RPM Act Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

It’s not clear if RPM will affect NASCAR Cup which uses semi-stock bodies with aerodynamics packages to make high-speed handling less treacherous and even competition so that fans might see some passing.

H.R. 5434, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 (RPM Act of 2019) has been introduced by Representatives Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) in the Democratically controlled House. The RPM Act allows the conversion of street vehicles into dedicated racecars and the motorsports aftermarket to sell products that aid racers.

The RPM Act reverses the EPA’s interpretation that the Clean Air Act does not allow a motor vehicle designed for street use – car, truck or motorcycle – to be converted into a racecar. In 2015 the EPA said that converted vehicles must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are no longer driven on public streets or highways. 

The bill previously was cleared by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and went to hearings in the House and Senate. The bipartisan RPM Act included five other original sponsors: Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Bill Posey (R-FL), Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Michael Burgess (R-TX).

H.R. 5434 is the House counterpart to the Senate’s version of the bill, S. 2602, which was introduced by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) and currently has 28 cosponsors in the do-nothing Republican-controlled upper house.

Retail sales of racing products comprise a ~$2 billion market annually. Most of the vehicles raced on the estimated 1,300 racetracks operating in the U.S. are converted vehicles that the EPA considers illegal.

SEMA is urging its members and racing enthusiasts to contact their members of Congress and ask for them to support the bill. To send a letter to members of Congress visit www.sema.org/rpm.