The Racer’s Group, one of the most successful and unique motorsports programs in the world, has named veteran sports executive Bob Dickinson to its newly created position of Chief Operating Officer for TRG and Adobe Road Winery. As COO, Dickinson will oversee and manage business development, marketing, communications, special events and customer relations for TRG’s race teams as well as its successful and burgeoning, Northern California based, Adobe Road Winery. The companies operate race teams across multiple motorsports series – the American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am and NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.
“This is an exciting time for us and adding Bob to the team only drives it further forward,” stated CEO, Kevin Buckler. “Bob and I have been friends for a long time and I have respected what he has accomplished and especially his work ethic. We just came out of several years of a tough economy and we really put our heads down and prepared for this growth phase. We are back in a big way and running in 4 different series and always looking for good people and opportunities. His skills and diverse motorsports background as well as his understanding of our boutique winery operation are perfect for where we are headed and I am really proud to have him on board.”
Dickinson comes to TRG from the American Le Mans Series where he was Vice President of Media & Communications. In that position, he oversaw and directed media relations, digital and social media strategies, special events, government relations and the ALMS’ environmental program as the Series became recognized as the Global Leader in Green Racing.
Dickinson’s career spans more than 30 years in the sports and entertainment industry. He has held executive positions at Turner Sports, the NFL (Atlanta Falcons), and several college athletics departments. He also started and operated his own company, Dickinson Sports & Entertainment Group, before merging it with a Nashville-based telco group where he became executive vice president, negotiating all network carriage agreements while overseeing corporate marketing as well.
At Turner Broadcasting, Dickinson initially headed worldwide public relations efforts for the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, WA before becoming Director of Sports Program Acquisitions. In that capacity, Dickinson‚s responsibilities included much of the network’s Olympic sports programming, golf, college football and its motorsports properties. He played a major role in establishing NASCAR as one of Turner’s most profitable sports properties.
TRG is a full-service motorsports company offering a total driver ladder approach, as well as comprehensive sponsorship and business opportunities. For drivers, this approach starts with track days, goes to club events, up into street stock series and culminates in the ultimate goal of professional motorsports. For sponsors and business partners, this method starts with everything from executive events, to traditional sponsorship models, all the way to comprehensive business-to-business opportunities and experiential marketing. With facilities in Petaluma, California and Mooresville, North Carolina the team can offer turn-key marketing programs as well as arrive-and-drive support.
The company’s NASCAR operations are headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team fields a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry and has the capacity to run ARCA, Nationwide and the Camping World Truck Series.
The Racer’s Group was founded in 1993 and has been competing at the top level of motor racing. The team boasts Rolex Series GT championships in 2005 and 2006 and holds the record for the most wins in Grand-Am with 32. The team’s resume is highlighted by five championships, four Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona victories, and a Le Mans 24 Hour win.
Source : TRG