DRIVING FORCE ACTION

ing Force Action’ s 2026 priorities cover several areas impacting the automotive and motorsports industries. According to Wilbor, those areas include strengthening American automotive manufacturing and domestic supply chains, expanding opportunities in skilled trades, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens on small business, and protecting local motorsports facilities across the country.

For drag racers, track owners, and businesses supporting grassroots motorsports, political involvement can be particularly important at the local and state levels. Now more than ever, racetracks face development pressure, nuisance complaints, and zoning battles, amongst many other challenges. By the time a facility is threatened, however, building the relationships necessary to protect it can become much more difficult.

“ Unlike drag racing, politics and advocacy isn’ t a sprint, and often involves playing a long game,” Wilbor says.“ That requires engagement, networking, persistence, and diligence before issues spring up. The relationships that will matter when you need them are built when the pressure isn’ t on.”

For racetracks, Wilbor says that means we have to create an environment where motorsports facilities have the same opportunity to succeed as other small and family-owned businesses. At the federal level, that can include tax credits and other small-business support. At the state and local level, it can mean protections against nuisance complaints similar to those given to farms and

Lauren Wilbor, Political Director with SEMA / PRI other entertainment venues.

Political engagement also gives racers, track operators, and automotive businesses an opportunity to educate elected officials who may know very little about motorsport and may not understand it as well as racers and race fans. One place to start is economics. Jobs, wages, and taxes generated by the industry. From there, advocates can explain a track’ s broader community benefit, including STEM education, entertainment, and public safety programs.

“ When you put those pieces together, you’ re likely to find something that will resonate with people from all backgrounds, and create a new long-term advocate for motorsports,” Wilbor says.

Driving Force Action plans to support candidates from both sides of the aisle. Candidates are evaluated through their public statements, voting records, and responses to questionnaires, with the organization looking for officials who are pro-business, pro-manufacturing, pro-motorsports, and supportive of automotive freedom and investment in a skilled workforce. But elected officials are only half of the equation. The other half is getting racers and enthusiasts to participate. Most racers and enthusiasts underestimate the political strength of the massive and diverse racing community.

“ Your vote absolutely makes a difference, just as your story makes a difference, and your willingness to show up makes a difference,” Wilbor says.

For the thousands of racers, speed shops, manufacturers, machine shops, and family-owned businesses that make up grassroots motorsports,

22 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated. com Issue 202