Jay Leno will kick off the 2021 SEMA Show as the featured guest of the New Products Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Taking place before the SEMA Show floor officially opens that same day, the New Products Awards Breakfast is akin to an opening ceremony for the four-day event, where automotive innovation, technology, and advancement take center stage.

As the featured guest of the New Products Breakfast, Leno will inspire and motivate show attendees as the best new product award winners are announced.

“Leno is an automotive expert whose high energy and passion represents that of the industry’s,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA Vice President of Events. “Like the exhibitors at the SEMA Show, Leno pushes the boundaries and continually raises the bar. We’re thrilled to have him join us for the opening breakfast of what is likely to be one of the most iconic SEMA Shows ever.”

The concept may have started several years ago with the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) held prior to the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in December. It was there where several individual meetings held by noted members of our industry gave talks and demonstrations on the state of technology in all forms of motorsports. The meetings were open to all who registered ahead of time which also included a lengthy question and answer period from the audience.

While the concept drew quite a bit of attendance prior to the Trade Show, it appeared that after SEMA had purchased the PRI Trade Show, the AETC was dropped. One of those who was involved in AETC along with being one of those noted members of our industry was Lake Speed Jr. of Total Seal Piston Rings. Between Speed and Rottler Machine, we now have a sort of resurrection of the AETC concept with their Engine Performance Expo taking place over four days; two in October and two in January.

Three-time Top Fuel champion Antron Brown has a 10-year old admirer from Lake Charles, La., a Jr. Dragster eighth-mile ace in the 8.90-second class named Phillip Mouton. 

And before qualifying began Friday, Brown gave young Phillip a thrill he never will forget.

Phillip, it turns out, received a Jr. Dragster for Christmas but wasn’t going to make a pass with it until Brown signed the rear wing of the half-scale dragster. 

The opening round of the 2021-22 400 Thunder season scheduled for Heathcote Park Raceway, Victoria, on November 26-27 has been cancelled.

Organizers citing uncertainty around spectator numbers allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions and delays with track renovations as factors behind their decision.

For all the cowboys, all the pipeliners, all the Capco Construction customers, all the hunting buddies, all the friends and neighbors in Kilgore who were having homecoming parties, ready to celebrate another Steve Torrence NHRA victory, the beer went flat and the nachos suddenly went cold and soggy. 

And they can blame Justin Ashley. 

Hell hath no fury like a Funny Car driver who beats himself up over a mistake. 

Ever since Ron Capps left the NHRA Midwest Nationals two weeks ago, admittedly, he was not the most fun person to be around. 

​Finally.

It’s not so much Greg Anderson has to be concerned with winning one more race to pass Warren Johnson on the all-time wins list. He just doesn't have to field questions about when he's going to win his 98th career national event victory. 

One would be wise to never count Rickie Smith’s boy out of anything. 

Matt Smith, the son of one of drag racing’s most prolific doorslammer racers, hasn’t ridden his father’s coattails to prominence, but this doesn’t mean he hasn’t learned a thing or two from the crafty veteran along the way.