Horsepower Moves In: HPX Opens Tuesday at the Convention Center 🏁

“Passion meets performance”—doors at 8:45 a.m.

“This is where passion meets performance, and the road ahead is full of possibilities,” said Dana Teague, HPX general manager, previewing the three-day show that drops 240 exhibitors and thousands of attendees into South Tryon Street beginning Tuesday morning.

What’s new on Day 1

• Opening Keynote – Jeff Gordon and Jeff “JB” Brown swap notes on culture, speed, and why stock cars still matter, 8:45–9:45 a.m., Crown Ballroom.

• “Modern Outlaw” reveal – Richard Petty rolls out a re-imagined 1970s legend, 10:30 a.m., booth 841.

• Drag-car debut – Daren Poole-Adams Racing lifts the cover on an NHRA Stock Eliminator entry at 10:45 a.m., booth 941.

• PerformancePLUS smack-talk – Ten brands pitch five-minute product spiels; audience crowns the “People’s Peak Performance Pick,” 1 p.m.

The recruiting pit lane

Hendrick Motorsports bankrolls a hub with eleven tech schools and staffing firms, free to students and instructors, open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. each day.

Wednesday: supply chains in the hot seat

Dr. Jamie Meyer moderates “State of the Industry,” where Greg Fornelli, Scott Lampe, Sam Abuelsamid and Paul Feghali promise to tackle freight chokepoints, AI deployment and whether titanium prices will ruin your P&L. “This discussion goes beyond industry talk—it’s an essential conversation about the strategies, challenges, innovations and road ahead,” Teague added.

Thursday: future-proof or future-shock?

Tom Peters (Corvette), Steve Gilmore (Ford Performance) and Patrick Canupp (GM Motorsports Engineering) dissect battery torque, aero tweaks and what happens to horsepower when regulators tighten screws. “By coming together at HPX to explore new ideas, we can ensure a thriving future for enthusiasts, professionals and businesses alike,” Teague said.

Women, wallets and wrenches

Monday’s pre-show “Women’s EmPOWERment Summit” (room E212) fields execs from NASCAR, Hendrick and logistics to hammer out diversity metrics. Wednesday’s 8 a.m. classroom blocks include “Your Marketing Sucks” and “Wide Open or Full Stop?—the Economic Outlook for Automotive Businesses.”

Numbers, passes, fine print

• Exhibitors: 240 (Fox Factory to Sunoco).

• Badges: VIP Experience, All-Access Pit Pass, Thursday Enthusiast Pass—buy at TheHPX.com.

• Hours: 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday/Wednesday, 8:45 a.m.–3 p.m. Thursday.

• Media: Register before someone else claims your outlet’s name tag.

Why Charlotte?

“North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar motorsports and aftermarket industry is the epicenter of automotive innovation,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer. “We are proud to launch the inaugural HPX in Charlotte and welcome enthusiasts and fans behind the curtain.”

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About the Author ☕

Jack Beckett files copy between sips of dark roast at Einstein Bros Bagels South Boulevard. Tip the barista; good journalism runs on refills.

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This article, “Horsepower Moves In: HPX Opens Tuesday at the Convention Center,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

“Horsepower Moves In: HPX Opens Tuesday at the Convention Center”
by Jack Beckett, Strolling Ballantyne (CC BY-ND 4.0)

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