Each year the COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duel provides an opportunity for the best engine builders in the country to show their expertise at some of the nation’s most prestigious automotive shows and events. Now with added dates, this year’s competitions will be bigger than ever. The 2013 Engine Builder Duel will kick off as part of Hot Rod Power Tour, with contests slated for Monday, June 3rd through Wednesday, June 5th in Little Rock, Memphis and Birmingham, respectively. The competition picks up again in July with its first-ever appearance at the PPG Goodguys Nationals in Columbus on Friday, July 12th through Sunday, July 14th. The Engine Builder Duel then shifts further north the very next week and will make its second straight appearance at the Car Craft Summer Nationals in St. Paul on Friday, July 19th through Sunday, July 21st. The year’s competitions will wrap up in Fort Worth when the Engine Builder Duel makes another first-time appearance, this one at the Goodguys Lone Star Nationals on Friday, October 4th through Sunday, October 6th. The COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duel, presented by Snap-On Tools, pits two, two-person teams against each other to see which one can completely assemble and crank a Small Block Chevy engine in the shortest amount of time. Equipped with nothing but their knowledge, contestants are given the appropriate parts and tools to complete the build, but may not ask questions of anyone in the crowd. First place winners of each contest will each be rewarded with a $250 COMP Cams® gift certificate, while runner-up team members will each receive a $125 certificate. Download the PDF for full Press Release with more info.

Each year the COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duel provides an opportunity for the best engine builders in the country to showcase their expertise at some of the nation’s most prestigious automotive shows and events. The Engine Builder Duel will once again be an integral part of Hot Rod Power Tour in 2013, with contests slated for Monday, June 3rd through Wednesday, June 5th in Little Rock, Memphis and Birmingham, respectively. The COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duel, presented by Snap-On Tools, pits two, two-person teams against each other to see which one can completely assemble and crank a Small Block Chevy engine in the shortest amount of time. An added twist this year is the first ever use of the revolutionary FAST™ EZ-EFI 2.0® from the COMP Performance Group™. The EZ-EFI 2.0® will replace the fuel injection systems and carburetors used on previous builds. Equipped with nothing but their knowledge, contestants are given the appropriate parts and tools to complete the build, but may not ask questions of anyone in the crowd. First place winners of daily contests will each be rewarded with a $250 COMP Cams® gift certificate, while runner-up team members will each receive a $125 certificate. Duels will take place at 3 p.m. on the scheduled dates. Download the PDF for full Press Release with more info.

Each year Goodguys holds major automotive events for enthusiasts across the nation. The All-American Get-Together in Pleasanton, CA, Columbus, Ohio’s PPG Nationals and the Southeastern Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway are just a few of the events that fall under the Goodguys umbrella. CPG brands will have a strong presence at every event in 2013. COMP Cams® continues its billing as the “Preferred Camshaft of Goodguys,” a title the company has held since 2005. Meanwhile, FAST™ embarks on its maiden season as the preferred EFI technology provider of the organization. This means that attendees will be exposed to signage, PA announcements and more promoting the two brands. CPG techs will also be on hand at many of the season’s events to offer technical advice, answer questions and supply product from COMP®, FAST™ and other CPG entities including TCI®, RHS® and Inglese™. “Being involved in the Goodguys events has always been very important to the COMP Performance Group™, as the attendees at these shows are passionate automotive people just like us who demand the best for their cars and trucks,” said CPG VP of Marketing, Chris Douglas.” We believe that our industry-leading components are a perfect fit for this group, and we’re very proud that the COMP Cams® and FAST™ brands will be front and center in 2013.”

Available for just $5, this new COMP Cams® t-shirt looks great at the track, in the shop or at the show. The black design features a distressed COMP® logo on the left front chest, while the same logo appears in a larger format on the back. The phrase “The Absolute Leader In Valve Train Technology” surrounds the iconic emblem, with words often associated with the company flanking it on both sides. Words such as “Performance,” “Racing,” Torque” and “Muscle” appear in white distressed letters to form one larger image. The shirt is made from Gildan Cotton, and its black color will easily hide dirt and grease. The COMP Cams® Absolute Leader T-Shirt is available in sizes Small through 5X and is available online, at the COMP® trailer at events across the country, or at the company’s world headquarters in Memphis. Download PDF for additional information and part numbers.

The COMP Cams® 1/2" Rocker Stud and Trunion Retro-Fit Kit provides a stiffer valve train to achieve maximum valve motion in SBC or BBC engine applications utilizing Ultra Pro Magnum™ or Ultra Pro Magnum™ XD Rocker Arms. It is good for anyone looking for more stiffness with stud mount rockers. The kit was originally designed for applications competing in the NHRA Stock Eliminator class, but it is a great choice for anyone whose sanctioning body’s rules do not allow stud girdles. Featuring 1/2" ARP studs 1/2" replacement trunions, 1/2" replacement polylocks, new replacement bearings and new replacement snap rings, the kit includes everything required to switch over to the new studs and freshen and rebuild your rockers at the same time. The COMP Cams® 1/2" Rocker Stud and Trunion Retro-Fit Kit can also be used to retro-fit old Pro Magnum™ or old Hi-Tech Stainless Steel Rockers™. - Part# 13706-KIT

Designed to be used in conjunction with the COMP Cams® Hi-Tech 1/2" Rocker Stud Kit, the latest versions of both COMP Cams® Ultra Pro Magnum and Ultra Pro Magnum™ XD Rocker Arms are built to utilize 1/2" studs to stabilize BBC and SBC valve trains. Ultra Pro Magnum™ Roller Rocker Arms feature a modern arched, web-like design to deliver increased strength and rigidity while still reducing the moment of inertia and optimizing the dynamic balance. Meanwhile, Ultra Pro Magnum™ XD Rockers are built to outlast and outperform in accuracy and strength, while maintaining all the benefits of the Ultra Pro Magnum™ version. The XD rockers are engineered from durable 8650 steel and include a machined billet pushrod seat insert for a super-accurate ratio. Both rockers also boast precision-sorted needle bearings and hardened roller tips. And now that both rocker styles feature the added benefit of accepting 1/2" studs, they are a great choice for anyone looking for more stiffness with stud mount rockers. These new Ultra Pro Magnum™ and Ultra Pro Magnum™ XD Rocker Arms will provide the ultimate in valve train stability for maximum valve motion both at the track and on the street. Download PDF for additional information and part numbers.

The COMP Performance Group™ family prides itself on personally supporting the individuals who use the brands that power the performance aftermarket. That means that throughout the year the CPG trailer and technicians will be on hand at races, major automotive events and trade shows across the nation. Some of the highlight stops for 2013 will include a variety of national and regional NHRA events, Goodguys car shows, every stop of Hot Rod Power Tour in early June, the Car Craft Summer Nationals in St. Paul, MN, from July 18th-21st; the NSRA Street Rod Nationals on August 4th-7th; Frog Follies in Evansville, IN, on August 22nd-25th; and the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona Beach, FL, from November 21st-24th. At every stop throughout the year the trailer will display the latest products from COMP Cams®, TCI®, FAST™, Quarter Master®, Inglese™, RHS®, ZEX™ and Powerhouse® Products. CPG technicians will also be on hand at each location to answer questions, provide technical advice, distribute product literature and sell parts and merchandise.

Once again in 2013, the COMP Performance Group™ trailer and staff will be there every step of the way on Hot Rod Power Tour - one of the biggest and best road trips in the nation for performance enthusiasts. A variety of special events are scheduled throughout the week, including a highly-anticipated cruise night in downtown Memphis (home of CPG) on the evening of Tuesday, June 4th. Among other special promotions slated for the week is the return of the popular Golden Ticket contest. In this program Long Haulers are rewarded for promoting and supporting CPG brands such as COMP Cams®, TCI®, FAST™, ZEX™, RHS®, Quarter Master®, Inglese™ and others. CPG event staff will scour the grounds at each location, and will hand out up to 25 Golden Tickets during the week. The contest culminates in Charlotte on Saturday, June 7th, when one name will be randomly drawn to win a product certificate valued at $10,000; it can be used on a single purchase across any of the COMP Performance Group™ brands. Participants must be present to win, and all ticketholders must have their tickets in hand at the drawing. Nightly stage drawings are open to all participants at each Power Tour stop throughout the week as well. Individuals will simply enter their information at the CPG trailer, and then be must be present that evening when the winner’s name is drawn. The prizes consist of CPG products or certificates valued at $200-$500. The drop box will be cleared out each day, so attendees must enter at each location. Meanwhile, three separate COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duels are scheduled with contests slated for Monday, June 3rd through Wednesday, June 5th in Little Rock, Memphis and Birmingham, respectively. The duel pits two, two-person teams against one another to see which one can completely assemble and crank a Small Block Chevy in the shortest amount of time. Finally, this year CPG’s FAST™ fuel injection brand take will over as the Main Stage sponsor. This placement is sure to draw plenty of attention to the emerging leader in EFI technology.

Valve springs with larger diameters require retainers to handle the higher pressures developed by the springs. New COMP Cams^® Steel Retainers are the perfect solution to this problem. COMP^® engineers used 3D CAD with FEA to design retainers with a modern and advanced contoured top profiling for lower stress, increased lift and a reduction in mass. The retainers are CNC-machined to exact tolerances using CAD/CAM software. All COMP^® retainers use only high-grade SAE 4140 chromemoly steel with no lead, <0.04% sulfur and a black oxide finish to prevent corrosion. These precision retainers are specifically designed for positive location when combined with COMP Cams^® valve springs. For superior strength and ultimate stability, COMP^® offers both 7° and 10° retainers and valve locks. COMP Cams^® Steel Valve Spring Retainers offer both unmatched looks and superior performance that set the industry standard.

Allen Johnson capped a stellar 2012 campaign with his seventh win of the season at Auto Club Speedway in Pomona, CA, in early November. The victory was the icing on the cake during a year in which he earned the title of NHRA Pro Stock World Champion for the first time in his career. Johnson & Johnson, owned and led by driver Allen and his father Roy, employ COMP Cams^® camshafts in their Mopar-backed Dodge Avenger. The valve train experts at COMP^® have worked with Roy Johnson for more than 10 years to find the right combination of lobe designs and components to help the team win final rounds, and ultimately, a series title.   “In Pro Stock there is no ‘magic cam,’ but rather a process of figuring out what the engine is asking for and providing the technology to accomplish what is needed to surpass your competition,” said Dean Harvey, COMP Cams^® Performance Account Manager. “Roy and Allen Johnson, along with the rest of the Johnson & Johnson team, put the resources together that were required for this well-deserved championship run. I am personally proud for the team and grateful that Roy and Allen put their trust in COMP Cams^® to accomplish this feat.”

To make the most power from your engine, you need to optimize the air ingested and captured by avoiding valves closing too soon or too late. Any conventional center layout single throttle body or carbureted V8 intake manifold features longer outboard runners and shorter inboard runners, meaning that each valve event should occur at a different moment. COMP Cams^® 4-Pattern Camshafts are the very first series of cams designed to accommodate this difference in length and avoid valves closing at the wrong times. NASCAR teams have been using camshafts designed this way for years, and using lessons learned along with them, COMP Cams^® has designed a series of cams that optimizes valve events and features a large increase in both area under the curve and stability at high RPM. The camshafts feature four different lobe patterns with one intake and exhaust design for outboard runners, and another intake and exhaust design for the inboard runners. While the four inboard cylinders are all the same grinds, the outboard exhaust openings are two degrees earlier, with outboard intake closings coming two degrees later. This is the first ever use of technology in street vehicles to balance air/fuel ratio per cylinder and can net you a possible 1000+ RPM over other hydraulic rollers and anywhere from 5-20+ horsepower peak to peak, depending on cylinder head flow. The 4-pattern hydraulic roller cams are 100 percent CNC-ground from steel billet cores, feature cast iron distributor gears and utilize a series of lobes with over .600" valve lift and stability up to 7500 RPM, all while providing more consistent cylinder-to-cylinder torque. The cams also feature a tight lobe separation for both excellent performance and a throaty sound. Available for Big Block Chevy, Small Block Chevy and Small Block Ford carbureted or fuel injected applications, the cam design is exclusive and unique to COMP^® and each one comes with a full Adcole report. The introduction of COMP Cams^® 4-Pattern Camshafts means that proven race car technology is now available for your street machine. *Upgraded valve train components and aftermarket cylinder heads required

The latest valve springs from COMP Cams^® are designed as a performance upgrade over stock springs for higher RPM applications. Made from a high-tensile strength chrome silicon steel, the #26975 Valve Springs feature a much higher life expectancy than tool steel springs. State-of-the-art grinding and finishing processes, along with added micro peening, also increase durability. In addition to street use, these springs are also a perfect choice for GM 604 crate engines running in stock or modified circle track divisions. Available in single units or as a complete set of 16.

The Chevy Gen VI Big Block is one of the most potent marine power plants on the planet. The durable Xtreme Marine™ 525 EFI hydraulic roller cam should serve as the go-to choice when it comes time to service the valve train of this 525 HP, fuel-injected engine. The cam features a durable billet steel core with a press-on cast distributor gear. Its wide power band ranges from 2200-5600 RPM - ideal for the harsh and varying conditions, such as high humidity, high air temperature and low barometric pressure, faced most commonly by marine applications. The cam has delivered proven performance with the stock engine control unit and, what’s more, it can be installed without having to re-tune the ECU. The Xtreme Marine™ 525 EFI Camshaft features modern lobe designs and a variety of the latest manufacturing techniques that COMP Cams^® has come to be known for both on land and at sea.

Throughout the course of the season, many of the best Open Wheel Modified pilots in the nation participate in various Casey's General United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) events. Whether they compete on a full- or part-time basis, these drivers put their best efforts into taming the talent-laden tour. In order to achieve their goals they bring their best-prepared hot rods into these events. It's no secret that the heart and soul of a winning race car is its engine, and to recognize the top-performing power plant producers on the tour each year COMP Cams^® sponsors the Engine Builder of the Year Award. With the Casey's USMTS tour now knuckles deep into the second half of the season, 2010 and 2011 COMP Cams^® Engine Builder of the Year, Mullins Race Engines, leads the way once again. The Mt. Olive, IL-based company features two of the hottest hands on the tour in its stable. Led by defending Casey's USMTS National Champion and current point leader, Ryan Gustin from Marshalltown, IA, the engine company has accounted for numerous wins in the series. Gustin alone has claimed eight wins on the national tour, while 2010 Casey's USMTS Champion, Jason Hughes of Westville, OK, has chimed in with five national tour wins. Sitting second in the standings, just 25 markers removed from the top spot, is Geddes Racing Engines, based in Colorado Springs, CO. The charge for Geddes Racing Engines is led primarily by Rodney Sanders from Happy, TX. Sanders is enjoying a breakout year in 2012, which has included a total of four series wins between regional and national competition, as well as over 30 top-10 finishes in his first 36 events. Last year's second-place finisher in the COMP Cams^® Engine Builder of the Year competition, Pro Power Race Engines out of Sullivan, WI, currently resides in third place in the points standings, 54 markers out of the lead. New Mexico's Johnny and Stormy Scott, who are also twin brothers, utilize the engines, while Oklahoma's Dereck Ramirez also runs the company’s' power plants. Each of the Scott brothers have found victory lane on the tour this year, while Ramirez has flirted with it on numerous occasions, but has only been able to muster a second place finish. Stormy Scott is the runaway leader in the tour's rookie of the year standings as well. While they currently lie a bit further down the standings, Sput's Racing Engines and Roush Yates Racing Engines each remain within striking distance of a podium finish in the COMP Cams^® Engine Builder of the Year competition. COMP Cams^® is proud to know that its products are found in nearly every one of these winning engines as it continues to stay at the top of the valve train market. For more information on the Casey's General USMTS tour, please visit www.USMTS.com.

The racer chosen to be the COMP Cams^® Top Performer for June is Michigan transplant Mark Dowdy, who currently resides in Waterloo, Alabama. The 42-year-old competitor pilots his No. 88D Limited Late Model at tracks throughout North Alabama and Middle Tennessee.  He utilizes Warrior Chassis and a Maniac Racing Engine. While Dowdy has been racing for more than 24 years, his career took a sudden and unexpected turn four years ago in Michigan. On Tuesday, May 13^th, 2008, Mark was riding his motorcycle to work in the early hours of the morning. While approaching a gentle right hand curve the rear tire of his motorcycle locked up, causing him to crash to the pavement and slide across the curve on the road. Unfortunately, while in the road, another driver was coming from the other direction, and hit Mark head on with a Dodge Ram truck. Mark awoke on Thursday of the same week in the hospital to learn of his injuries. He was left with six broken ribs on his right side, a punctured lung, a T-11 burst fracture of his vertebrae and a severed spinal cord. He had lost 3 1/2 pints of blood and was breathing with the help of a tube that had been inserted into his lungs. The doctors came into the room and informed Mark that he would never walk again, as he was permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Mark ultimately accepted that fact, although not without some difficulty. "I mean let's be honest, that's some of the worst news that you can ever receive,” Dowdy says. “It was really devastating, and it took some time to get a grip on the entire situation. One thing for sure though is that I knew there was no way I was just going to give up on life.” While Mark knew that he had to accept that he would never walk again, he was not willing to accept that he would never race again. Mark had worked to become a fairly successful regional dirt track racer in the Great Lakes region of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. He won numerous races in the IMCA & UMP Open Wheel Modified division during the 1990s. In 1999 Dowdy made the switch to the Late Model class and continued his winning ways. He always prided himself on the fact that that he was not a "one-track" racer.  He would travel from track to track every weekend and hone his skills. It was not uncommon on any given week to see him race anywhere from Michigan to Alabama. During his career Mark has competed at around 112 race tracks throughout the midwest and the south, claiming over thirty feature wins, including a $3,000 victory in the Great Lakes Nationals at Crystal Raceway (Crystal, Michigan). "I loved racing, and I was bound and determined to find a way to get back on the track, and prove all the naysayers wrong.  No matter what it took I was going to get back on the track again,” Dowdy explains. With this drive to continue racing and still be competitive residing firmly in his mind, Mark was released from the hospital six weeks after his accident. Shortly after being released he completed his move to Alabama, which had been planned before his injury. Once fully relocated to his new state, Dowdy began devising a way in which he could continue to race. With the help of his long-time friend and crew member Dennis Brewer, and after several failed attempts, the duo finally came up with a steering wheel that would allow him to control the throttle, brake and steering, all without ever lifting a hand from the wheel.

With the perfect combination of early intake valve opening, long exhaust duration and generous overlap, Thumpr™ Cams from COMP^® maximize your engine’s nasty-idling characteristics without negatively impacting street driving manners. Thumpr™ Camshafts are available for both flat tappet and roller valve trains, and come either as individual cams or in a complete, component matched kit. Thumpr™ Cams are available for all popular late model and classic engine platforms including Big Block Chevy, Small Block Chevy, GM LS, Ford Modular, Small Block Ford, Small Block Chrysler and nostalgic hot rod applications. Three unique cam designs - the Thumpr™, Mutha’ Thumpr™ and Big Mutha’ Thumpr™ - are available for each engine application and work with both carbureted and fuel injected setups. Each level is designed for a specific performance and RPM range, starting with the Thumpr™ for high performance street use. The second level, or Mutha’ Thumpr™, is for street/strip vehicles, while the Big Mutha’ Thumpr™ is for the highest performing street/strip applications. Thumpr™ designs are also compatible for use with the latest advanced valve train components including Beehive™ Valve Springs, Ultra Pro Magnum™ Roller Rockers and Magnum Pushrods. COMP Cams^® Thumpr™ Camshafts feature impressive gains in horsepower and a broad torque curve, making them ideal for muscle cars and street rods that crave a deep, throaty idle with serious performance and drivability to match.

Click here to view this video on Valve Train Terminology Valve train terms such as lift, duration, lobe separation and intake centerline are heard and used often, but they can be easily confused and are often difficult to make clear. In this Technology Explained Video, COMP Cams^® clarifies exactly what these and other terms mean using a variety of on-screen graphics, helpful animations and detailed narration. In addition, the video provides viewers with a variety of formulas to help them calculate the exact valve train specifications for their engine application. This latest video and all other COMP Cams^® Technology Explained, Quick Tech and Behind The Scenes Videos can be found at www.cpgnationtv.com.

Click here to watch this video on Cam Timing The camshaft is often referred to as the "heart" or the "brain" of a performance power plant. This is due to the dramatic effect that valve timing events have on a four-stroke internal combustion engine. This Technology Explained Video shows viewers the effect of each valve event, and how to tailor those events to the requirements of their specific engine application. Important cam timing terms such as intake opening, intake closing, exhaust opening, exhaust closing and overlap are covered as well. The video features a variety of helpful animations and detailed narration. When watched in conjunction with the COMP Cams^® Technology Explained Video: Common Valve Train Terminology, viewers will receive a detailed overview of how all aspects of an internal combustion valve train works. This Technology Explained Video and all other videos from the COMP Performance Group™ can be found at www.cpgnationtv.com.

The fifth summer of the Engine Builder Duel Presented by Snap-On Tools rolled on August 2nd – 5th in Louisville, KY, where a large group of attendees were treated to builds each day during the NSRA Street Rod Nationals. Male and female participants young and old from around the country competed as part of a two-person team in the Duel, which crowns its winner based on which team can assemble and run a Small Block Chevy in the shortest amount of time. The members of the winning team each receive $250 COMP Cams® product certificates, with the runners-up each receiving a $125 voucher. The festivities kicked off on Thursday, August 2nd, with the father-son team of Harry and Harrison Newman on Team COMP® posting a time of 40:04 to just best Team RHS® featuring George Thompson and Mike Skelton. The following day saw Butch Lewis and David Joyce on Team RHS® take on the father-son tandem of John and Kyle Boris for Team COMP®. The Boris family claimed the top prize with a time of 44:30. That afternoon, Ronald Rocheleau and Scott Shaffer turned in a time of 36:46 to take the win over Raymond and Iris Aldrige of Team COMP®. The Aldridges redeemed themselves on Saturday morning however. Now competing for Team RHS®, they turned in a blistering time of 32:29 – the fastest build of the event – to claim victory over Cory Potts and Debbie Kouray on Team COMP®. Saturday afternoon featured yet another father-son team, composed of Rob and David Stewart, who finished the build in 44:27 to give the win to Team RHS® over Justin Kuhns and Shawna McVay of Team COMP®. The final build of the weekend took place on Sunday morning, when the father-son duo of Chris and Carson Ellis of Team RHS® turned in a time of 34:24 to defeat Steve Hornback and Tyler Redden of Team COMP®. The Louisville edition of the Engine Builder Duel wraps up the season for 2012; but be sure to watch for the events that the popular competition will be featured at next year.

For the first time in its five-year existence, the COMP Cams® Engine Builder Duel presented by Snap-On Tools came to St. Paul, MN, and the Car Craft Summer Nationals in 2012. The Engine Builder Duel pits two, two-person teams against each other to see who can fully assemble and run a Small Block Chevy in the shortest amount of time. A new wrinkle in this year’s event comes in the form of the FAST™ EZ-EFI® system, which has replaced the carburetor as part of the build. Four different competitions took place over the three days that made up the Summer Nationals. The first Duel was held on Friday afternoon, where Team COMP®, featuring Car Craft Tech Editor Jeff Smith and partner Kellie Colf, completed the build in 46:15, just one minute and 35 seconds faster than the father-son tandem of Doug and Matt Lebeis on Team RHS®. In a show of sportsmanship, the winners gave their $250 first place COMP® product certificates to Doug and Matt. On Saturday morning the Team RHS® duo of brothers Jason and Ray Helling turned in a blistering-fast time of 32:59 to beat out Team COMP®, made up of Charly Cropp and Joe Madison. Later that afternoon, Alan Wiltse and Daniel Rauch of Team COMP® completed the build in 48:15 to take home the victory over Jerimiah Brockhouse and Derrick Meyer of Team RHS®. The final build on Sunday morning saw the father-son team of Ian and Rich Rabanus on Team RHS® turn in a time of 34:43 to edge out Chris Tucker and Bob Whebbe of Team COMP®. In addition to the $250 COMP Cams® product certificates awarded to each of the first place participants, the runners-up at each build received a $125 COMP® certificate for their efforts. The next Engine Builder Duel is scheduled to take place August 2nd-5th at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, KY. Visit www.enginebuilderduel.com for more information and to register.

Racers and performance enthusiasts alike now have one more way to show which company’s valve train components are under their hoods with this fitted hat. Designed in the popular flexfit style, this hat is one size fits most. It features a white front with a silver and black COMP Cams® logo in the lower left, and a black brim with white stitching. The back is constructed of breathable mesh, with “compcams.com” embroidered in white. Meanwhile, the right side of the hat includes the phrase “Winning Horsepower Since ’76.” The ‘76, a reference to the year COMP® was founded, is featured in stylized sliver letters with white trim. This is the perfect piece of headwear to wear around the track, car show or shop and look good while you do.

Each year in mid-August, fans are treated to one of the greatest spectacles in motorsports with the running of the COMP Cams^® Topless 100 at Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove, AR. The race’s unique format features cars with the roof sheet metal removed, giving spectators an up close and personal look at what it takes for drivers to wrestle their cars around the 3/8 mile dirt oval. The $40,000-to-win race is one of the richest and most prestigious events on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) schedule, and draws not only that tour’s traveling stars, but a wide variety of regional and national racers looking to take their shot at the big purse as well. This year’s festivities kick off with a practice session on the evening of Thursday, August 16^th, with time trials and heat races taking place the next night. B-Mains and the $40,000-to-win, 100-lap main event will conclude the weekend on Saturday night, August 18^th. Just a few of the names scheduled to appear are 2011 and four-time Topless winner, Scott Bloomquist; defending LOLMDS champion, Jimmy Owens; series regulars Don O’Neal, Steve Francis, Jonathan Davenport; and 2010 race winner and Batesville native, Jared Landers. Other local favorites such as Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy Moyer and his son, Billy Jr., should be on hand as well. Each and every one of these racers has a legitimate shot at taking home the trophy. COMP Cams^® will serve as the title sponsor once again, something that has become a yearly tradition for the company. “We’re extremely proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Topless 100 again in 2012,” said Chris Douglas, COMP Cams^® VP of Marketing. “Batesville is a smooth, fast track that always provides a great show for the fans. And the passion and devotion of the drivers and teams that compete matches up perfectly with our business model at COMP^®. The whole event is a great fit for us, and to be part of the 20^th running is very special.”

Cheryl Huntsbarger of Middletown, OH, was the Grand Prize winner in the COMP Cams® Golden Ticket contest on this year’s Hot Rod Power Tour, making her the recipient of a $5000 COMP Performance Group™ shopping spree. Each year the COMP Cams® staff takes great pride in meeting and interacting with the loyal fans and customers throughout Power Tour. In 2012 COMP® took that interaction to a whole new level by offering Golden Tickets to Long Haulers who were spotted promoting and supporting the COMP Performance Group™ brands. Each Golden Ticket entered the holder into a random drawing for a $5000 CPG shopping spree. The competition for the Golden Tickets was hotly contested all week, with individuals building their own PVC pipe camshafts and working timing sets out of decals, wrapping their cars with COMP® logos and one even dressing as a ZEX™ Nitrous bottle. In the end, Cheryl Huntsbarger of Middletown, OH, was selected to win the prize. Cheryl’s husband, Keith, battled Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and worked on the couple’s 1967 Camaro all through his treatment. “I would like to thank the great team at COMP®, my husband and I are still in shock,” Cheryl says. “He has decided to put a FAST™ fuel injection system on our ‘67 Camaro. This was our first time to do the Long Haul; Power Tour has been so much fun for us. We have met so many great people and have seen a lot of great places, not to mention all the town folks that came to cheer us on.” Meanwhile, Anthony Pittari of Staten Island, NY, took home a collectible 2012 Hot Rod Power Tour banner in another random drawing. The banner was produced by COMP Cams® and signed by all of the 2012 Long Haulers.

Babies now have one more way to show whose valve train components they trust with this stylish onesie for 6 to 18 month olds. The gearhead baby in your life now has a fashionable and practical onesie designed just for them. Made from 100 percent cotton, this unisex onesie features a hand-drawn stroller adorned with the COMP Cams® logo on the front and the phrase “This Is How I Roll” just underneath. The custom black line illustration on white background was created in-house, making it a one-of -a-kind item. Sizes are available for boys and girls aged 6, 12 and 18 months. When ordering, add a dash followed by age to the end of the part number. This onesie makes a perfect addition to any future automotive performance enthusiast’s wardrobe.

COMP Cams® Hi-Tech™ Belt Drive Systems provide accurate timing and are designed to absorb crankshaft harmonics to guard against performance robbing valve train instability. Designed for use in serious BBC and SBC street performance and racing applications turning high RPM with high compression, COMP Cams® Hi-Tech™ Belt Drive Systems feature an infinitely adjustable Vernier sprocket for absolute timing accuracy and a unique belt idler system that reduces flap throughout the RPM range. These belt drive systems are designed to absorb crankshaft harmonics to keep the valve train stable and running optimally, and utilize a unique camshaft thrust adjustment system without shims. Double lip seals are included for long life and maximum crankcase vacuum, while different diameter idles are available for racers with align-bore blocks. An Xtreme Duty Hi Tech™ Belt Drive System (Part # 6507) is also available for SBC engines. The Xtreme Duty system features a 1 ¼-inch Goodyear-designed belt to handle the extreme cylinder pressures commonly found within nitrous and blower applications. The 1 ¼-inch belt and gears, in conjunction with the unique belt idler system from COMP Cams®, resist belt failure that can lead to complete engine destruction.