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PSR Names Tom Carmody Race Director for Season Final Events

13 October 1997

Sebring, FL-In a move to try and bolster the shaky PSR foundation, PSR Chairman Andy Evans named Race Commissioner Tom Carmody to serve as race director for the final two events of 1997.

Carmody has been Commissioner of SportsCar since November of 1996. Although his experience in the motorsports field is limited, Carmody's resume in the corporate world is filled with a great deal of marketing experience. In the announcement of the decision to place Carmody as race director, the language in responding to the recent SCCA actions was refreshingly blunt.

Carmody commented, "The latest turn of events is certainly disappointing. The politics and egos of motor sports was not something I was aware of prior to my part-time active involvement this year. It's predatory and vicious and certainly not healthy, but it's a fact of life. No doubt Andy has stepped on some toes. A lot of people don't like his style. I find him to be passionate about racing, truly concerned about the competitors, and committed to making SportsCar the best motor sports organization in the world. Andy does not want to be, nor was it intended for him to be, micromanaging day-to-day SportsCar operations. Survival instincts has required it. Going forward, that is not the plan. Right now, we're David facing Goliath. We've upset and been a thorn in the side of some powerful motor sports people."

In other PSR news, as reported first by The Autochannel two weeks ago, the resignation of SportsCar President Jack Long was finally confirmed and publicly announced by PSR Chairman Andy Evans.

David Treffer -- The Auto Channel