Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Johnson Barrick |  Sumner Hylton |
Aeromotive Adds New Space to Its Headquarters
Aeromotive has added new space to its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. Until recently, the fuel-delivery company housed sales, tech and office personnel in one building, while engineering and R&D were in a neighboring building shared with the SEMA Data Co-Op. Starting September 1, Aeromotive will be the sole occupant of both buildings. The additional square footage allows Aeromotive to move all sales, tech, office and engineering personnel into one building, increasing ease of communication between departments. A newly designed “engineering bullpen” will serve as an incubator for the engineering team to collaborate on new designs and innovations. The second building will now be used for R&D and inventory. Additionally, Aeromotive has combined the sales and marketing teams into one department. The new sales and marketing Department is led by Johnson Barrick, who was previously Aeromotive’s sales director. The company also hired Sumner Hylton in a new marketing coordinator role.
Icahn Automotive to Separate Into Two Aftermarket Parts and Service Companies
Icahn Automotive Group LLC has announced that a process to separate the company into two independent aftermarket parts and service companies is underway. As separate companies, Parts and Service will be best positioned to focus on unique strategies, customers and business opportunities. The independent companies will be led by Chris Cox, CEO – parts, and Brian Kaner, CEO – service, who will report to Icahn Automotive’s board of directors and be supported by their own leadership teams, as well as a shared service division led by CFO Michael Nevin. The Parts company will include the retail and commercial lines of business of both Auto Plus and Pep Boys. The Service company will include the automotive repair and maintenance businesses of Pep Boys, AAMCO and Precision Tune Auto Care, as well as several regional service centers the company has acquired. As part of the separation plan, the parts and service businesses will each make adjustments to their store networks, and continue to streamline and decentralize the organizational structure, empowering local leadership to better serve their unique markets. The company expects a short transition period at the end of which the parts and service businesses will operate as separate companies.
 Russell Stephens |
Russell Stephens joins PerTronix Performance Brands
Russell Stephens, a 30-plus-year industry veteran, has joined the PerTronix Performance Brands family as vice president of sales and marketing. Stephens was previously president of a prominent Texas-based performance manufacturer where he held various roles in the organization for more than 30 years. Stephens has also served the industry as a volunteer with more than 25 years of service with SEMA, including three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors. The role of vice president of sales and marketing for Pertronix was previously held by Jim Hairston, who will move to a new role with the organization where he will work with business development and acquisitions.
McLeod Racing’s Paul Lee Acquires FTI Performance Converters
McLeod Racing’s president Paul Lee has acquired FTI Performance Converters. Through the acquisition, Lee will work closely with FTI Performance founders Greg and Phaedra Samuel. As a celebration for the new acquisition and partnership, Lee will have an FTI Performance and McLeod Racing-adorned nitro funny car livery this weekend at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Also, JEGS Performance will hold a “Dealer of the Race” for both companies during this weekend. From August 29–September 4, customers will receive a 10% discount off both brands when purchased through JEGS.com. FTI Performance will continue to operate out of its Deland, Florida-based operations and warehouses. All FTI contact information remains the same.
 Champion Oil will display a special continuation Ford Shelby GT350 at the 2019 SEMA Show in Booth #24629. |
Champion Oil to Display Limited-Edition ’65 Shelby GT350 Mustang at 2019 SEMA Show
Champion Oil will display a special continuation Ford Shelby GT350 at the 2019 SEMA Show in Booth #24629. The limited-edition car will feature a 331-cid aluminum engine supplied by the Carroll Shelby Engine Co., which will be coupled to a TREMEC five-speed transmission with an authentic Shelby shifter. The suspensions are period correct, as are the brakes. Car bodies are fully reconditioned and built to ’65 specs to be finished with Ford’s Wimbledon White paint. Only 25 of these cars will be built. Each car gets a special Shelby serial number for inclusion in the official Shelby Registry and a dash bearing Carroll Shelby’s autograph. Engine options include: a 331-cid Shelby Performance aluminum engine, 425 hp as standard, a 364-cid Shelby High Performance aluminum engine as an option or an OEM 289-cid HI-PO as a third option. Other options include a 715 Holley or Webbers, a Tremec T-5 five-speed transmission, an original Top Loader four-speed, a T-10 Borg Warner or a C-4 transmission.
Lucas Oil, ProCharger Back “Horsepower Wars” Season 2 Teams
Power Automedia’s “Horsepower Wars” series has officially teamed up with Lucas Oil Products and ProCharger for the show’s second season. “Horsepower Wars” features a variety of challenges that focus on specific areas of aftermarket performance and offer unique obstacles, such as the $10K Drag Shootout, Pony Wars, LS vs. Coyote Shootout, Junkyard Challenge and more.
 The new EveryRim.com website incorporates special notations aiding in the identification of easily confused wheels. |
1-800EveryRim Unveils New Website for Industry Professionals
1-800EveryRim OEM Wheels has unveiled EveryRim.com as an original-equipment wheel tool for industry professionals. The site incorporates special notations aiding in the identification of easily confused wheels. Additionally, EveryRim.com features a 12-tier approach to grading new and reconditioned wheels down the scale to used and core inventory. This practice was first implemented on the phone, later within the company’s RimText system, (951-RimText) and is now utilized online. Wheel grading was designed to be useful when customers do not necessarily need a new-looking wheel for an older vehicle, the company states. Customers may click to request a picture of the exact factory original steel or alloy wheel from the company’s live inventory. In order to view the site’s wholesale pricing, shops will receive login credentials after registration.
Mast Motorsports Relocates Michigan Facility to Texas
Mast Motorsports recently finished a complete consolidation of its cylinder-head manufacturing facilities. According to the company, streamlining the manufacturing process promises to reduce lead times and improve product availability. In the past, Mast’s cylinder-head manufacturing process has been split between its Michigan and Texas facilities. By relocating Mast’s Michigan operations to the company’s headquarters in Nacogdoches, Texas, everything from product development to CNC machining to final assembly and order fulfillment will now be performed under one roof. To further reduce lead times and keep the production process moving around the clock, Mast Motorsports has also implemented a second shift. According to the company, by keeping shelves stocked with fresh inventory, Mast Motorsports can now offer same-day shipping for most cylinder heads. Furthermore, this increased production capacity will reduce turnaround time on Mast’s turnkey crate and custom street/race engines.
 Geoff Turk |
Holley Adds Accomplished Racer Geoff Turk as Chief Operating Officer
Holley has announced that Geoff M. Turk has joined its executive management team as chief operating officer. Turk has extensive senior-level experience in operations, R&D and acquisitions with U. S. Steel, Caterpillar and General Motors. Turk also has a record of success on the race track with both the NHRA and NMCA drag racing series. He has become a perennial winner in the competitive Factory Super Cars class where he became the 2018 NMCA champion in his ’15 Dodge Challenger. He also became the first Stock Eliminator competitor to run a seven-second ET and the first member of the NMCA Holley EFI 7-Second Club. For 2019, Turk switched to a Ford Cobra Jet where he won NMCA Memphis—the first event he raced in with his new car. His program has gone on to contribute to Cobra Jet teams winning eight of the nine Factory Showdown/Factory Supercar races so far in 2019.
Neapco Honored Twice By Yamaha
Neapco announced it was the only supplier to receive two awards at the 2019 Yamaha Supplier Conference held in Newnan, Georgia. The “2018 Supplier Excellence Award” and the “2018 Supplier Delivery Improvement Award” were awarded to Neapco based on the outstanding product quality and service provided to Yamaha, according to the company. Neapco supplies rear halfshafts for Yamaha Golf-Cars, which have been named the top gas-powered golf car for three consecutive year by Golf Digest.
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