10 Things That Caught Our Eye at PRI (2024)

The increasing importance and development of electronic race vehicles was one of the most talked-about topics. With NASCAR and IndyCar set to debut hybrid vehicles—NASCAR in 2022 with its “Next Gen” car that looks more like a sports car than a traditional stock car, and IndyCar with its new ride set to come into competition in 2023—electric power is not just on the horizon, it’s already here.

With the increasing popularity of the Formula E series, as well as the emphasis by the NHRA to soon have classes for electric/battery powered vehicles in regional and eventual national competition, as well as outside influence and emphasis on carbon-neutral emissions and climate change, it’s not surprising that EVs and technology were so significant.

The PRI “EV Performance Zone” cited the example of how Tesla Model S Plaids “routinely run 9-second ETs at drag strips.” In addition, electric powered SUVs will compete for the first time the 2022 Race of Champions series, to be held Feb. 5-6 in Pitea, Sweden.

“The PRI Show is about embracing new technologies and helping the industry stay ahead of trends,” PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer said. “Electric vehicles are an important emerging trend in the performance and racing industries, and PRI Show attendees (saw) firsthand the latest in EV tech and advanced electric-powered vehicles while at the Show.”

Two of the more unique EVs featured in the performance zone were the EL1 Pro Drift Camaro (pictured above) and the MRE Racing Super Late Model.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Roger Penske said in the annual kickoff breakfast prior to the show’s opening that his goal is to make the Speedway carbon neutral in the next decade or so. That's good news to some politicians and activists who would like to see all racing outlawed, primarily on environmental grounds.

PRI officials used this year's show to push the message of the re-invigorated RPM Act (Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act, originally introduced in 2016) and the Save Our Race Cars initiative to show attendees. Re-introduced in September in the U.S. Senate, the pro-motorsports and pro-business RPM Act is designed to “protect the future of racing and motorsports-parts businesses,” according to PRI officials.

Senato Jon Tester (D-MT) is one of the co-sponsors of the re-introduced legislation in the Senate.

“Folks in the motorsport community have always relied on the freedom to modify their vehicles to race and compete, Tester said. "This legislation will codify that freedom into law by preventing unnecessary regulations on motorsport hobbyists, allowing amateurs and professionals alike to uphold tradition while still following the intent of the Clean Air Act (originally passed in 1976 but expired in 2016).”

More than 1.5 million letters have been received by various members of Congress to date, the majority urging Congress to sign the RPM Act into law.

With so much emphasis on electric race vehicles both now and even more so in the future, batteries are increasingly becoming one of the top priorities of racers and race teams. One of the more interesting products on display was from E3 Spark Plugs, which introduced a new line of lithium batteries for current genres of race vehicles.

Earlier this year, E3 released the SuperLite 1600 and the lighter SuperLite 1200 version. The two batteries “offer faster starts, lighter weight and … three times longer life than traditional lead-acid/AGM batteries. Plus, each battery contains a double redundant battery management system that protects from overcharging, over-discharging, short circuits, and excessive cranking—all detrimental to a battery.”

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jeremy Clements is a big booster of the new battery line. In a press release, Clements said, “I love my E3 battery. It has increased my brake fan speed and volume, which helps decrease brake temps, which is critical at places like Martinsville. Heck, this battery even helped increase my helmet blower speed, which keeps me cool when it matters most.”

Along those same lines, VP Racing Fuels introduced new bio-renewable components that will be part of the company’s current race fuel portfolio.

“With enhanced concern over the global environment and an ever-increasing demand on the transportation of people and goods, government regulatory authorities continue to push for more stringent regulations on pollutants and CO2 emissions,” said Mark Walls, VP’s Director of R&D and Fuel Technology. “Auto manufacturers continue to pursue advanced powertrains, such as electric and hybrid-electric vehicles to address this problem, but we felt onboard fuel could play a part.”

VP is currently testing a variety of race fuels with advanced renewable components to meet upcoming renewable fuel requirements for several race series, including Formula 1 and IMSA. Company officials held a seminar Thursday morning at the Show that told attendees that it now has more than 70 proprietary fuel blends in its portfolio, of which 23 use renewable components.

What’s old is now new once again was the perfect way to describe perhaps the most versatile used car—and classic car, for that matte—in racing history.

Hot Rod Magazine unveiled its much-anticipated and much-hyped new and unique EV, known as “Project X,” that showcased one of the most iconic cars of the last 75 years—the 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air—which the magazine has converted to electric power.

But don’t think this baby doesn’t have guts—it does, cranking out 340 horsepower.

The car has been owned by the magazine since 1965 and was purchased at a reported price of just $250. It has been re-used a number of times to test a variety of hot rod trends and technologies.

“Project X has always served the car community by pushing the envelope with groundbreaking technologies... the auto industry shifts rapidly toward electric vehicles, this Project X build is just the latest in its celebrated legacy of adapting hot rodding to the powerful technology of tomorrow." says group content director at MotorTrend Group Douglas Glad.

IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe was expected to announce which team he will race for in 2022. While that did not happen, Hinchcliffe still made another announcement that will significantly help young racers in his native Canada.

Hinchcliffe announced the “2022 Team Canada Scholarship Shootout,” which will feature six up-and-coming racers battling it out in competition, with the top two drivers to represent their homeland at the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy events in England.

“I’m really excited to be part of the Team Canada Scholarship program,” Hinchcliffe said. “It’s great what Brian (Team Canada Scholarship founder Brian Graham) and the team have done over the years, and I think moving forward we can make the program even better and really showcase the driving talent that we have coming up in Canada.”

Hinchcliffe joins fellow racer Robert Wickens, who continues to recover from a horrific crash in 2018 that left him a paraplegic but still with hopes he’ll be able to walk again.

As for Hinchcliffe’s racing status for 2022, he has previously said he’s open to all opportunities. Rumors have him joining a smaller team for the season, or possibly a part-time situation, or even just a ride in the Indianapolis 500. There also are reports that if Hinchcliffe can’t get a ride, he may join NBC’s IndyCar telecasts, perhaps replacing Paul Tracy, who it was announced last week that his contract will not be renewed.

Two major announcements were anticipated but never really materialized.

First, it was rumored that three-time NASCAR champion and Indiana native Tony Stewart, who recently formed a new NHRA team that will begin competition in 2022 with his wife Leah in a Top Fuel dragster and Matt Hagen in Funny Car, would announce the car manufacturer that Hagen would drive (rumors continue to grow that it will be Dodge).

Stewart did make an announcement, but it was not what many expected. Instead, he and one of the drivers on his four-car NASCAR team, Chase Briscoe, had a new sponsor announcement in an event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

The second major announcement that ultimately proved not to be was a primary sponsor revelation for eight-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher, who will return to full-time competition for the first time since 2018.

Schumacher, who is the only driver remaining in the once seven-vehicle strong Don Schumacher Racing organization owned by his father, is now expected to give his new primary sponsor an early Christmas present, with the revelation now set for December 21.

The sponsorship is reportedly with a national non-automotive brand.

One of the biggest news events that came out of the PRI event was two-time and reigning NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps announcing he has formed Ron Capps Motorsports (RCM).

Click here to read Autoweek’s story on Capps’ announcement.

Much like former Don Schumacher Racing teammate Antron Brown, who has also started his own team, Capps has long sought to own his own team – and now that dream has turned into reality.

Even though he now will be the boss, Capps will still be significantly linked to Don Schumacher Racing. Not only has Capps’ entire team from DSR returned to join him in his new venture, RCM will also be housed and operate out of DSR’s shop in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Four-time and defending Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves revealed the design for tickets for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500, which will be held on May 29, 2022 (ironically, that is the birthday of the late Al Unser, also a four-time Indy 500 champ, who passed away December 9.

Following tradition, the winning driver from the previous year is featured on the ticket.

One of the first interviews that the recently-married Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett gave came on the NHRA’s PRI stage.

Building the new drag racing team, which will feature Pruett in a Top Fuel dragster and Matt Hagan in a Funny Car, is one of Stewart’s primary tasks currently, with the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing season starting in just two months (Feb. 17-20 at Pomona, California).

An interesting aside is the couple revealed that they’re currently living in Tony’s motorhome at his team’s campus in suburban Charlotte.