The sanctioning body WISSOTA seeks a new executive director. WISSOTA announced the resignation of Carson Gramm, who held the position for four years, on January 21.
“We will initiate a nationwide search for a new director,” Rob Palmer, WISSOTA Board of Directors president said. “Board members and promoters have been asked to get the word out about the position and to help find possible candidates.”
WISSOTA has 47 member tracks. It sanctions eight divisions of race cars — late models, modifieds, super stocks, Midwest mods, street stocks, mod fours, pure stocks, and hornets. WISSOTA awards championships in six states — Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming — and Canada. It also sanctions several series, including the Advantage RV’s Modified Tour, North Late Model Racing Association (NLRA), Steffes Street Stock Tour, and WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series.
“The executive director will be responsible for sponsorship sales and fulfillment,” said Palmer. “In addition, the executive director deals with tracks at a local level, communicating with promoters, answering questions they have, and listening to their suggestions.”
The executive director plays a key role in organizing the sanction’s marquee event, the Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100, and the year-end banquet.
Gramm had produced a podcast with WISSOTA’s full-time social media specialist, Camryn Sullivan. The new executive director will continue the podcast, too.
“We are looking for someone with experience in sports marketing and sales — auto racing experience is a plus,” Palmer said. “We want a person who is passionate about the job and about auto racing.”
The job requires nonstop commitment during racing season.
“If you like to be busy and can do multiple tasks at the same time, this job is for you,” Palmer said. “If you love racing, you’ll love this job. It’s a chance to be part of a great racing organization, with the opportunity to make it bigger and stronger. We want to make sure what we have is strong [so that] people who see us operate will realize that this is a strong organization, led by great people, [and they] will want to join us.”
Those interested in the position of the WISSOTA executive director should email their résumé and cover letter to Callie Sullivan ([email protected]) or Rob Palmer ([email protected]).
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
