What Trend Performance does

Trend Performance is a privately held manufacturer of high-performance valve train and internal engine components, founded in 1988 by Bob Fox in Warren, Michigan after Fox identified quality deficiencies in pushrod manufacturing during his prior role as a tech representative at Diamond Racing. The company's product portfolio centers on pushrods (one-piece, two-piece, custom QuickShip, BZ bronze-insert, H13 tool steel, self-lubricating hard-tip, and 5/8in extreme-duty variants), wrist pins (G, H, M, TP1, and TPI series with optional DLC coatings), lifters and tappets (Premium and Elite series, DLC-coated options), and diesel-specific components for Cummins, Powerstroke, and Duramax platforms. Manufacturing relies on proprietary heat treatment processes (vertical positioning within 3 degrees, cryogenic treatment), tight tolerances (ball ends at ±0.001in), and the Spintron valve-train testing platform developed by Fox in 1993, which uses laser tracking to measure valve motion and pushrod behavior in real time.

The company serves four primary customer segments: professional racing teams (NASCAR, NHRA Pro Stock, Top Fuel, Funny Car, drag and oval track racing), weekend racers and high-performance street users, power-adder applications (turbocharged, supercharged, nitrous engines), and the diesel performance market. Roughly 90% of pushrod production is devoted to racing applications, with professional race teams representing approximately half of valve train production and the remainder distributed across enthusiast and power-adder segments. Distribution operates through three channels: a global dealer network, direct e-commerce via trendperform.com with same-day shipping on in-stock FedEx orders placed by 3pm ET, and direct enterprise sales to major race teams including a 24-year relationship with Hendrick Motorsports. Pricing follows a unit-pricing model ranging from approximately $15 for entry-level diesel pushrods to $80+ for premium DLC-coated Elite Series lifters, with custom QuickShip orders priced higher and delivered within 24-48 hours. A second manufacturing facility in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina (acquired 2012) supplements the Warren, Michigan headquarters and produces valve locks, lash caps, and other small engine parts.

Name

Trend Performance

Legal name

Trend Performance

Website

https://trendperform.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trend Performance is a privately held manufacturer of high-performance valve train components—pushrods, wrist pins, lifters, and diesel engine parts—serving professional racing teams, weekend racers, and diesel performance enthusiasts primarily in North America through dealer, e-commerce, and direct sales channels since 1988.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Warren

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. High Performance Pushrods: Core revenue stream from manufacturing and selling high-performance pushrods for racing and performance automotive applications. Products include one-piece and two-piece pushrods in various diameters (5/16in to 5/8in), materials (4130 chrome molybdenum, H13 tool steel), and configurations (single/double taper). Available in standard shelf-stock and custom QuickShip options.
2. Wrist Pins (Piston Pins): Manufacturing and sale of precision wrist pins (piston pins) for racing engines including Top Fuel, Funny Car, and various performance applications. Product lines include G Series, H Series, M Series, and TP1 Series.
3. Lifters and Tappets: Sale of precision tool steel lifters and tappets including Premium and Elite Series for various engine applications (Chevy, Ford, Chrysler/Mopar). Products include DLC coated versions and options with oil holes.
4. Valve Train Accessories: Additional products including valve locks, lash caps, rod & lifter bushings, tools, and valve spring shims for racing engines.
5. Diesel Engine Components: Pushrods and valve train components specifically designed for high-performance diesel engines including Cummins, Ford Powerstroke, and GM Duramax. Multiple stage options (Stage I, II, III) with varying wall thicknesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trend Performance is a manufacturer of high-performance valve train and internal engine components for racing and the performance automotive aftermarket. The company produces precision pushrods (one-piece, two-piece, self-lubricating, bronze-insert, and extreme-duty variants in diameters from 5/16in to 5/8in), wrist/piston pins (G, H, M, and TP1 series), tool steel flat tappets and lifters (Premium and Elite series with DLC coating options), and diesel-engine valve train components for Cummins, Powerstroke, and Duramax engines. Products are sold to professional race teams, engine builders, weekend racers, and high-performance street users via dealer network, direct e-commerce, and QuickShip custom-length programs (24-48 hour delivery).

Product overview

Trend Performance is a manufacturer of high-performance automotive racing components, specializing in pushrods, wrist pins, valve train components, and related engine parts. Founded in 1988 by Bob Fox in Warren, Michigan, the company offers a comprehensive catalog including pushrods in multiple series (Stocking, BZ with bronze insert, Solid H13 tool steel, Quick Ship Custom with 24-48 hour turnaround, V40 Cup, Fuel Pump), wrist pins (G, H, M, and TP1 series with optional DLC coating), lifters and tappets (Premium and Elite series in tool steel), rod and lifter bushings, diesel valve train components for Cummins/Powerstroke/Duramax engines, and miscellaneous valve-train accessories including lash caps, valve locks, tools, and shims. The company pioneered the modern racing pushrod and Spintron valve train testing technology. A second manufacturing facility was established in Pisgah Forest, NC in 2012.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pushrods High-performance pushrods engineered for dependability and precision in racing and high-performance applications, available in one-piece and two-piece configurations, diameters from 5/16in to 5/8in, and materials including 4130 chrome molybdenum and H13 tool steel. Sold to professional race teams, weekend racers, and engine builders through dealer network and direct e-commerce.
• Wrist Pins (Piston Pins) Automotive wrist pins manufactured using a proprietary super-finishing and lapping process that delivers industry-leading surface finish and geometry, with optional DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating. Available in G Series, H Series, M Series, and TP1 Series for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and various performance applications.
• Lifters & Tappets Precision tool steel solid flat tappets (lifters) offered in Premium and Elite Series for Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler/Mopar engine applications. DLC-coated variants for alloy/tool steel camshafts, uncoated for cast iron camshafts. Premium Series surface finish of 1-2Ra; Elite Series surface finish of 0.5Ra. Documented to provide 4-5 times longer life than original cast iron tappets.
• Rod & Lifter Bushings Precision machined lifter and rod bushings produced from aluminum/bronze alloy with high load-carrying capacity and lubricity, offered in custom, lifter bore, and rod bushing variants for race engines.
• Diesel Valve Train Components Pushrods and valve train components engineered for high-performance diesel engines including Cummins (12V and 24V), Ford Powerstroke (6.0L, 6.4L, 6.7L, 7.3L, Scorpion), and GM Duramax 6.6L applications, with forged cup ends, thick-wall construction, and Stage I (two-piece), Stage II (one-piece), and Stage III (one-piece forged) configurations. Offered through the dealer network.
• Misc Valve-Train Components Additional valve train accessories including valve locks, lash caps, rod and lifter bushings, tools, and valve spring shims, manufactured from through-hardened premium tool steel for racing engines.
• Quick Ship Custom Pushrods (QSP) Custom-length pushrods shipped within 24-48 hours through the QuickShip program, available in 3/8in, 7/16in, and 9/16in diameters with single or double taper and ball-end or radius-cup configurations, leveraging a 100,000+ pushrod shelf-stock inventory.
• BZ Push Rods (Bronze Insert) Pushrods with phosphor-bronze insert in the upper cup, designed specifically for 500 and 825 cubic-inch Pro Stock engines and large displacement nitrous engines to eliminate rocker ball damage from changes in racing lubricant constituents.
• Solid H13 Push Rods Solid bar H13 tool steel pushrods built for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Alcohol engines, requiring a nitriding process for wear resistance under the most demanding racing conditions.
• 5/8in Extreme Duty Pushrods 5/8in diameter pushrods engineered for extreme-duty race engines including Mountain motors, Pro Mod, Pro Nitrous, Top Sportsman, NHRA Pro Stock, and Bracket engines, with 0.188in or 0.125in wall options and 8in to 13.500in lengths.
• TP1 Series Wrist Pins TP1 Series coated piston pin with maraging-steel toughness and M2 tool-steel hardness (heat treated to Rc60), priced less expensively than C300 maraging-steel alternatives, initially targeted at Top Fuel and Funny Car applications.
• G Series Wrist Pins Wrist pin in G configuration for specific racing applications, part of Trend Performance's G/H/M/TP1 wrist pin series family using the proprietary super-finishing and lapping process.
• H Series Wrist Pins Wrist pin in H configuration designed for high-performance applications using Trend Performance's proprietary super-finishing and lapping process.
• M Series Wrist Pins Wrist pin in M configuration for specific racing applications, part of Trend Performance's G/H/M/TP1 wrist pin family manufactured with proprietary super-finishing and lapping.
• Hard-Tip Self-Lubricating Pushrods 5/16in self-lubricating hard-tip competition pushrods with self-lubricating tool steel tips hardened to 60Rc, designed to overcome galling troubles on upper balls of high-revving high-powered engines.
• Billet Rocker Arm Bridges Billet rocker arm bridges engineered for 24V Cummins diesel engines, addressing durability needs in high-performance diesel applications.
• Cummins Diesel Rocker Arm Trunnions Rocker arm trunnions engineered for 24V Cummins diesel engines, completing a set of upgraded diesel valve-train components along with Trend's billet rocker arm bridges and diesel pushrods.
• Diesel Push Rods (Cummins/Powerstroke/Duramax) Pushrods for Cummins 12V/24V, Ford Powerstroke 6.0L/6.4L/6.7L/7.3L, and GM Duramax 6.6L diesel engines, available in Stage I (two-piece), Stage II (one-piece), and Stage III (one-piece forged) configurations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pushrod weight increased from 55 grams (5/16in x 0.080in wall) to 112 grams (7/16in double taper with 0.165in wall) or even 160 grams (9/16in with 0.188in wall) to combat deflection
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hendrick MotorsportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Trend Performance has been supplying competition pushrods to Hendrick Motorsports for 24 years (as of 2012), making this their most significant and long-standing customer relationship in professional racing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• COMP Cams: COMP Cams is one of the largest US manufacturers of high-performance camshafts and valvetrain components, including lifters, pushrods, and related valvetrain hardware, directly competing with Trend Performance in NASCAR, drag racing, and street performance segments.
• Manley Performance: Manley manufactures high-performance engine components including pistons, valves, pushrods, and connecting rods for racing and street performance — overlapping directly with Trend's pushrod, wrist pin, and valvetrain product lines.
• Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Crower designs and manufactures racing camshafts, lifters, and valvetrain components for drag racing, NASCAR, and motorsports — directly comparable to Trend's valvetrain and racing-engine component portfolio.
• Jesel Valvetrain Innovation: Jesel specializes in high-end rocker arms, lifters, and valvetrain components for professional racing engines including NASCAR, NHRA, and drag racing — serving the same professional race team customer base as Trend Performance.
• Diamond Racing Products: Diamond Racing is a manufacturer of pistons, rings, and related high-performance engine components and was Trend founder Bob Fox's prior employer; it is a direct comparable in the performance/racing valvetrain and internal engine component category.
• Lunati: Lunati manufactures camshafts, lifters, and valvetrain components for racing and high-performance street applications, competing in the same product categories and customer segments as Trend Performance.
• Isky Cams: Isky Cams is a long-established manufacturer of racing camshafts, lifters, and valvetrain components, with deep penetration in drag racing and oval track — directly comparable to Trend's valvetrain product line.

Regional players

• Howard Cams: Howard Cams is an Australian manufacturer of racing camshafts and valvetrain components with strong presence in V8 Supercars and Australian motorsports — comparable to Trend's pushrod/lifter business but primarily serving the Australian and Asia-Pacific racing markets.

Broad incumbents

• Edelbrock: Edelbrock is a broad-line performance aftermarket manufacturer offering intake manifolds, cylinder heads, and valvetrain components; while its portfolio is wider than Trend's, it competes in overlapping performance/racing engine component categories.
• Mahle Motorsports (Mahle Power Sports): Mahle Motorsports supplies pistons, rings, pins, and valvetrain components to professional race teams and engine builders; its wrist pin product line is directly comparable to Trend's TP1 and G/H/M Series wrist pins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TrendPerformance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trend-performance-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trend Performance