Bonacquisto Named Director of Marketing for VP Racing Fuels

VP Racing Fuels has announced the appointment of Donato Bonacquisto as director of marketing. In that position, Bonacquisto will be responsible for advertising, sponsorships, event management and public relations in support of all VP business divisions including Race Fuel, Branding and Consumer Products.

“Donato brings a wealth of experience in the marketing, automotive and motorsports industries and we’re confident he’ll hit the ground running to continue the rapid pace of growth we’ve established here at VP,” said Alan Cerwick, president of VP Racing Fuels.

Bonacquisto comes to VP from Hankook Tire America where, as Motorsports and Events Manager, he promoted the Hankook Tire brand in the U.S. market across a mix of professional and amateur motorsports initiatives and top-level events in the consumer, aftermarket and commercial sectors. Prior to that, he held management positions at multiple NASCAR Cup Series teams in both marketing and business development capacities, in addition to tenures with JHE Production Group managing elements of the Sprint title sponsorship with NASCAR and SPEED Channel as Event Marketing Manager. Bonacquisto has also held roles in the automotive industry producing media/press launches at APEX Performance and managing luxury brands including Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Aston Martin and Bentley.

Bonacquisto began his career in motorsports competing in SCCA events and continues to pursue racing as a hobby. “I’m excited to join VP and look forward to continuing the very successful growth strategy. VP has always been a recognized brand in the motorsports world, but we are now striving to also achieve that in the branded and consumer products industry and I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge gained over my career to help drive the continued growth and profitability at VP.”

In a related move, VP’s Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Wall, is transitioning to a new position as senior director-Branded Retail, responsible for wholesale brand development including both VP-branded gas stations/convenience stores and VP FASTLUBE service centers. In his new role, Wall will lead a team of regional sales managers as well as pursue large customers both nationally and internationally.

“With the rapid growth VP is experiencing, it became imperative that we capitalize on the momentum we’re enjoying and aggressively push our retail branding program forward,” said Cerwick. “Given his success in growing our marketing efforts and experience with our Branding program over the last several years, Chris is well positioned to lead that effort.”

“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish over the past 2.5 years in company growth and brand recognition,” said Wall. “Donato is the right person to keep our momentum moving forward and it gives me a lot of confidence to leave the department in his competent hands. Taking over the VP branded retail division is a dream come true for me. Leading the set-up of retail VP locations around the world will be a new challenge and extend our brand’s reach on a global scale.”

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.