|
NASHVILLE,
TN
– The Tennessee State Fair Board of Commissioners today voted to
extend the lease agreement of LJ&J Enterprises to December 31, 2009,
securing the immediate future of NASCAR sanctioned stock car racing
at the Music City Motorplex.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary season of NASCAR
sanctioned racing at this historic 5/8 mile paved oval.
The first racing event at the site dates back to 1904 on a
one mile dirt track, making it one of the oldest active racing
venues in the nation.
The Motorplex will kick off its 50th anniversary season
on Saturday, March 29th with a 150 lap event for the CRA
Super Series Late Models, as well as events from the CRA Street
Stocks and O’Reilly USA Modifieds.
NASCAR Whelen All American weekly racing will get underway on
Saturday, April 5 with events from the Late Models, Super Trucks and
Grand National Sportsman.
“We are pleased to have our lease extension now in place and we are
excited about the future of the Music City Motorplex as we prepare
for our 50th anniversary season,” said Joe Mattioli,
LJ&J/Motorplex president.
With the future of the Motorplex secure through 2009, Mattioli today
announced several management changes.
Norm Partin, formerly the General Manager of the Motorplex,
will leave his position and become a consultant to Mattioli on
special projects at the Motorplex.
Ron Jennett has been named as the new General Manager of the
Motorplex. Jennett has
been an integral part of the Motorplex management team since 2006.
He has vast knowledge of the music and entertainment industry
from his past experience as a performer and working in artist and
event management.
“We are greatly appreciative of Norm’s efforts at the Motorplex over
the past few years,” Mattioli said.
“His commitment to local racing and our race track has been
fantastic. He will
continue to support our efforts in his new consulting role here
while he spends more time with his business at Partin and
Associates. The
transition to Ron Jennett’s leadership as our new GM will be very
smooth since he has been a key member of our management team.”
Overseeing Motorplex’s management along with Mattioli will be Dan
White, Regional Vice President of LJ&J Enterprises.
White brings a wealth of experience to the Motorplex,
including past services as the Vice President and General Manager of
Orange Speedway in San Bernardino, California, a NASCAR sanctioned ¼
mile paved oval race track, and as Vice President of Sales &
Marketing for a California based stock car school.
Prior to that, White was involved with sports marketing for
Coors and project management for SoCal Pacific Construction.
White will also oversee the operation of the Music City Stock Car
Experience, a stock car driving and ride-along experience being
introduced at the Motorplex this spring.
Other members of the Motorplex management team include Tami Dyer,
David Underwood, Melvin Reynolds and Jody McKenzie.
Dyer was originally a ticket seller at the Motorplex and was hired
as the full time Office Assistant in 2006.
She became the Office Manager later that year.
Dyer has over 10 years of experience in the accounting field.
Underwood is the Track Director at the Music City Motorplex.
A native of
Murfreesboro,
he started at the Motorplex as an intern in 2004 and was hired full
time in Public Relations during the 2004 season.
Reynolds has been Head of Maintenance for the Motorplex since 2004
after retiring from Quaker Oats after a 27 year career.
McKenzie, Event Coordinator at the Motorplex, has been involved in
racing at the Fairgrounds for 18 years.
|