McLeod Racing LLC hired Bob Scheid as director of business development, which is a newly formed position at the company. McLeod reported that Scheid has worked in the automotive aftermarket for more than 20 years, holding positions that ranged from the parts counters of Nationwise Auto Parts to president of Fidanza Engineering and director of business development for Digital Performance Inc. McLeod Racing, Placentia, CA; 714-630-2764.

RideTech announced that the winner of its Streetrod Design Contest was Gary Drayton, who received a $500 cash prize. There were 60 designs entered for the contest, and more than 1,000 votes were registered. The company also stated that features of Drayton’s design were incorporated into the vinyl wrap that the company developed for the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in March. RideTech, Jasper, IN; 812-482-2932.

According to a release by Lucas Oil Products, the 26th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire will air April 14, at 3:00 p.m. (CST). The broadcast will be carried by CBS and its nearly 200 affiliates throughout the United States. The Chili Bowl Nationals were originally set to air on the CBS Sports Network in January. The forthcoming broadcast marks the first time that the Chili Bowl will be aired on one of the Big Three television networks. Lucas Oil Products, Corona, CA; 951-270-0154.

Through a new agreement and continued sponsorship of Brenton Productions’ “Two Guys Garage” television show, Federated will sponsor two regular segments called “Tech Talk by Federated Auto Parts” and “Brake Room.” The segments will be featured on every episode of “Two Guys Garage” beginning April 28 and will run through November 2012. The focus of “Tech Talk” will be on education and training, with emphasis on parts and solutions provided by the automotive aftermarket. “Break Room” segments will highlight the innovative and high-quality parts supplied by Federated’s manufacturing partners. Brenton Productions, Swansea, MA; 800-572-7798.

Vehicle Inspection Systems Inc. announced that it redesigned its website, www.vischeck.net, to include easier navigation and more information on the company’s products. The website is now linked to the new online shopping site, www.store.vispolish.com, where supplies, parts and machines can be ordered. Vehicle Inspection Systems Inc., Orlando, FL; 407-206-3615.

Be Cool Inc. founder Roger Rosebush announced that the company has been sold to Aerospace America of Bay City, which will now handle Michigan-based product manufacturing. Rosebush also said that the company will increase services and product development in the years ahead, and he will remain as a consultant to help ensure a smooth transition. Be Cool Inc., Essexville, MI; 989-895-9699.

The Subaru Impreza received the 2012 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Compact Car during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Subaru set sales records in 2011 and has started 2012 with sales up 21% compared to the previous year, the company reported. The Impreza is equipped with a 148-horsepower 2.0L Boxer engine and is available with the choice of a five-speed manual transmission or an enhanced Lineartronic CVT.

	WyoTech-branded motorcycle, built by Orange County Choppers on the “American Chopper” TV show with the help of WyoTech students, will visit several events across the country through July 2012.

A WyoTech-branded motorcycle, built by Orange County Choppers on the “American Chopper” TV show with the help of WyoTech students, will visit several events across the country through July 2012. The bike made its debut January 27 at the Pittsburgh Autorama, and the remaining stops include the WyoTech-Sacramento Car Show, May 5, Sacramento, California; the WyoTech/NSRA Car Show, May 19, Laramie, Wyoming; the Ford/AAA Students Skills Finals, June 10–12, Dearborn, Michigan; Thunder in the Valley, June 21–22, Johnstown, Pennsylvania; the SkillsUSA Competition, June 23–27, Kansas City, Missouri; and the California State Fair, July 12–15, Sacramento. More information on the bike and tour are available at www.wyochopper.com. WyoTech, Laramie, WY; 307-742-3776.

Perris Auto Speedway was named Small Business of the Year by Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Grant Bennett presented the award to promoter Don Kazarian. The 1/2-mile clay oval opened its 17th season with the Sokola Shootout, featuring Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, California Lightning Sprint cars and the PAS Senior Sprints.

Ohio Technical College announced that it is using the two leading forms of social media—Facebook and Twitter—to communicate directly with car enthusiasts and prospective students while highlighting the curriculum. The Ohio Technical College Facebook page features school announcements, photos of student projects, videos and links to industry stories. The school’s Twitter page includes details on real-world training, links and photos from inside the classroom and information about upcoming events.

Surf City Garage and Hopkins Manufacturing entered into a marketing partnership through which Hopkins will design, market and distribute enthusiast-grade vehicle cleaning tools and accessories that complement the Surf City Garage car care product line. All tools will bear the Surf Garage brand name. The enthusiast-grade detailing tools will be rolled out in 2012, according to the companies. Surf City Garage, Huntington Beach, CA; 714-894-1707. Hopkins Manufacturing, Emporia, KS.

Motovicity Distribution hired Susan Ozimek as vice president of purchasing and category management. Ozimek was recently chief operating officer for Lighting Supply Co., where Motovicity said her strategic direction and systems and technology upgrades doubled sales and profit revenues. According to Motovicity, Ozimek will bring focus to vendor relations and product management to support the company’s business and customer-satisfaction goals. Motovicity Distribution, Madison Heights, MI; 888-SPEED-16.

The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, based at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida, announced its 2012 class of honorees. They are Bob Brandt, John Mazmanian, Don Moody, Ray Motes, Mike Kuhl, Carl Olson and Ed Schartman. In addition, popular West Coast race promoter/marketer Bill Doner was honored as the recipient of the 2012 Founder’s Award. The ceremony and dinner took place at the Hilton/University of Florida Conference Center during the NHRA Gatornationals weekend.

Infineon Raceway named Michael Re as ticket operations manager. Re has more than 25 years of ticketing experience and will manage all aspects of ticket operations and services at the raceway, including policies and procedures related to ticket sales, pricing and allocation. The raceway also said that Re will coordinate accounting procedures on behalf of the ticketing department, oversee the maintenance of the ticketing system and oversee customer-service functions.

The Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro tire was among five legendary speed parts selected for induction into the Hot Rod Magazine Speed Parts Hall of Fame for 2011. According to Hot Rod, the company revolutionized the tire business in the early ’60s with innovative low-profile rubber and created the tire that changed the world of street cars with the Sportsman Pro. The other newly added parts to the Hot Rod Speed Parts Hall of Fame are Center Line Auto Drag wheels, General Motors Performance Parts ZZZ HO crate engine, Deist Safety drag parachutes and Speedmasters Inc. aluminum small-block Chevy heads. Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Stow, OH; 330-928-9092.

	SCCA Pro Racing hired motorsports veteran Todd Snyder to serve as director of competition for the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup.

SCCA Pro Racing hired motorsports veteran Todd Snyder to serve as director of competition for the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup. Snyder has been involved in the motorsports industry for nearly 30 years, competing as a driver in the open-wheel Indy Lights series and has competed regularly in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge races over the past five seasons. As director of competition, Snyder will be responsible for providing coaching and oversight to drivers, including reviewing all on-track activity and assisting race officials with decisions throughout each event weekend.

Granatelli Motor Sports announced that the company is the title sponsor of the NMCA’s West Coast Mustang Madness series—an all-new, four-race series that caters to the West Coast Mustang drag-racing scene. The races are set for Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, California, April 20–22; Famoso Dragway, Bakersfield, California, June 22–24; Speed World Dragway, Phoenix; September 28–30; Auto Club Dragway, Fontana, California, October 19–21. “The NMCA West Street Car Series sponsorship is a natural for us, since our roots run deep in the Mustang drag racing arena,” said J.R. Granatelli, owner of Granatelli Motor Sports Inc. “We strongly believe racing is the best way to engage racers and support them in their endeavors.” Granatelli Motor Sports, Oxnard, CA; 805-486-6644.

Hawk Performance Products Group, a division of Carlisle Brake and Friction, hired Andrew Hisley as director of marketing. Hisley will coordinate global activities in the performance market segment for aftermarket and OE customers. His responsibilities include coordinating prices, analysis, product rationalization, short- and long-term planning and strategic brand management. Hawk Performance Products Group, Solon, OH; 440-528-4000.

DuPont announced that it is accepting entries for its Calendar Competition, where winners will receive cash prizes and be featured in the company’s 2013 calendar. The competition is open to owners with vehicles painted with DuPont Refinish, Hot Hues or Cromax Pro. There is no entry fee for the competition, and entries can be submitted online at www.customfinishescalendar.dupont.com. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 30, 2012. DuPont Hot Hues, Wilmington, DE; 800-3-DUPONT.

K&N Engineering recently released a video of 2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. chasing down a miniature RC car version of his car through the K&N facility. The company is giving away five limited-edition Vaughn Gittin Jr. remote-control drift cars, signed by Vaughn Gittin Jr., in a sweepstakes through Facebook. Check out the video, including outtakes, at www.youtube.com/knfilters. K&N Engineering Inc., Riverside, CA; 951-826-4100.

Automotive Lift Institute will help bring Petty’s Garage Performance Tour to nationwide consumers through a recently announced partnership between the two companies. “Partnering with Petty’s Garage on the Performance Tour makes sense because the Automotive Lift Institute’s safety and inspection message is complemented by the rich history and tremendous brand recognition Petty’s Garage brings to the table,” said R.W. (Bob) O’Gorman, president of Automotive Lift Institute. The partnership is an extension of work that began in 2005 with Richard and Kyle Petty through the production of the “Lifting It Right” DVD focusing on automotive lift operator safety training. Automotive Lift Institute, Cortland, NY; 607-756-7775.

TruXedo announced that the company became ISO 9001:2008 certified in December 2011 after completing an audit of its quality-management system by Intertek. “Quality...first time, on time, every time! This is what the employees of TruXedo, Inc. have lived by for several years, but now we proudly fly the ISO-9000:2008 certification flag in our facility,” said, Kelly Kneifl, vice president and COO, THI. “I’m very appreciative of the diligent work, dedication to the certification process and the focus our employees have demonstrated by providing quality products and service to our customers for well over a decade.” TruXedo, Yankton, SD; 877-878-9336.