Drag Illustrated Issue 166, March 2021 | Page 38

Dirt

PRI Show to Return in 2021

Performance Racing Industry plans to rebound with new initiatives By Juan Torres

Areturn to Indianapolis for the annual PRI Trade Show , an all-new membership drive , and a 2.0 version of the renowned PRI Road Tour are all part of Performance Racing Industry ’ s plans for an unprecedented year .

With its mission to build , promote , and protect the racing community , PRI is focused on uniting motorsports professionals and enthusiasts in 2021 through both traditional platforms and newly introduced initiatives and services . Atop the list is this year ’ s return of the world ’ s premier event for motorsports professionals — the PRI Trade Show — which takes place December 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis .
“ The racing industry is resilient and continues to push forward , and PRI very much reflects that spirit ,” said PRI President Dr . Jamie Meyer . “ Racing businesses have demonstrated remarkable passion and perseverance over the last 12 months . Many have even reported record sales and month-over-month revenue growth .
“ Our job is to help the entire community thrive , and No . 1 on that list is bringing the industry together under one roof for an in-person PRI Show to get back to the business of racing and discover all the latest parts , equipment , technology , and solutions .”
As planning for the Show continues , PRI will introduce a groundbreaking membership program for motorsports professionals designed to unite the industry on a number of important efforts — legislative advocacy , business resources , career development , educational opportunities ,
cost savings , and more . Exhibitors at this year ’ s PRI Trade Show , for example , can take advantage of a comprehensive list of benefits that includes discounted booth space , which in most cases covers the cost of membership .
“ PRI is laser-focused on supporting the motorsports industry ,” said Meyer . “ The PRI Show is a critical component of what we do . Membership will complement what takes place at the event by providing year-round legal support , advocacy , educational seminars , and more .”
Shortly after Meyer ’ s arrival at PRI in late spring 2020 , the company launched a series of targeted programs to assist racing businesses and operations impacted by the pandemic . One was PRI ’ s Ambassador Program , an aggressive campaign aimed at helping racetrack operators navigate local , state , and federal rules required to reopen safely .
Then , in October , PRI announced the launch of its Road Tour — an unprecedented , two-anda-half-month cross-country journey that took a van-load of content creators to the doorsteps of nearly 100 racing and performance shops , teams , tracks , and more . The result was an all-out media blitz that allowed dozens of motorsports companies large and small to tell their stories , reveal new products , share never-before-seen treasures , and ultimately bring the industry closer together .
“ It was like PRI came to Magnuson and gave us all a big hug ,” said Kim Pendergast , president of Magnuson Superchargers , about the PRI Road Tour , which will focus on major race events when it returns for 2021 . “ I don ’ t think we knew how much we needed that touch until it arrived .”
Exhibitor booth space applications for the 2021 PRI Trade Show , which include a sign-up option for PRI Business Membership , became available on March 15 . Details for Trade Show attendee registration , PRI Individual Membership , and the PRI Road Tour will be announced at a later date . DI
38 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 166