Changes At GM Racing

DETROIT – General Motors has announced organizational changes to its GM Racing operation. The GM Racing marketing group, which previously reported to Steve Shannon, executive director of VSSM Marketing Services, will now report directly to Doug Duchardt, director of GM Racing. Under this new integrated structure, both the technical and marketing groups will report to Duchardt.

“We are excited about the recent changes to further integrate all racing activities for General Motors,” said Shannon. “By combining the technical and marketing teams under Doug’s leadership at GM Racing, we will be able to work more closely as a single entity. GM races to win, and we are constantly looking at new ways to work together and build upon our successes on and off the track.”

General Motors has also announced two personnel changes at GM Racing. Fred Simmonds has been appointed group manager of Drag Racing. Simmonds, previously marketing manager for Drag Racing, will oversee both marketing and technical activities for drag racing. His key initiatives include continued development of the GM Drag Race Competition Engine (GMDRCE3), Pro Stock and Funny Car body programs, and GM’s front-wheel drive sport compact drag racing efforts. Simmonds began his career at General Motors in 1978 as a district service manager for Pontiac in Ft. Lauderdale.

Carmen Smith has been named program manager for GM Sport Compact Drag Racing reporting to Simmonds. Smith will manage day-to-day operations while focusing on planning for future Sport Compact racing programs. Prior to this position, Smith was a marketing analyst for Pontiac working on data analysis and communication materials for the Vibe, Montana and Aztec models.