Earlier this month, Drag Illustrated’s own Wes Buck and Mike Carpenter traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual Washington Rally hosted by the Government Affairs divisions of Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Performance Racing Industry (PRI). The duo met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to “spread the gospel of drag racing,” as Buck often says. This time, they brought the message directly to the nation’s policymakers.
Two key issues were at the focus of their conversation with legislators. The first was the Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act, which would permanently restore the seven-year depreciation schedule for racetracks. The measure would allow track owners to write off the costs of major facility improvements, including paving, resurfacing, grandstand construction, and restroom upgrades, over seven years rather than the current 19- to 39-year timeline that took effect after the provision expired at the end of 2025.
Buck and Carpenter emphasized that the nation’s more than 1,500 racetracks are not backed by large corporations, but are instead largely family-owned businesses operating on tight margins while trying to fund capital improvements, safety upgrades, and long-term growth.
“Racetracks are generational businesses, built on passion and community, not pure profit. They’re where kids learn to work on cars. Where families spend Friday and Saturday nights. Where racers cut their teeth,” Buck said.
Alongside nearly 120 automotive enthusiasts and industry leaders, Buck and Carpenter also advocated for Right-to-Race legislation. The legislation, currently being introduced at the state level, is designed to protect long-standing motorsports facilities from nuisance lawsuits filed by neighbors who moved near racetracks after the facilities were already established. Several states, including Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, and most recently South Carolina, have already adopted Right-to-Race protections to help preserve racetracks and the jobs, tourism, and sense of community sentiments they generate.
“It’s happened everywhere, especially in North Carolina to probably the Charlotte area’s most well-known dragstrip, Shuffletown Dragway. That’s where my dad cut his teeth,” Carpenter said. “As the growth ensued in the ’80s and ’90s, they built houses and eventually shut that place down. If a Right-to-Race bill existed at that time, Shuffletown Dragway could still be rocking and rolling. Can you imagine?”
The issue was especially personal for Buck and Carpenter, who have watched urban sprawl steadily surround Bradenton Motorsports Park, the host facility of the Drag Illustrated Winter Series. During meetings with Florida representatives, they stressed that drag racing is a very mature and economically significant industry that delivers substantial tourism and revenue to surrounding communities.
“With the Drag Illustrated Winter Series alone, conservative estimates put our economic impact of those three races north of $28 million,” Buck said. “And that’s not nothing – bringing $28 million directly into a community like Bradenton and Sarasota. I stand on that and I’m very proud of it.”
Fortunately for Florida racers and track owners, the Sunshine State is among SEMA’s priority states for introducing Right-to-Race legislation in the coming months. While passing such legislation will require strong support from racers, business owners, and residents, Buck and Carpenter also invited lawmakers and staffers to attend upcoming the Drag Illustrated Winter Series events firsthand.
“We’ll see if we can get some of these folks out to the track. I’m looking forward to having some politicians in suits out to Bradenton Motorsports Park this winter,” Buck said.
Both Buck and Carpenter agreed the trip was valuable as they joined fellow racers, manufacturers, influencers, and automotive business leaders who traveled from across the country to support SEMA and PRI’s efforts to preserve a $69 billion industry that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. They were joined during meetings by members of SEMA’s Government Affairs staff, whose full-time work centers on tracking legislation and advocating for the automotive aftermarket and performance racing industries.
“I wasn’t aware that PRI and SEMA had full-time staffers located in Washington D.C.,” Buck said. “An entire team that is there to meet with lawmakers and encourage them to support car culture and protect motorsports.”
Also present at the rally for the first time was a member of the President’s Cabinet. During the kickoff dinner, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin addressed attendees, outlining his priorities, and encouraging participants to continue making their voices heard throughout the rest of the current administration’s term.
“We heard from Lee Zeldin, the EPA chief, which is a huge deal because the EPA is probably the number one enemy of drag racing. I got nervous at first,” Carpenter said. “But this guy comes in and tells us to give him everything. He said to tell them what we want and what we need.”
While Buck and Carpenter initially approached the invitation to attend the 2026 SEMA & PRI Washington Rally with a degree of intimidation, they executed perfectly and quickly came to appreciate the importance of direct engagement between industry leaders and policymakers. Their experience in Washington D.C. is another example of the importance of advocacy and relationship-building as the motorsports industry prepares for upcoming legislative battles in states across the country.
“Just to be part of that process and to see it was really cool. I think it was a few days well spent.”
This story was originally published on May 26, 2026. 
The post DI to DC: SEMA & PRI Rally Brings Drag Racing Leadership to Capitol Hill first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
