The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is supporting Capitol Hill allies on legislation that will clearly exempt from the Clean Air Act street vehicles converted to race cars for competition-only use. As previously reported, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a regulation to prohibit conversion of vehicles originally designed for on-road use into race cars. The regulation would also make the sale of certain products for use on such vehicles illegal.

“Despite recent indications that the EPA is considering a new rule-making to request additional public comment on its proposed race car rule, it is now clear that an amendment to the Clean Air Act will effectively end any debate over the exemption of motor vehicles converted for competition use. SEMA views congressional action as a decisive step to settle this issue once and for all,”  said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “The EPA is attempting to write a new interpretation into the regulations. The racing community and parts makers need the certainty that legislation will provide.”

A SEMA-initiated White House Petition opposing the EPA-proposed regulation currently contains more than 158,000 signatures, well past the 100,000 signature threshold necessary to elicit a response from the administration.