USMA & Industry Leaders Submit Letter to EPA & Congressional Committee
The United States Motorsports Association submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to the Congressional Committee on Science, Space and Technology protesting the detrimental impacts of the EPA’s unfair overreach that could outlaw the conversion of street vehicles into race cars used on tracks across America. The letter also contained written statements from industry leaders including Bob Patison, Executive Vice President of Lucas Oil and President of MAVTV; Torrey Galida, President of Richard Childress Racing; Steve Farmer, Vice President of Corporate Development for the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH).
The section in the proposed rule states: Certified motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines and their emissions control devices must remain in their certified configuration even if they are used solely for competition or if they become non-road vehicles or engines.”
The USMA responded by stating: “There are race tracks in all 50-States, hundreds of thousands of competitors, millions of enthusiasts and fans all producing billions in economic impacts to jobs, tourism, innovation, education and much more. This economic driver will be adversely affected by any additional EPA mandates to competitive vehicles being used on non-public roads. We are especially concerned about the negative impacts to thousands of small businesses that rely on the racing industry.”
“The USMA and its membership have serious concerns with the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act and its overreaching regulation of this issue. Supporting Motorsports in America means supporting a 100-year old industry that provides far more than entertainment. Our racing community is made up of a diverse group of job creators, innovators, and economic contributors.”
The USMA also expressed its appreciation for H.R.4715, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016 {RPM Act) introduced by U.S. Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), and Richard Hudson (R-NC). This is crucial to ensure the stability and ongoing growth of the Motorsports Industry.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has been leading the advocacy effort on a National Level. Other organizations have joined the effort including Harley-Davidson, Tire Industry Association (TIA), Auto Care Association (ACA), American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
SEMA has created a model letter supporting the RPM Act. It can be found on the SEMA website by clicking this link: Everyone Can Advocate
LETTER AND STATEMENTS FROM MOTORSPORTS INDUSTRY LEADERS:
March 09, 2016
The Honorable Lamar Smith
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
U.S. House of Representatives
2321 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C..20515
The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson
Ranking Member, Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
U.S. House of Representatives
394 Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson:
The United States Motorsports Association would like to express its appreciation for H.R.4715, the
Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016 {RPM Act} introduced by U.5. Representatives
Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Henry Cuellar {D-TX), and Richard Hudson (R-NC}. This is crucial to ensure the
stability and ongoing growth of the Motorsports Industry.
There are race tracks in all 50-States, hundreds of thousands of competitors, millions of enthusiasts and
fans all producing billions in economic impacts to jobs, tourism, innovation, education and much more.
This economic driver will be adversely affected by any additional EPA mandates to competitive vehicles
being used on non-public roads. We are especially concerned about the negative impacts to thousands
of small businesses that rely on the racing industry.
The EPA has done good work in general to create a cleaner more efficient automotive environment and
overall health, and the USMA is in support of those efforts. However, the USMA and its membership
have serious concerns with the EPA's interpretation of the Clean Air Act and its overreaching regulation
of this issue. Supporting Motorsports in America means supporting a 100-year old industry that
provides far more than entertainment. Our racing community is made up of a diverse group of job
creators, innovators, and economic contributors.
Thank you for hearing our Concerns and taking the time to understand the full impacts of this issue.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or further information.
United States Motorsports Association (USMA)
Lucas Oil Products, lnc. – MAVTV Robert Patison, Executive Vice President lucas Oil and President of MAVTV “Lucas Oil has made a tremendous investment into the competitive racing market. Our company is involved in over 300 annual events that boost local economies and have added jobs both within our company and to the regions these events are held. We support and thank Representatives McHenry, Cuellar and Hudson for their introduction of this bill. This bill helps ensure that Lucas Oil continues to invest in the American Racing lndustry.”
Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Torrey Galida, President of Richard Childress Racing Enterprises, lnc “Beginning as a childhood dream of becoming a race car driver while selling peanuts at a local race track, Richard Childress bought his first race car for $20 and worked out of his home garage. He went on to build what is widely considered one of the most legendary organizations in Motorsports history. Today RCR employs hundreds of fabricators, engineers, business professionals and many others. ln my time working for Ford Motor Company and throughout the racing industry I’ve seen many other similar Motorsports success stories. Many of these stories began tinkering with a vehicle that was no longer useful on the road, but was rebuilt for the race track, often inspiring the next great innovation or business startup. It's the depth of our industry that is often overlooked. Thank you to the Members of Congress who are standing up and taking appropriate action with the RPM Act.”
University of Northwestern Ohio Steve Farmer, UNOH Vice President Corporate Development “The University of Northwestern Ohio educates thousands of high performance technicians each year. A highly skilled and specialized workforce is in high-demand by race teams, performance machine shops, race tracks and sanctioning organizations. To better serve our students and the Motorsports lndustry UNOH owns and operates Lima Land Motorsports Park, a 1/4 Mile Dirt Racing Track. UNOH would like to thank Members of Congress for taking the time to fully understand the gravity of the EPA added regulations, and for their actions to protect Motorsports and all that it provides our future generations of automotive and performance technicians.”