PRI Announces 2023 Featured Products Showcase Award Winners
There was no better display of the racing industry’s capacity to innovate than the Featured Products Showcase at the 2023 PRI Show. Ranging from engine blocks to race suits, the annual display highlights the latest and greatest products the motorsports industry has to offer.
According to Brian Havins, director of editorial and consumer marketing at Power Automedia and a judge for this year’s Featured Product Awards, the showcase does more than just highlight products: it demonstrates the racing world’s ability to tackle new and complex problems.
“[The industry] is stronger than ever. I was talking to a company, and as these cars and technology keep evolving, new issues keep coming up,” Havins said. “Now, noise and electrical interference are a huge issue, so people are working on spark plug wires and plugs and fixing these things that we might see in a modern-day hot rod.
“There’s always a problem that starts,” he added, “and these companies figure out what that issue is, how to fix it and how to make it better.”
Havins, as well as the other 12 Featured Product Awards judges, submitted a selection for best Featured Product. Additionally, the top vote-getters in each of eight categories received a 2023 Featured Product Award.
The results are listed below:
JUDGE’S PICKS
J.A. Ackley – Grassroots Motorsports
Speedway Motors WheelWise 5-Lug Wheel Fitment Tool with Tire Size Attachment
This patent-pending attachment simulates tires up to 12-in. wide and up to 12-inch sidewall height. It can be used to verify a specific tire size or determine maximum tire size fitment and is made from laser cut and press bent 12-gauge steel with laser etched measurements in both SAE and metric tire sizes.
Nathan Buchanan – SICK Cars & Trucks
Brembo Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Front Brake Package
Brembo is the braking supplier to The Mustang Challenge Series, supplying the brakes for the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R. The front disc is 390-by-35mm Type 5 slot pattern with directional vanes for maximum cooling. The stopping power will come directly from Brembo’s new forged six-piston monobloc caliper housing Brembo’s own race compound, RB340.
Craig Cook – Drag Illustrated
ProCharger Supercharger Systems F-4X-136 Centrifugal Supercharger with CrankDrive
The F4X-136 with CrankDrive is available for all F-series models and is available for BBC, SBC, LT, LS, BBF, SBF, Coyote, Godzilla, AJPE, Noonan, BAE and Visner engines.
Josh Dillon – Sleeperdude
Turbosmart StraightGate76
The StraightGate76 from Turbosmart is a high-flowing external wastegate with a zero-offset butterfly style valve, full electronic actuation and enormous flow.
Brian Havins – Power Automedia
ProCharger Supercharger Systems 2023-20 Corvette C8 HTC HO and Stage II Intercooled Supercharger Systems
Building on the success of the C8 Coupe systems, ProCharger has turned its attention to the hardtop convertible Corvettes now offering HTC C8 systems with 5psi/170hp gain on the HO and 7.5psi/45% hp gain on the Stage II just like the coupes. These new HTC kits feature a new intake design that allows the top to be fully retracted into the engine bay
KJ Jones – HOT ROD Magazine
Garmin USA Garmin Catalyst
Garmin Catalyst is a racing coach and driving performance optimizer that mounts in the cockpit to gather your performance data and provide real-time audible coaching. Immediate session analysis helps drivers of all levels achieve their full track driving potential.
David Kennedy – NHRA
AWA Forged Composites Composite Rocker
These patent-pending carbon composite rockers are 1.5-times stiffer than 4130 steel, guarantee precise valve displacement and substantial weight reduction, thereby enhancing power output and efficiency. These rockers ensure smooth operation in high-performance valvetrains by effectively negating harmful harmonic vibrations.
Mike Kojima – MotoIQ
Race Winning Brands Dart Machinery Toyota 2JZ Engine Block
The Dart Iron 2JZ Engine Block features 220 BHN Cast Iron, four-bolt billet steel caps, max 88mm bore, .750 in. deck thickness, revised water jackets for strength, increased crankcase thickness, relocated oil passages for 94mm stroke, screw-in freeze plugs and factory mounting points.
Guillermo Moeller – Performance Customs
Speedway Motors SoloSwap Ford 5.0 Coyote Mock Up Engine Swap Dummy Block Kits
The patent-pending SoloSwap is compatible with all 5.0L and 5.2L Coyote engine bolt-ons, such as intake manifolds, headers and oil pan. The dummy block weighs 22 lbs. for the short block or 40 lbs. for the long block and can be lifted in and out of the vehicle without an engine hoist.
Garrett Reed – American Muscle HD
Garrett Advancing Motion Garrett G-Smart Bluetooth Turbo Speed and Boost Module
The G-Smart Module transmits turbo speed and boost via Bluetooth directly to your mobile device and comes with a plug-and-play wiring harness for Garrett speed sensors, and other non-Garrett manufacturer sensors.
Chad Reynolds – BangShift
The Bangshift Billy Digital Clutch Controller
The BangShift Billy Digital Clutch Controller allows your diaphragm clutch to operate like a slipper clutch at the drag strip with all adjustments made through a phone app.
Joe Skotnicki – Race of Champions
Flagtronics by Ballenger Motorsports Flagtronics FT200 Kit
The Flagtronics FT200 features in-car flagging notification for full and local course conditions, improved track condition awareness, auto-dimming LED display and no subscription fees.
Mitchell Stapleton – Stapleton42
QA1 ’07-’18 Silverado 1500 Lowering Kits
The QA1 lowering kit for Silverado 1500 or Sierra 1500 offers suspension upgrades with cast steel, stamped steel or aluminum arms and provides maximum adjustability and significant improvements to ride quality and performance.
CATEGORY WINNERS (RESULTS ARE LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Best Accessory Product
OPTIMA Batteries Digital 400+ Performance Maintainer with 4 AMP HYPERCORE LITHIUM Charger
RedTide Canopies Custom SFI Race Suits
United Race Parts Greaves 3D Tire Scraper
Best Chassis Product
QA1 ’05-’14 S197 Mustang Proma Star Struts and Caster Camber Plates
Radium Engineering Fuel Cell Surge Tank (FCST-X)
Ultimate Awning Patented Cam-Loc Billet Quick Connects
Best Drivetrain Product
The Bangshift Billy Digital Clutch Controller
Quick Performance Nodular Iron Dropout Case for Ford 8 in.
Strange Engineering Dynamic Drive Mount Evolution Stainless Steel Brakes
Best Electronic/Telemetry Product
Garmin USA Garmin Catalyst
Race Winning Brands Haltech – uC-10 Dash
ECUMaster Wireless Wheel Panel
Best Engine Product
Garrett Advancing Motion G-Smart Bluetooth Turbo Speed and Boost Module
Intercooler Chiller System for Turbo and Supercharged Applications
Late Model Engines C8 LT2 Billet Block Wet
Best Lubricant Product
AMSOIL DOMINATOR 10W-40 100% Synthetic Racing Oil
AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Hybrid Motor Oil
Hot Shot’s Secret Adrenaline R82+ Diesel Race Fuel additive
Best Shop Equipment Product
AFCO Performance Group Elite Pro Wireless Racing Scales from Longacre
Speedway Motors WheelWise 5-Lug Wheel Fitment Tool with Tire Size Attachment
Speedway Motors SoloSwap GM 4L80E Swap Mock Up Transmission
Best Suspension Product
QA1 ’79-’93 Fox Body Mustang Suspension Kits
QA1 ’07-’18 Silverado 1500 Lowering Kits
Slade Precision Shocks Threaded Body Copperhead Double Adjustable
The post PRI Announces 2023 Featured Products Showcase Award Winners first appeared on Drag Illustrated | Drag Racing News, Opinion, Interviews, Photos, Videos and More.
