In a move designed to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive motorsports market, US 131 Motorsports Park has announced the retention of long-time industry executive Steve Earwood as consultant to VP of Operations Jason Peterson.
Earwood, former National Media Relations Director for the NHRA and, for more than 30 years, the owner/operator of Rockingham Dragway, will work closely with US 131 staff to develop new events and enhance existing anchor races like the Northern Nationals.
“Steve brings a wealth of experience and a list of contacts in this industry that is unparalleled,” Peterson said. “He already has provided valuable insight, and we look forward to his involvement in making a great US 131 experience even better for our racers, our fans, and our partners.”
Earwood, who will commute to US 131 for meetings and events while maintaining his residence in Southern Pines, North Carolina, has an extensive racing background that began in the 1970s with his promotion of outlaw Pro Stock events at tracks in Gainesville, FL, and elsewhere.
As a result of his independent work, he was hired as NHRA’s Media Relations Director in 1975. In that capacity, he was largely responsible for transforming drag racing into a mainstream motorsports enterprise by developing relationships with the nation’s leading motorsports journalists, among them the late Shav Glick and Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times.
That led to coverage of the sport in publications that never before had acknowledged its existence, including the New York Times, the aforementioned LA Times, and Sports Illustrated.
Upon his departure from the NHRA, he was retained as Vice-President of Marketing for the Texas Motorplex when it made its debut in 1986 and was president and co-owner of Atlanta Dragway during its multi-million-dollar makeover before realizing his life-long dream of track ownership with the 1992 purchase of Rockingham Dragway.
For 10 years, his track hosted the NHRA Winston Invitational, an event that became a destination for sports stars despite not being officially a national event. On Earwood’s watch, in 1997, the Winston Invitational became the first drag race to pay $100,000 to its Top Fuel and Funny Car champions.
Inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2016 as winner of the Founders Award, he was also the recipient of an NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award and of the Jeff Byrd Memorial Award from the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame. While at Rockingham, he was recognized as the NHRA’s “Man of the Year” in the Southeast Division in 1994 and as National Promoter of the Year by both the IHRA (2001 and 2008) and the ADRA (2015).
A founding member of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, Earwood serves on the Board of Directors for Racers for Christ International and, while at Rockingham Dragway, was a member of the Governor’s Motorsports Advisory Council.
“We’re confident that Steve’s industry expertise and his extensive network of contacts will play a key role in expanding the park’s offerings and maintaining its standing in the motorsports community,” Peterson said.
