The 2025 Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference (MTC) at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando last week featured quality conversations and new connections between racing brands and automotive media members and influencers.

"I can't have a bad meeting here [at the MTC] because our product line of fasteners is used everywhere. There's science behind what we make, so for a new company like ours, it's all about getting the word out about what we do," said Kevin Feeney of P1 Manufacturing, a company that has been in the market for about three years now.

PRI News and PRI Magazine connected with nearly two dozen brands, many showcasing their new innovations, like a new line of brake fluid from braking experts Hawk Performance. Previously only offering brake pads and rotors, the manufacturer is now using its expertise to roll out some premium DOT 4 brake fluids, with its HP600 formula rated at a dry boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit and a wet boiling point of 383 degrees Fahrenheit. Stepping it up a notch is its HP660 formula, designed to offer class-leading boiling points (608 degrees Fahrenheit dry and 383 degrees Fahrenheit wet). The roll-out is part of a more significant approach this year to educate its customers (and potential customers) on all things brakes, including for novice enthusiasts looking to "brake" into motorsports competition and longtime race teams who may not be taking the best care of their race car, tow vehicle, or even their daily driver, said Annie Last from Hawk Performance, who also shared educational articles can be found in the News & Updates part of the Hawk Performance website.

On that same theme, Mickey Thompson Wheels & Tires shared they are working on educating those out-of-the-know, including younger racers and newer enthusiasts, about why some tires can wear unevenly or what to do if you accidentally get motor fluid or other chemicals on your tires. More details may be found in the FAQs section of the Mickey Thompson website.

After sharing that new sizes are now available for its Baja Boss X off-road and Pro Bracket Radial competition tires, Mickey Thompson reps also unveiled an upcoming promotion on its street/strip tires in an effort to help racer's pockets at the start of the season. Beginning February 15 through March 31, 2025, customers can get $50 back by an online rebate on select street or strip tires. For more details, visit the Mickey Thompson website here.

During the Media Trade Conference, brand reps also identified current industry trends, like a burst in autocross interest across the nation, which Hawk Performance confirmed when we met them. This increased interest in autocross has spurred a new product line, HPX, that is geared toward high-performance applications. Hitting the shelves in springtime this year, the product is registered with some of the top autocross-sanctioning bodies and is designed to match (or exceed) standards in this area. "This product will be big in autocross and not as pricey as some of the current offerings," Last shared.

Autocross was also marked as a vital racing category for Centerforce Clutches. Trent McGee and Chris Thompson think the "why" behind the autocross boom can be attributed to the ease of setup for the events (you just need a track or parking lot); the speeds are not off-the-charts. Hence, autocross is safer and generally more approachable than other forms of motorsports.

QA1 brand Speedtech told us that an estimated 60% of its calls are from autocrossers looking for insights on their chassis and suspension solutions.

Echoing that sentiment was ACT's Richard Barsamian, who pointed to autocross' low barrier of cost entry as its popularity factor. "It's cheaper than NASCAR racing, you know?" he said, pointing to an increased youth interest in the category, similar to "what we're seeing in drifting."

Diesel racing is another segment that's certainly been around but is reaching new levels with record-breaking runs and healthy participation, as emphasized, of course, by Kyle Fischer of Hot Shot's Secret (HSS), a longtime supporter of the segment. "I've been saying it for a long time that diesels are coming for their gas counterparts. And that time is here. Diesels are now door-to-door with gas racers," Fischer said.

HSS currently sponsors the Outlaw Diesel Super Series, the National Tractor Pullers Association, and, most recently, the Pro Pulling League, which now dons the iconic HSS green on its logo and branding. New products for HSS include its 7000 Series EP multi-purpose extreme-pressure grease, the premium universal tractor trans-hydraulic fluid and the brand-new turbo primer to prevent oil starvation on start-up. And Fischer let PRI in on some insider information, too, sharing that HSS will soon be offering full-blown diesel fuel. "We hope to be disrupting the diesel fuel industry," he said.

P1 Manufacturing's Feeney agrees that diesel racing has expanded in recent years, noting that a lot of these racers come from the farming community with diesel trucks and equipment, all utilizing fasteners in some capacity.

Powersports is another racing category with staying power, as emphasized by Fuel Factory, who also shared that their newer fuel brand is breaking into several racing categories, including sand racing and drag racing. Its new F X7 racing fuel, introduced at the 2024 PRI Show, is engineered to be the ultimate choice for high-performance methanol. 

"We work closely with engine builders to develop our products," said Marc Wesler. "Then we get them to use our fuels" for word-of-mouth marketing. Another marketing tactic is to put the fuel to the test on the track via Fuel Factory's CFO Mia Tedesco, a former NHRA World Champion in the Super Gas category now competing in select bracket races across the nation.

Also in the fluids category, PRI met with VP Racing, which has recently removed the word "Fuels" from its logo to better represent its growing product lines, which now include racing and high-performance lubricants and oils. VP's Kevin Parlett shared that as the company enters its 50th anniversary, it's expanding its presence in Latin America and Europe, and there will be an upcoming push to expand in Asia in 2025 and beyond.

In terms of brand identity, E3 Spark Plugs wants to be known for more than just its ignition products. E3 has been offering lightweight lithium batteries for a few race seasons now and wants to spread the word about the weight savings--and economical savings--they can provide race teams.

"The offshore powerboat teams love our batteries. They can shave 100 lbs. off of their weight with our nine-pound model. They'll run three of these on their boat and still see weight savings," E3's Chris LaCouture said.

Safety is always top of mind for PRI, so we were happy to learn that in 2025, Simpson is partnering with INDYCAR to outfit all of the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team members, approximately 30 safety professionals including physicians, paramedics, firefighters/EMTs and nurses who are on-hand for events. As stated by Simpson's Chris Delbeck, AMR Safety is the model of safety in motorsports, so it's an honor to outfit them with some of Simpson's top-rated fire suits to keep INDYCAR racers, race teams and fans alike safe.

Delbeck also shared that Simpson and its sister safety brands under the Holley banner, including Stilo, HANS and Racequip, are expanding its trackside trailer presence at race events this year. Whether it's discovering if a racer's HANS straps are ill-fitting or if a helmet can be better padded for added comfort and endurance, a trackside presence is vital to keep safety paramount. "In racing, if you go so long without an incident, you can get complacent. So, we want to work with our series and racers to make sure they have what they need to stay safe," Delbeck said, pointing out that the rise in eCommerce means you can get your hands on safety gear easier than ever before. "All the easy ways to get safety products are great, but you might need someone in-person showing you how it works."

PRI thanks all of the companies and representatives that we met with last week:

• Advanced Clutch Technology
• Aeromotive Inc.
• Automotive Racing Products
• Centerforce Clutches
• E3 Spark Plugs 
• Fuel Factory
• Hawk Performance
• Holley and its performance brands including MSD, Racepak, NOS, AEM, ACCEL, B&M, Hurst, Edge and DiabloSport, plus its safety brands Simpson, Stilo, HANS and Racequip
• Hoosier Racing Tires
• Hot Shot's Secret
• Ken Perry's Xtreme Arias LLC
• MAHLE Motorsports
• McLeod Racing
• Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels
• P1 Manufacturing
• QA1 and its brands Speedtech Performance, Detroit Speed & Engineering
• QuadLock
• Red Line Synthetic Oil
• Specialty Auto Parts USA
• VP Racing Fuels