PRI Industry Roundtable
Moderated once again by FOX TV Racing Analyst Jeff Hammond, this year’s Industry Roundtable will feature:
Joie Chitwood
President and COO, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Cruz Pedregon
Team Owner and NHRA Funny Car Champion
Ken Schrader
NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver
Kevin Miller
President and CEO, USAC
Ritchie Lewis
Series Director, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Paul Zalud
President, Snap-On Stars of Karting Presented by IndyCar Series
Scooter Brothers
Director of R&D, Part-Owner of Competition Cams, and Co-Organizer, AETC
The Industry Roundtable, created by Smokey Yunick – one of racing’s all-time legendary engine builders – provides attendees of the PRI Trade Show with a candid and honest forum to get frank answers to direct questions concerning the most critical challenges facing motorsports today.
“It’s the best discussion of the state of racing you will find all year, with a celebrated panel of motorsports figures," stated John Kilroy, editor of Performance Racing Industry magazine, and organizer of the PRI Industry Roundtable. “It is our tradition to present a diverse and exceptional group of racing experts, and this year, we feel this group of industry veterans are among one of our best Roundtables, and well-qualified to address a number of topics prepared by both Moderator Jeff Hammond and the audience.
“Approximately 750 racing industry professionals attended last year’s event, which featured a spirited two-hour conversation among the panelists," Kilroy added. “I’m expecting another exciting program and a packed house. It’s a great way to kick-off the PRI Trade Show, which begins the next day."
The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, on the second floor the North/South Hall of the convention center.
The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show is the world’s largest racing trade show, featuring exhibits of the latest advances in racing products, engineering and machining equipment by 1,400 companies. The Show requires 1,000,000 square feet for the displays. It has been recognized as the 45th largest U.S. trade show, according to Tradeshow Week magazine, in its annual analysis of the top 200 trade shows in America.
Everything happens here first!
Reaching more than 45,000 show attendees at the 2007 show in Orlando, the three-day PRI Trade Show is timed so that racing retailers, engine and car builders, wholesaler/distributors, professional race teams and other industry participants can shop the latest new product introductions and have them in inventory for the next racing season.
This year, Dale Inman serves as Opening Day Breakfast Speaker and more industry social events are on deck, as Budweiser sponsors the PRI Happy Hour on Thursday night. Also, a full slate of motorsports business seminars is scheduled for Friday and Saturday mornings, and the Snap-on All-Stars of Karting race runs Thursday night, Dec. 11, featuring pro drivers, such as 2008 Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-year Ryan Hunter-Reay, competing on a specially constructed track directly outside the convention center.