VP Dave Spitzer Shifting Focus Away From Day-To-Day Competition Management

GRAND-AM Road Racing hasannounced a significant change in its Competition Department structure, aimed at allowing increased concentration on future-oriented and international-based projects considered vital to the sport’s long-term growth.

Vice President of Competition Dave Spitzer is shifting his focus to such projects, leaving day-to-day supervision of GRAND-AM competition to Managing Director of Competition Mark Raffauf and his team.

Spitzer is working on a variety of intriguing initiatives that begin with development of new regulations for Daytona Prototypes that will set the stage for renewed growth in GRAND-AM’s premier class, plus the phasing in of an American series based on the successful DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series from Europe. Other initiatives include the evaluation of turbo-charged engines for DPs, and working with Ferrari andother manufacturers toward successful integration of new GT class entries.

“Dave’s experience and expertise will help usher in a ‘new era’ at GRAND-AM,” said GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe. “We have so many initiatives that are ‘on the table’ and Dave is going to focus more completely to help make these things reality.”

Spitzer, 40, has been with GRAND-AM since 2008. Prior to joining GRAND-AM, he worked for 13 years at GM Racing. Spitzer’s new duties reflect GRAND-AM’s steadfast commitment to interfacing with various automobile manufacturers both in the United States and abroad, with theultimate aim to increase the relevance of sports car racing throughout North America, and grow the sport.“I am excited by these new challenges,” Spitzer said. “Successful enterprises must identify the need for change and embrace the future, and GRAND-AM hasgenerated very exciting opportunities for growth.”

Bledsoe is now in the process of hiring an additional Managing Director of Competition, to concentrate primarily on the technical aspects of GRAND-AM’s series.