GIR HIRES RICH SCHAEFER AS DRAG STRIP MANAGER
Thu, 2008-10-16 18:35
Gateway International Raceway is pleased to announce the hiring of Rich
Schaefer as its new drag strip manager as well as the promotion of
Brandon Mudd to director of public and media relations. Both moves are
effective immediately.
Schaefer, a graduate of Greenville (Ill.) High School, has a 20-year background in motorsports promotion. He started his motorsports career working at tractor pulls and moved on to become one of the most respected promoters on the monster truck circuit. Schaefer has managed some of the biggest monster truck events in the sport working with Live Nation, Bigfoot, and most recently Monster Truck Challenge. Schaefer has also worked with the Gateway International Raceway over the past two years in several event related capacities, including event promotion and pre-race management for both Gateway’s 1.25-mile oval and its drag strip.
“We were searching for a drag manager with national motorsports experience and we found one from right here in St. Louis,” GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. “Rich had been assisting us during our major events for the past couple of years and started working on our drag crew this summer to pass time while he was in town between other events he was managing around the country. Gateway International Raceway is pleased to announce the hiring of Rich Schaefer as its new drag strip manager as well as
the promotion of Brandon Mudd to director of public and media relations. Both moves are effective immediately.
Schaefer, a graduate of Greenville (Ill.) High School, has a 20-year background in motorsports promotion. He started his motorsports career working at tractor pulls and moved on to become one of the most respected promoters on the monster truck circuit. Schaefer has managed some of the biggest monster truck events in the sport working with Live Nation, Bigfoot, and most recently Monster Truck Challenge. Schaefer has also worked with the Gateway International Raceway over the past two years in several event related capacities, including event promotion and pre-race management for both Gateway’s 1.25-mile oval and its drag strip.
“We were searching for a drag manager with national motorsports experience and we found one from right here in St. Louis,” GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. “Rich had been assisting us during our major events for the past couple of years and started working on our drag crew this summer to pass time while he was in town between other events he was managing around the country.
“His professionalism and ease with the racers and drag crew made him the obvious choice that was right under our nose. Rich Schaefer will be an outstanding addition to our staff and he will continue the good work that Jason Dukes had done before him.”
Schaefer comes highly-recommended. Gateway Historian and member of multiple halls of fame Bret Kepner gave him his vote of confidence, saying Schaefer has the experience and the talent to not only manage an event, but to effectively promote it beforehand as well.
"Schaefer's history in motorsports has taught him several exceptionally rare abilities,” Kepner said. “His years of working every major arena in the nation with SRO/Pace and ClearChannel found him building facilities, running the events, and tearing down the facilities in a span of 36 hours. When those events were being conducted in front of up to 50,000 spectators, the flow of the program rested entirely on his shoulders and there was absolutely no room for error.
"His ability to learn and direct new forms of motorsports has been proven and he'll have no problem applying his skills to drag racing. He understands the racer, the spectator, the track owner, and the sponsors and can work with all four simultaneously. He won't be just another drag racing fan trying to run a racetrack. He's a professional event director who understands all aspects of racing and the need to present the sport in the form of entertainment. There aren't many people who can do that, but Schaefer can.”
Kepner isn’t alone in his praise of Schaefer. NHRA’s vice president of national event marketing Glen Cromwell said GIR’s new drag strip manager brings a wealth of knowledge to the company.
“His background in various forms of motorsports such as Monster Truck racing, truck and tractor pulling events, and drag racing events will benefit GIR in its overall goal to grow the sport of NHRA drag racing,” Cromwell said. “Rich with his motorsports experience in event management, sponsorship sales and event marketing/promotions brings the complete package to GIR”
In addition to hiring Schaefer, GIR promoted Brandon Mudd from manager to director of public and media relations. Mudd has been at Gateway since June, 2007 and, according to Batycki, has worked hard to increase awareness of GIR’s events locally, regionally, and nationally via his work with the media, the sanctions, and race teams.
“Brandon not only brought knowledge and experience with him when he came to Gateway, but also a passion for the sport of auto racing,” Batycki said. “He has been an incredible asset to our facility and we’re proud to have him represent Gateway International Raceway as a track director.”
Schaefer, a graduate of Greenville (Ill.) High School, has a 20-year background in motorsports promotion. He started his motorsports career working at tractor pulls and moved on to become one of the most respected promoters on the monster truck circuit. Schaefer has managed some of the biggest monster truck events in the sport working with Live Nation, Bigfoot, and most recently Monster Truck Challenge. Schaefer has also worked with the Gateway International Raceway over the past two years in several event related capacities, including event promotion and pre-race management for both Gateway’s 1.25-mile oval and its drag strip.
“We were searching for a drag manager with national motorsports experience and we found one from right here in St. Louis,” GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. “Rich had been assisting us during our major events for the past couple of years and started working on our drag crew this summer to pass time while he was in town between other events he was managing around the country. Gateway International Raceway is pleased to announce the hiring of Rich Schaefer as its new drag strip manager as well as
the promotion of Brandon Mudd to director of public and media relations. Both moves are effective immediately.Schaefer, a graduate of Greenville (Ill.) High School, has a 20-year background in motorsports promotion. He started his motorsports career working at tractor pulls and moved on to become one of the most respected promoters on the monster truck circuit. Schaefer has managed some of the biggest monster truck events in the sport working with Live Nation, Bigfoot, and most recently Monster Truck Challenge. Schaefer has also worked with the Gateway International Raceway over the past two years in several event related capacities, including event promotion and pre-race management for both Gateway’s 1.25-mile oval and its drag strip.
“We were searching for a drag manager with national motorsports experience and we found one from right here in St. Louis,” GIR Vice President and General Manager Lenny Batycki said. “Rich had been assisting us during our major events for the past couple of years and started working on our drag crew this summer to pass time while he was in town between other events he was managing around the country.
“His professionalism and ease with the racers and drag crew made him the obvious choice that was right under our nose. Rich Schaefer will be an outstanding addition to our staff and he will continue the good work that Jason Dukes had done before him.”
Schaefer comes highly-recommended. Gateway Historian and member of multiple halls of fame Bret Kepner gave him his vote of confidence, saying Schaefer has the experience and the talent to not only manage an event, but to effectively promote it beforehand as well.
"Schaefer's history in motorsports has taught him several exceptionally rare abilities,” Kepner said. “His years of working every major arena in the nation with SRO/Pace and ClearChannel found him building facilities, running the events, and tearing down the facilities in a span of 36 hours. When those events were being conducted in front of up to 50,000 spectators, the flow of the program rested entirely on his shoulders and there was absolutely no room for error.
"His ability to learn and direct new forms of motorsports has been proven and he'll have no problem applying his skills to drag racing. He understands the racer, the spectator, the track owner, and the sponsors and can work with all four simultaneously. He won't be just another drag racing fan trying to run a racetrack. He's a professional event director who understands all aspects of racing and the need to present the sport in the form of entertainment. There aren't many people who can do that, but Schaefer can.”
Kepner isn’t alone in his praise of Schaefer. NHRA’s vice president of national event marketing Glen Cromwell said GIR’s new drag strip manager brings a wealth of knowledge to the company.
“His background in various forms of motorsports such as Monster Truck racing, truck and tractor pulling events, and drag racing events will benefit GIR in its overall goal to grow the sport of NHRA drag racing,” Cromwell said. “Rich with his motorsports experience in event management, sponsorship sales and event marketing/promotions brings the complete package to GIR”
In addition to hiring Schaefer, GIR promoted Brandon Mudd from manager to director of public and media relations. Mudd has been at Gateway since June, 2007 and, according to Batycki, has worked hard to increase awareness of GIR’s events locally, regionally, and nationally via his work with the media, the sanctions, and race teams.
“Brandon not only brought knowledge and experience with him when he came to Gateway, but also a passion for the sport of auto racing,” Batycki said. “He has been an incredible asset to our facility and we’re proud to have him represent Gateway International Raceway as a track director.”
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