While the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show did not officially start until Thursday, December 10, students from across the nation convened in Indianapolis on Tuesday to kick off the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Dual Championship. With the first four spots in the Engine Challenge Finals filled from SEMA competition, 17 additional teams came to compete for the final four spots at PRI. From Tuesday through Friday they competed in performance engine rebuilds, looking for sub 20 minute completion times.

In the PRI Dual Championship, teams completed a total of four rebuilds. The top three were then averaged to determine overall winners. Team Weld Racing from Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center, Team Hypertech from Forsyth Central High School, Team Mahle from Burton Center for Arts and Technology and Team Moroso from Elkhart Area Career Center topped the leaderboard in the second half of the Dual Championship to fulfill the final Elite Eight spots.
 
On Friday the Elite Eight Showdown began. Three rebuilds would determine who would be the 2015 Engine Challenge National Champion. Teams would not be allowed to throw out their worst run of the Showdown, as they had in the Dual Championship rounds. The first two rebuilds were completed on Friday before one final run on Saturday. Once the dust settled, it was Team Weld Racing rising to the top with their instructor, Jim LaFevers. The averaged time of their three performance engine rebuilds was just 18 minutes and 19 seconds. LaFevers and his team are consistent top finishers. They were one torque wrench penalty away from winning last year and did capture the title in 2013. Team Weld Racing had what it took this year to become the 2015 Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Champions.

Team Hypertech’s average time of 19:32 was enough to secure second place in the National Championship. This team is one of three for coach Marlo Miranda. Another of his teams, Team Howard Cams, finished ninth in the nation, just missing the Elite Eight Showdown. The dedication it takes to field one team in the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is astounding, much less three. That two of them broke the national top ten is a testament to the hard work of Miranda and his Forsyth Central students.
 
Chris Overfelt took his team all the way to National Championship honors last season and returned this year to finish a very respectable third. Coming in just behind Team Hypertech,Team Mahle had an average time of 19:44.
 
The top four was rounded out by National Record holders Team ARP and their coach John Rickerson. Team ARP captured the National Record during one of their runs in the SEMA Show Dual Championship. In between SEMA and PRI, one of the five members of their team became ill and so they were forced to make a substitution. Despite this last minute adjustment, Team ARP still averaged a time of 20:23.
 
Finishing out the top eight in the nation were Team B&M Racing from Franklin County Career & Technology Center, Team K&N Filters from Loara High School, Team Moroso from Elkhart Area Career Center, and Team Taylor Cable from Belvidere North High School, in fifth through eighth respectively.
 
Hot Rodders of Tomorrow congratulates all of their 2015 teams and top finishers. “We are always blown away by the dedication and performance of these students,” stated Rodney Bingham, head of the program. “Year after year they continue pushing the envelope, upping the level of competition and then going on after the program to do incredible things within the automotive industry. This was the reason we started the Engine Challenge, but we never really envisioned that it would rise to this level. Congratulations to Team Weld Racing and all of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow competitors.”
 
The days spent at the SEMA and PRI Shows offer far more to these students than just competition. Students attend seminars by industry leaders, meet and greet with companies in attendance at the shows, and, new this year, tested their skills through interviews and a written exam.
 
Ryan Gortney of Racing for the Record led the students through a life motivation seminar. Teams also heard from Indycar’s Don Lambert and drag racing’s Mike Lewis. Arguably the most impactful seminar was held by Jay Blake from FollowADream.org. When a forklift tire blew up in Blake’s face, he endured 10 hours of surgery just to save his life, but lost his eyesight in the process. Through a fated series of events, Blake found himself relearning his way around a car. He soon formed a Top Alcohol drag race team where he now serves as Car Chief to the team, while his brother drives the dragster on the NHRA tour.
 
One of the most important aspects of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow is the scholarships offered by several of the top automotive colleges in the nation. It is only through these scholarships that many of the students have the potential to continue pursuing their dreams after high school. During the PRI Show these colleges took time to speak to the students, encouraging them and educating them on life after high school and the possibilities that await within the automotive industry. A new partner this year, the Universal Technical Institute held a luncheon for teams and staff on Friday before the Elite Eight Showdown kick off.
 
“This program would not be a success without our college partners (UNOH, OTC, SAM, and UTI),” thanked Bingham. “We appreciate UTI coming on board this year and holding the luncheon for our students, as well as all our other wonderful college partners. They will be receiving the best of the best into their programs thanks to their generous scholarships.”
 
Over 4.55 Million dollars in scholarships opportunities have been awarded this year to Hot Rodders of Tomorrow teams. While Team Weld Racing enjoys their much hard earned position as National Champions the journey for hundreds of other high school students begins again with the 2016 season, just a few short months away. Find out more at www.hotroddersoftomorrow.org.

MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. has announced the 2015 MAHLE Engine Builders of the Year for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. The MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year award is presented to the top engine builder in each of the NASCAR series who accumulated the most points based on qualifying, laps led and finishing position.

Sam Vernatter of Hendrick Motorsports was awarded the 2015 MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year title for the Sprint Cup Series. The award for the Sprint Cup Series was based on the outstanding performance of the No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet SS, driven by Kevin Harvick. The No. 4 car earned 456 points.

“It’s a huge honor to accept Hendrick Motorsports’ nineteenth Engine Builder of the Year award. We have one of the top teams in this sport and we’re thrilled to be recognized like this,” Vernatter said. The award marks Hendrick Motorsports’ fourth consecutive time winning the MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year for the Sprint Cup Series.

Doug Yates of Roush Yates Engines received the MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year Award for the NASCAR Xfinity Series based on the performance of No. 22 Penske Ford Fusion, driven by Joey Logano. The No. 22 car earned 459 points.

“Engine Builder of the Year is an exceptional accomplishment,” said Yates. “We are delighted to again be recognized as one of the top engine builders in the sport.”

Mark Cronquist from Joe Gibbs Racing was awarded the MAHLE Engine Builder of the Year for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series based on the performance of the No. 4 ToyotaCare/Dollar General Toyota Tundra driven by Erik Jones. The No. 4 truck earned 303 points.

“It is a tremendous honor to bring the Engine Builder of the Year award back to Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Cronquist. “Many thanks to MAHLE for consistently providing quality products that continue to out-perform every year.”

For more information about MAHLE and its brands, visit www.mahle-aftermarket.com.

Ray Field, owner of Dougans Racing Engines in Riverside, California, has been named the 2015 Performance Engine Builder of the Year, sponsored by Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Pistons and Engine Builder magazine.

Field was presented the award by Engine Builder magazine publisher Doug Kaufman during last week’s PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

Ray Field has been a part of Dougans since 1980 and through the years has worked as a mechanic, machinist, engine builder, tuner, and dyno operator. Dougans has been machining and building engines for more than 30 years, offering engines for off-road applications such as trophy trucks, Class 8, pro trucks, prerunners, short-course racing, Pro 2, and Pro 4.

In years past, Dougans has been involved with drag boats, both IHBA and NJBA, and circle track racing with APBA. Other series include stock cars, both dirt track and pavement, sprint cars, street stock, super stocks, and superlate models at local and divisional tracks.

Field's winnings include $1000, an Apple iPad, and a recognition wall plaque, as well as three nights’ lodging during this year’s PRI Show, and four Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Piston counter stools, custom Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Piston jackets for all shop employees, mechanics’ gloves for all shop employees, special customer marketing packs with Speed-Pro branded promotional giveaway items for his customers, in addition to a product voucher for $2,500 worth of Speed-Pro POWERFORGED Pistons.

The Ransomville Speedway has been sold to Parm Atwal, whose brothers own Atwal Eye Care in Cheektowaga, a frequent sponsor of races at the track in upstate New York.

Joel and Jamie Friesen sold the raceway, located at 2315 Braley Road, on December 1 after 42 years of ownership.

Key staff members will remain with the speedway, however, including Tana Robinson, who has served as public relations and marketing director at Ransomville Speedway for the past 16 years. She is now general manager of the track.

The Atwals plan to upgrade the facility, although specifics aren’t yet available, Robinson said.

“They have plans down the road for new grandstands, a new concession stand, a new tech barn, and to resurface the track,” Robinson said.

Annual events, including the “Hangover 150” on New Years’ Day, will continue to be run as normal. In fact, the speedway already has 43 entries for the Jan. 1 event, Robinson said.

Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup has announced promotions for four team members.

“The success of any business is built by the efforts of its staff,” he said, “and we have one of the best in the industry. I congratulate all of our employees for the success of 2015 and commend the team members we are promoting.”

- Andrew Smith, who has served as Director of Marketing and Promotions since January 2013, has been promoted to Sr. Director of Marketing and Promotions.

- Joe Green, who has served in a range of roles at Watkins Glen International since 2003, most recently as Emergency Services and Facilities Manager, has been promoted to Director of Event Operations.

- Jose Cervantes, who served as Ticket Office Coordinator since November 2014, has been promoted to Ticket Sales Supervisor.

- Tyler Hoke, who has served as Marketing Coordinator since May 2014, has been promoted to Manager of Marketing and Community Relations.

“I look forward to seeing each of these team members grow into their new roles,” Printup added. “We had an amazing 2015 season and 2016 is shaping up to be even bigger and better. With the combined efforts of our staff, I know it will be a success.”
 
For more on Watkins Glen International, visit www.theglen.com.

The "Three Biggest Business Days In Racing" lived up to the billing Saturday as the PRI Trade Show sprinted to the finish line with yet another day of crowded display booths and brisk parts sales.
 
The 2015 edition of the world's premier event for motorsports professionals saw tens of thousands of attendees from across the United States and more than 70 countries flock to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis for three days of intense shopping for the latest offerings from more than 1200 manufacturers of racing and high-performance automotive components, as well as precision machining equipment.
 
“We’ve grown each of the three years since returning to Indianapolis, and it’s safe to say that 2015 has been one of the most successful PRI Trade Shows ever,” said John Kilroy, PRI Show producer. “We’ve received positive feedback and glowing numbers beginning with the start of Race Industry Week on Monday, through the PRI Grand Opening Breakfast, and then all the way until the Show’s closing today. A large amount of business was done this week, and that bodes well for the industry in 2016.”
 
A strong Race Industry Week schedule featured more than three-dozen events, including the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC), the Race Track Business Conference, the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress, and the Advanced Vehicle Dynamics and Data Acquisition Seminar. NASCAR's 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski headlined the Grand Opening Breakfast’s popular morning talk show with host Dave Despain of MAVTV.
 
After two straight days of shoulder-to-shoulder aisle activity and robust sales, there was no let-up on Saturday.
 
“The show’s been excellent this year-we had many more people come by this year that we initially anticipated,” said Melissa Moorhead from exhibitor Rottler Manufacturing. “It seems like attendance has been larger than it has been in the past, and we’ve seen a good variety of customers. PRI is our favorite show, and it’s our biggest show. We have 14 machines on display this year. Every year PRI seems to get bigger and better for us.”
 
Similar accounts were heard throughout the Convention Center.
 
“The show has been excellent,” said Rob Remesi of exhibitor Jesel Valve Train. “Last year was a very busy show here, but this year is far above it. I don’t think I’ve given away as many cards as I have here, and we’re almost out of catalogs. The crowd here is fantastic. Day three was as busy as days one and two. We’re seeing new buyers, some international sales, dealers from Australia that are interested in becoming retailers for us in Australia, and, of course, US sales as well.”
 
Attendees continued to express their appreciation throughout one of the Show's busiest ever final days.
 
“They have anything you could possibly ever want here,” offered Reece Tracy, a fabricator with Hearn Motorsports from Litchfield, Illinois. “There’s stuff that I’ve never thought about that can make your job 10 times easier. The Trick Tools booth, anything you want to see or anything you could dream of is here. Their header building kit is absolutely outrageous.”
 
Most importantly, attendees used the opportunity to shop at the world's largest racing marketplace.
 
“The show was great,” said John Kolivas of KBX Performance, Ashland Mississippi. “We came down to visit with quite a few of our vendors. We own an engine and tuning shop. So we’ve talked to DART and a lot of the piston companies, and we just bought a honing machine from Rottler. Everybody that’s anybody is here. Anything you want to find is here. We really enjoy it.”
 
Penske Racing Shocks’ Matt Giles summed up the final day: “This is probably the busiest Saturday I’ve ever seen. We’ve been busy non-stop.
 
Preparations are already underway for the 2016 PRI Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center, December 8-10.
 

Sprint car racer Greg Wilson announced at the PRI Trade Show this week that he will run the World of Outlaws Tour in full in 2016. The announcement was made during the annual three-day event at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis in conjunction with Hercules Tire, one of the primary sponsors of the Greg Wilson Racing Team.

"The World of Outlaws is the premier series in our sport. It runs over 90 shows across the country featuring the best drivers and the highest level of competition," Wilson said. "While I have raced in World of Outlaws events in the past, I am fully committing to the series moving forward."

Begun in 1978, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series tour visits tracks across the country while sanctioning events at some of the most famous dirt racing facilities in the world. The 2016 schedule includes 93 scheduled dates on 52 different tracks in 24 states and one Canadian province.

Greg Wilson has won over 100 sprint car features, and is two-time All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Points Champion. Wilson has raced in the All-Star Circuit of Champions, World of Outlaws, United States Auto Club, NRA Sprint Invaders, Midwest Open Wheel Association, Interstate Racing Association and American Sprint Car Series.

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. officials have named Las Vegas Motor Speedway Senior Vice President of Operations David Stetzer as the O. Bruton Smith Award recipient for 2015. In addition, Texas Motor Speedway earned Track of the Year honors, while Bristol Motor Speedway General Manager Jerry Caldwell was recognized as Promoter of the Year.

“All of our Speedway Motorsports facilities pride themselves on being the best entertainment venues in the world,” said Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “We are fortunate to have innovative leaders who continue to drive our company forward and push their respective speedways to be the very best in the entertainment industry. We are proud to celebrate David and Jerry’s accomplishments and to recognize the staff at Texas Motor Speedway for their success this year.”

O. Bruton Smith Award

Annually presented to one employee across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, this prestigious award recognizes someone who exhibits the traits that define Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman and Founder O. Bruton Smith: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination.

Stetzer joined the Speedway Motorsports family as an intern at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1989 while attending Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. He was hired full-time that summer as the track rental coordinator. Stetzer was later promoted to general manager of U.S. Legend Cars International before moving to Las Vegas in 1999 to assume the role of short track racing manager at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In 2003, he was promoted to head the speedway’s Operations Department, and has since assumed the title of senior vice president of operations.

Track of the Year

Texas Motor Speedway was chosen as Track of the Year from among the eight Speedway Motorsports facilities. The award is presented annually for best overall performance in aspects such as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.

In 2015, Texas Motor Speedway hosted an action-packed entertainment lineup including two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, plus NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series events and a Verizon IndyCar Series race and the Red Bull Air Race. “The Great American Speedway” created successful corporate sales and consumer marketing campaigns attracting hundreds of thousands of race fans and continued to be a pacesetter with fan amenities such as “Big Hoss,” the world’s largest high-definition LED screen, and an enhanced kids’ zone and fan zone.

Promoter of the Year

The Promoter of the Year award is presented by Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith to the general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership, planning and execution that are fundamental to the company’s success.

Jerry Caldwell was honored for outstanding achievement promoting both of Bristol Motor Speedway’s 2015 NASCAR event weeks, plus events in Nashville with Dale Jr., Regan Smith and Old Crow Medicine Show to promote the Food City 500’s new April race date and the Steven Tyler concert that revved up the August Night Race.

Caldwell also spearheaded efforts to promote the 2016 “Battle at Bristol” between Virginia Tech and Tennessee, billed as college football’s biggest game ever. In addition, Caldwell announced plans for Colossus, the world’s largest outdoor, permanent, center-hung digital display, currently under construction and scheduled to make its debut in April.

While the PRI Trade Show means business, it's also a prime opportunity for racing professionals to work on making their companies more efficient, more interactive, or more diversified.

The second of two days of business education seminars at the Indiana Convention Center on Saturday saw packed rooms and engaged attendees learn about the keys to successful video marketing, the opportunities in land speed racing, and the best ways for young racers to ascend the ladder.

A lively discussion on the current state of land speed racing brought four of the leading voices in the segment today before a full house of salt racing veterans and newcomers. "LandSpeed" Louise Ann Noeth, Tom Burkland, Steve Watt and Stuart Gosswein explained the nuances of the world's fastest sport, the technology crossover from different racing segments, the unique camaraderie among conpetitors, and the efforts currently underway (there are many) to replenish an environment that is like noplace else on eartth.  

From the dais, Noeth noted the passion and support from those alongside her, as well as the 100-plus audience members. “We could have used three hours for the seminar instead of one,” she said. “Bonneville is not dead. Sabbatical yes, dead, no.”

As Internet marketing evolves and thrives, Eric Cook (aka EricTheCarGuy) has developed strategies and techniques to refine his booming online and social media-based enterprise. And in "EricTheCarGuy's YouTube Experience And How It Can Benefit Performance Automotive Businesses,” he provided a glimpse into how he's built a YouTube channel with more than 700,000 subscribers and over 115 million views.

Cook offered practical tips on how to get started on YouTube and run videos on websites, along with details on the equipment needed, choosing content, and how to benefit from the venture financially.

Recognizing an opportunity to use videos more effectively for his race engine business and professional race team, Larry Funk of Larry Funk Motorsports in Oberlin, Ohio, came to gather advice. “Obviously he does this on a regular basis,” Funk said of Cook, “and all those tips were helpful. His presentation was all-encompassing, and he covered a lot of topics.”

Next door, Derek Daly filled the room with his presentation, “Race To Win: How To Become A Complete Champion.” The veteran driver, broadcaster and entrepreneur discussed the skills needed to become a championship race car driver, and prvided a clear model for aspiring young racers to follow on their path to the professional ranks.

Tom Burkland, a former aerospace engineer with the US Air Force and onetime land speed record holder for piston-driven vehicles, is among the featured panelists for a Saturday morning seminar on Land Speed Racing sponsored by and held in conjunction with the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.

PRI Magazine Editor Dan Schechner will moderate the hour-long panel discussion on the state of land speed racing, efforts underway to ensure a bright future for the sport, business opportunities for racing professionals, and muuch more.

Burkland, chief engineer at Petersen Inc. in Ogden, Utah, is the owner, builder, designer and inspector for his family’s land speed racing operation. He set the record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2004 while piloting his family's PPG Auto Finishes Orange AA/BFS streamliner to a two-way average of 417.020 mph; he has since hit 438.815 mph with a terminal speed over 450 mph.

Joining Burkland will be ”LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth of Land Speed Productions, Steve Watt of Maxwell Industries (and the Speed Demon), and Stuart Gosswein of SEMA. The panel discussion, titled "Opportunities In Land Speed Racing," takes place from 8 to 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2015, in Room 239 of the Indiana Convention Center. It is offered free of charge for registered PRI Show attendees and exhibitors. For more information, click here.