025 Hammertown at PRI* 

• Currie Enterprises 
• Dana Inc 
• Dynatrac
• Edelbrock Group 
• Horizon Hobby LLC 
• King of the Hammers 
• PRP Seats
• Radflo Suspension Technology 
• Rusoh 
• Yukon Gear & Axle 
   

Interested in exhibiting in Hammertown at PRI or the PRI Show? Contact a PRI sales representative at 949-499-5413 or sales@performanceracing.com. 

Registration Now Open for 2025 PRI Show

The PRI Show takes place December 11-13, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center. The yearly event draws attendees from all 50 states and around the globe, including race teams, retailers, engine builders, fabricators, media and more. To register, book hotel accommodations, and learn more about the 2025 PRI Show, visit PRI2025.com/Attend. For more information, visit performanceracing.com. 

The King of the Hammers is set for January 22-February 7, 2026, in Johnson Valley, California. For more information, visit kingofthehammers.com. 

^{*As of press time.} 

Five Star Fabricating, parent company of Five Star Race Car Bodies, has acquired Slipstreamer, the Minnesota-based manufacturer of motorcycle windshields and accessories.

The acquisition strengthens the combined market presence of both brands and expands innovation, customer value and product offerings across the company's powersports, motorsports and automotive segments.

"We're thrilled to welcome Slipstreamer into the Five Star family," said Carl Schultz, founder of Five Star Fabricating. "Slipstreamer's legacy of excellence, quality craftsmanship, and commitment to innovation perfectly aligns with our vision. Together, we look forward to driving the future of performance products and delivering unmatched value to our customers."

"Joining forces with Five Star represents an exciting chapter for Slipstreamer," said Bob Eggerichs, CEO of Slipstreamer. "Our shared dedication to quality, performance, and customer satisfaction makes this partnership a natural fit. I'm confident that, together, we will uphold and expand our brands' legendary reputations."

As part of the integration, Slipstreamer's operations will be consolidated into Five Star's facility in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.

For more information, visit fivestarbodies.com.