NHRA: Layton and Schartz hired at NTR

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

March 22, 2001

GLENDORA, Calif. - The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has named Jim Layton as general manager and Patrick Schartz as sales and marketing manager at National Trail Raceway (NTR), in Kirkersville, Ohio. NTR is home to the Pontiac Excitement NHRA Nationals presented by Summit Racing, the sixth longest-running national event in NHRA history.

Layton has been associated with NTR since 1967 and has served as event director at the track since 1996 on a part-time basis. He assisted the facility in employee scheduling, special event planning, customer relations and race day operations. The current NTR staff will report to Layton, who will oversee all aspects of the facility as general manager.

Layton has more than 34 years of experience with the facility and the sport of drag racing. He is a member of the Licking County Joint Vocational Automotive Advisory Committee and a former member of the Hebron Village Council. His continued activity in the community provides a strong relationship between NTR and the surrounding Licking County areas. Layton resides in Hebron, Ohio, with his wife Debra.

Schartz comes to NTR from Heartland Park Topeka, in Topeka, Kan where he was the director of sales and hospitality and was responsible for overseeing all sales at the facility and the daily hospitality operations. His responsibilities at NTR include overseeing all sales and marketing programs for NTR and any of its events. A graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, Schartz is single and lives in Reynoldsberg, Ohio.

"We are extremely excited with the addition of Jim and Patrick to our National Trail Raceway staff," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. "Both gentleman bring a great amount of industry experience that should prove to be beneficial to NTR, the community, and all the individuals, businesses, and sponsors associated with the historic facility."

Schartz will report to Layton, who will report directly to Cary Menard, vice president of business and legal affairs for NHRA, who has direct responsibility for all of the NHRA owned and operated tracks across the country. Other NHRA owned and operated tracks include: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis; Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.; Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga.; and, Pomona Raceway, Pomona, Calif.

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 24 national events through its NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has more than 80,000 members nationwide and more than 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA Summit Import Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA Castrol GTX Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

Text provided by R. Vizcarra

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