Reunited with Tony Stewart, one of the best drivers in United States Auto Club (USAC) history is stepping down as Director of INDYiShares India 50 ETF�0.0% NXTiShares Exponential Technologies ETF�0.0% by Firestone, the IndyCar development series.
Eldora Speedway, owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and auto racing legend Stewart, has appointed Levi Jones, a championship-winning USAC driver and motorsports executive, as general manager.
The 42-year-old from Olney, Illinois, who raced for Stewart, the owner of Eldora Speedway, in the United States Auto Club (USAC) from 2006 until the middle of 2013, is returning home with the job. With Tony Stewart Racing, he won six of his seven USAC championships.
Jones joins Eldora from IndyCar, where he served as director of the entry-level NTT IndyCar Series subsidiary, Indy NXT by Firestone. Before joining IndyCar in October 2021, Jones worked for USAC for three years in a variety of executive and competition roles. He rose from national series competition director in 2015 to executive vice president in 2019 before joining IndyCar.
According to IndyCar President Jay Frye, “we have seen the successful integration of INDY NXT by Firestone with the IndyCar paddock over the last three seasons.” “There are more cars on the track than ever before, and the competition is fierce.” It is obvious that INDY NXT will continue to gain momentum, enthusiasm, and growth.
“With his new position at Eldora Speedway, Levi is returning to his roots, and we thank him for his enormous contributions.”
Following IndyCar’s season finale at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on September 16, Jones will formally start his general management position at Eldora.
Stewart remarked, “We’re thrilled and appreciative to have Levi Jones as our general manager on behalf of everyone at Eldora Speedway.” “Levi has always respected Eldora highly, as an executive and as a racer. He brings a racer’s viewpoint to his current position as general manager, along with tremendous managerial and promotional skills from his time in IndyCar and USAC. Fans and rivals alike should be aware that Eldora is once again in excellent hands.
“Jerry Gappens was an amazing leader, and we were all saddened by his departure. The entire crew has shown me immense pride for stepping up during this extremely difficult moment. This summer, as we tried to present the greatest possible image of ourselves, we all asked ourselves, “What would Jerry have done?” multiple times.
“I would especially like to thank Jonathan Bateman, who since joining Eldora in 2006 has pretty much done every job and worn every hat. With Jerry’s passing, he took over as our temporary general manager, and he had less than two weeks to prepare for the Dirt Late Model Dream, one of our largest races. He was a true pro, and without Jonathan’s knowledge and dedication to work ethic, Eldora would not have experienced the Dream or our summer racing schedule.
Eldora receives another well-established work ethic from Jones. Throughout his USAC driving career, he won 35 feature races, split between Sprint Car (28 victories), Midget (four wins), and Silver Crown (three wins). He won back-to-back USAC Silver Crown championships in 2010 and 2011, in addition to his Sprint Car Championships from 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Tony Stewart Racing was the source of Jones’ 2005 Sprint Car title, all except one.
Due to his prior expertise, Jones was a perfect fit for USAC, where in his role as national series competition director, he oversaw the organisation and management of more than 75 USAC events in the Silver Crown, Sprint Car, and Midget divisions around the country. Jones contributed to the USAC’s efforts to expand its purview outside open-wheel racing upon being elevated to executive vice president.
Under Jones’ direction, USAC branched out into sports car, rally, off-road, and youth racing. Throughout it all, Jones oversaw the upkeep and administration of the annual rule books, oversaw sponsorships for every series, negotiated sanction agreements, oversaw personnel, and filled in as race director when necessary.
“I’m thankful for the enormous opportunity to be the general manager of Eldora Speedway,” Jones stated. “I’m prepared for this moment, even though I know I have large shoes to fill given everything Jerry Gappens and his predecessors did. I am aware of Eldora’s past and the significance it holds for spectators and all those who pass through the pit gate, including crew members and drivers. As general manager, my goal is to ensure that Eldora continues to be the world’s best dirt track because we are passionate about it.
Eldora, which was carved out of a cornfield in 1954, has emerged as a pioneer in the expansion and sustainability of motorsports. In 2024, the half-mile dirt oval will hold racing for the 71st time straight, with some of the most prestigious grassroots races in the world taking place there.
Jones, a two-time champion of Eldora’s 4-Crown Nationals (2005 and 2010), said, “Eldora is the track where everyone wants to win because you really have to earn it, and when you do, your name is on a list of legends.” “Just competing at Eldora instills a great sense of pride, and recognition for this goes to track pioneers Earl and Berneice Baltes.” They continuously innovated and improved Eldora, turning it into a destination. It is an honour to assist in preserving Earl and Berneice’s vision, as Tony Stewart has done a fantastic job of doing so.
The 4-Crown Nationals, which take place over two nights on September 20–21 and are highlighted by the USAC Sprint Car, Midget, and Silver Crown National Championship series in addition to the Kubota High Limit Racing winged sprint car series, will mark Jones’ racing debut as general manager of Eldora.
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