But beyond the cool cars and parts, human interaction drives the show each year.

For Mobil 1 U.S Motorsports Technology Advisor Cliff Salvesen, whose company serves as the Official Motor Oil of Chevrolet Performance, the PRI event allows him to get a feel for the pulse of the industry ranging from OEMs to distributors to local engine shops. He feels that sometimes the industry can be like a game of "telephone," so interacting face-to-face is one of the most important parts of the event.

"Getting all of those perspectives at a show like this helps make sure that nothing got missed or that nothing got misinterpreted somehow," Salvesen said. "So, you're getting to connect with folks to find out what they're working with and how things are going. I think that's one of the real big benefits."

Like Salvesen, racers also relish the chance to interact with individuals who make up the tight-knit motorsports community.

Among the many racers on hand was Justin Keith, who showcased his twin-turbo, LT4-powered 2019 Camaro ZL1 known as "Nemo" in the GForce Performance Engineering display. Keith recently set the record for the quickest and fastest quarter-mile run by a sixth-gen Camaro utilizing an LT power plant. He did so by driving the orange car to a pass of 7.56 seconds at 181 mph at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

A native of Kansas City, Keith co-owns the multi-city Street Car Takeover drag racing series and Killer Performance KC, a company that counts among its lines of business modifying 1990s-era pickup trucks with LT4 crate engines^* and SuperMatic10L90-E 10-speed automatic transmissions. 

Like so many others, Keith keeps returning to PRI for the simple fact that while other events have a spectacle vibe, this one is about bringing hardcore racers to one place in central Indiana.

"I've been coming to PRI since 2014," he said. "Everyone here is performance-oriented and that's what I like about it."

Other racers were people like Mike and Mattie Graves, a father-daughter team who campaign a Pro Dragster powered by a 6.6L twin-turbo Duramax diesel engine featuring a stock GM LML block. Their family owns the diesel truck shop Hollyrock Customs in Hollywood, Maryland, and their race car was on display in supporter S&S Diesel Motorsport's booth at PRI.

Mattie Graves recently set both the Duramax and overall diesel record in the eighth-mile with a blast of 3.963 seconds at 187 mph. The record run took place at her home track, Maryland International Raceway, located in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

For both father and daughter, the PRI Show was a chance to make connections and preparations for the 2023 campaign.

"It's good for marketing and then it's also very convenient if you need anything to keep you going through the race year," Mattie Graves explained. "[You can get] race shoes, a new helmet, a new seat or seat belts, pretty much everything you could ever think of and want. If you need a new trailer for next season they're out there in the stadium; everything you can think of is in one spot.

Her father added that he enjoys being able to put industry names to faces, while also seeing the event as a chance to create exposure for his family's race team. Plus, he simply enjoys the camaraderie of thousands of like-minded individuals at PRI.

"This is a show that I will never miss," Mike Graves said. "I love this show. I love the gathering, I love the people. It's very special to me."