Celebrating the legacy of MSD Ignition at the SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala.

“Has EV run out of juice?” was the question PRI Coordinating Editor Jack Haworth asked as our editorial team planned this September edition of PRI Magazine. With a push for vehicle electrification from governments worldwide, only a few years ago the demise of the internal combustion engine was considered inevitable. However, ICE’s extinction was predicted far too soon. With recent developments, it appears that the rapid courtship with EVs has slowed.
Although EV sales have climbed year-over-year, according to the recent 2024 SEMA Market Report, consumers aren’t embracing this technology as the powers-that-be originally forecasted, and as a result, some automakers are adjusting their transition plans. “SEMA has lowered its forecast for EV sales, with the expectation that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will make up the majority of sales over the next decade,” cited the report.
That is good news for those of us who embrace the power of choice (particularly our vehicles) and oppose government overreach. Translate that to motorsports, and it appears we can count on traditional ICE-powered race cars to populate American race tracks week after week.
But to answer Jack’s question, in terms of motorsports, EVs are hardly going away, but maybe getting a new and improved life. During the production of this magazine, NASCAR released the details of its ABB NASCAR EV Prototype. No series has been announced yet for this car, but it has impressive numbers: a powertrain that can produce 1,000 kilowatts at peak power (some quick math reveals this converts to more than 1,300 hp) and regenerative braking that converts kinetic energy into power, making this concept ideal for short oval tracks and road racing.
Nitrocross, known for its high-flying jumps and tight off-road circuits, introduced its FC1-X electric model in 2022 for its premier class (that produces more than 1,000 hp and can shoot to 60 mph from a dead stop in only 1.5 seconds). But the tide is turning as the series is giving teams and fans another option with its NEXT EVO class powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder internal combustion engine that runs on sustainable eco fuel. The series allows fans to see the benefits of each.
Internationally, next season Extreme E will change its name to Extreme H. Battery electric race cars are still on the ticket but will now include a hydrogen fuel cell within the car, hence the change in the name.
What an exciting position we are in as we see in real time how motorsports is changing…and hopefully for the better.
Out & About: The PRI team enjoyed celebrating some of our industry’s best at the SEMA Leaders & Legends Gala in July. Inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame were Jack Priegel, founder of MSD Ignition; Les Rudd, president of Bob Cook Sales; John Wyly, who helped develop what is now SEMA Data; and Chris Kersting, former CEO and president of SEMA. What a great evening catching up with longtime friends, including a really fun group who were working at MSD when I met them almost 30 years ago.