By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
SEMA congratulates U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) on being named the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. Senator Mullin is a longtime advocate for the specialty automotive aftermarket, former competitive rock crawler and an automotive enthusiast with a vehicle collection that includes a ’67 Shelby Cobra, ’72 Chevy C-10 and a ’21 Shelby GT 500.
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) [left] with former SEMA Chairman of the Board Doug Evans.
“Senator Mullin is an incredible advocate for automotive enthusiasts, racers and more than 1 million men and women who work in the specialty automotive aftermarket,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “SEMA thanks Sen. Mullin for his leadership on legislation to protect aftermarket businesses and the millions of enthusiasts who make the industry possible. We look forward to working with him and the other co-chairs in the new Congress to protect the right to modify and repair vehicles, race and maintain motorized access to public lands.”
“As a lifelong automotive enthusiast, I am very proud to join Senator Tester in co-chairing the Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus,” said Senator Mullin. “Together, we’re pushing back against bureaucratic red tape and overregulation that aims to phase out the entire industry—one that serves as a centerpiece in the lives of millions of Americans.”
Senator Mullin with his ’72 Chevy C-10.
Senator Mullin joins U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and U.S. Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA) as the co-chairs of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, which features 14 Senators and 45 House members. SEMA thanks former U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), who served as the co-chair of the Caucus from 2010 until he retired earlier this year.
Sen. Mullin is anything but a traditional politician, which is one of the many reasons why he has been such an effective legislator. While a political career was never a part of his plans, Sen. Mullin ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District in 2012 in response to government overreach that threatened his business. During his five terms time in the House, Sen. Mullin advocated for simplifying regulations on small businesses and helped to lead the fight to provide certainty to racers and motorsports parts businesses surrounding the conversion of street vehicles into racecars. Sen. Mullin was also the lead sponsor of a 2015 law, the “Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act,” which created a simplified regulatory system for small automotive businesses that manufacture classically styled replica vehicles.
Senator Mullin with his ’67 Shelby Cobra.
About the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus
Formed in 1996 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American automobile, the bipartisan Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus pays tribute to America’s ever-growing love affair with the automobile and motorsports. The SEMA-supported Congressional Caucus pays tribute to the automotive performance and motorsports industry, which is an economic driver in communities across the country. The honorary caucus recognizes the important role that modifying vehicles and racing play in the lives of millions of Americans.