The Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act would thwart EPA's desire to block the conversion of production vehicles into dedicated racers.
- Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champ Antron Brown will head to Washington DC right after this weekend’s Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals.
- He will testify before a US Senate committee in support of the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act.
- The bill counters movement by the Environmental Protection Agency, which maintains converting street cars into racers makes them non-compliant with federal emission standards.
Mr. Brown is going to Washington.
Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champ Antron Brown will head to Washington DC right after the conclusion of this weekend’s Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis to testify before a US Senate committee in support of the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports (RPM) Act.
The bill is intended to get ahead of an Environmental Protection Agency draft ruling issued in 2015 that was designed to make it illegal to convert production vehicles into dedicated race vehicles. That ruling, while never finalized into law, still represents the EPA’s stance, as the agency maintains that converting street cars into racers makes them non-compliant with federal emission standards.
The EPA has continued working to end the production and sale of high-performance parts used by grassroots racers to enhance production cars.
“Passage of the RPM Act will bring clarity to grassroots racers and businesses that manufacture, sell, and distribute motorsports parts,” said Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the trade association representing the automotive aftermarket that is pushing for passage of the RPM Act. “We’re grateful to the elected officials who strongly support and advocate for Congress to pass the RPM Act. The industry has been in limbo and in a state of uncertainty for far too long; it’s time to pass the RPM Act.”
Brown, owner/driver at Antron Brown Motorsports, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Sept. 7, which is two days after the conclusion of the US Nationals. Brown will bring his sons Adler and Anson—both junior racers—and wife Billie Jo along for the experience.
Antron Brown will have his say in Washington DC next week when he addresses a Senate committee.
NHRA/National Dragster
“The RPM Act is essential to the racing community, particularly for grassroots racers who are just getting started,” said Brown, who began his racing career nearly four decades ago by modifying street-legal motorcycles into dedicated race motorcycles. “It’s imperative that we protect the ability for young men and women to be able to compete at the track. The RPM Act will give racers the assurance they need to continue this American tradition.”
Passage of the RPM Act would protect racers’ rights to modify production vehicles into dedicated race vehicles without fear of facing EPA repercussions.
“I owe a lot to motorsports; there are many great lessons that come from racing,” said Brown. “I’m urging Congress to help protect motorsports and ensure that it remains a viable pastime for all Americans by passing the RPM Act.”
Mike Pryson Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011.