Performance Racing Industry Settles Into New Home At Speedway

|Thoughts Racing (Wade Productions)|

By Susan Wade

Motorsports fans know the racing capital of the world is Indianapolis and that the world’s most famous auto race is the Indianapolis 500 every Memorial Day weekend in May.  The Performance Racing Industry underscored that Thursday, May 26, celebrating the grand opening of its Membership Headquarters on Speedway, Ind.’s Main Street.

The PRI has made a huge impact on the Hoosier economy every December with its massive trade show at the Indiana Convention Center, but the organization’s President, Dr. Jamie Meyer, said at the ceremony, “We’re excited to provide the racing industry with a place to call home. For years, the industry has gathered at the PRI Trade Show to conduct business and celebrate all things motorsports. For the first time, the racing industry has a dedicated place where they can connect all year long.”

Motorsports professionals joined racers and dignitaries from around the globe for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the two-story, 42,500-square-foot facility in the shadow of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 1255 Main Street.

Speedway Town Council member Gary Raikes (far left) participates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 26 at Speedway, Ind., for the PRI Membership Headquarters. Joining him are (from left to right) NHRA Top Fuel team owner/driver Antron Brown, Speedway Town Council President Vince Noblet, SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola, PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer, SEMA Board Chair James Lawrence, and PRI Executive Assistant Erika Stafford. (Photo courtesy of PRI)
Speedway Town Council member Gary Raikes (far left) participates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 26 at Speedway, Ind., for the PRI Membership Headquarters. Joining him are (from left to right) NHRA Top Fuel team owner/driver Antron Brown, Speedway Town Council President Vince Noblet, SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola, PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer, SEMA Board Chair James Lawrence, and PRI Executive Assistant Erika Stafford. (Photo courtesy of PRI)

Among them was NHRA Top Fuel team owner and driver Antron Brown, whose Matco Tools/Toyota/Sirius XM Dragster was on display, along with John Force’s Camaro Nitro Funny Car and Graham Rahal’s 1990 March Porsche IndyCar.

“PRI plays such a critical role in the motorsports industry, and the opening of the Membership Headquarters is both significant and historic,” said Antron Brown, owner/driver of the AB Motorsports Matco Tools Top Fuel team. “Being able to connect in a centralized location will strengthen our advocacy efforts. I look forward to visiting the PRI Membership Headquarters whenever I am in town.”

Antron Brown (left), a PRI member and NHRA Top Fuel owner-driver, enjoys the grand-opening celebration of the PRI Membership Headquarters with PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyers. (Photo courtesy of PRI)
Antron Brown (left), a PRI member and NHRA Top Fuel owner-driver, enjoys the grand-opening celebration of the PRI Membership Headquarters with PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyers. (Photo courtesy of PRI)

What he’ll see there are a 25,000-square-foot garage, meetings and conference rooms, office space for race-related businesses and organizations, and a venue that PRI vows “will continue to evolve and become a one-of-a-kind gathering area for the motorsports community.” Outdoor space provides more than 85 parking spots for events and gatherings.

Because PRI is dedicated to building, promoting, and protecting the racing industry, its Membership Headquarters will include a content-creation and podcast studio, as well as a members lounge soon. Phase Two will provide space and resources for generating videos that will further promote motorsports to a worldwide audience. The lounge will give members a place to connect, gather, and relax in a casual, fun environment near the racetrack.

Attending the grand opening were ACCUS-FIA President George Silbermann, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, Speedway Council President Vince Noblet, and U.S. Rep. Greg Pence.

Part of the festivities were an IndyCar helmet display, silent auction, current and historic race cars, driver appearances, live paintings, and private tours of the newly renovated building, including the Bryan Herta Autosport race shop and Bell Helmets workshop.

PRI Membership debuted more than a year ago to give businesses and individuals a way to support the motorsports industry while gaining exclusive benefits. As members of PRI, all attendees of the 2022 PRI Trade Show will be able to visit the PRI Membership Headquarters during the event December 8-10, 2022. Qualified existing members will be able to expedite the approval process for the trade show when registration opens in July.

To learn more about PRI Membership, or to join, visit PerformanceRacing.com/Membership. To learn more about PRI, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

About Performance Racing Industry Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies, and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier auto racing trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education, and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

About PRI Membership:

  • Introduced in 2021 to unite the industry and create a collective voice dedicated to protect racing and grow the industry for years to come. 
  • To date, PRI Membership includes 500 business members and over 35,000 individual members. 
  • Focused on protecting motorsports industry’s interest against governmental overreach and legislation that will negatively impact racers, businesses, and fans.