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Trans Am: BFGoodrich Tires Trans Am Series Names New Chief Steward

22 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MIAMI, Fla.--The Panoz/Sanchez Group and SCCA Pro Racing have announced an operational staff change for the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series, naming Charlie Earwood as Chief Steward and Terry Earwood (Charlie's son) as Operating Steward.

"The Panoz/Sanchez Group and SCCA Pro Racing are committed to making the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series one of North America's premier racing series," said John Clagett, BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Executive Director. "Along with that commitment comes a deep understanding of the problems that we must overcome, and a responsibility to our fans, drivers, teams and sponsors to create an environment that nurtures our current and future success. To that end, we have made this staff change, and we will continue to make changes and improvements where or when necessary to ensure the series' viability."

The change in Chief Steward, effective immediately, is in part a result of events that occurred in the April 16 Johnson Controls 100 presented by Simple Green race at Long Beach.

"We're also evaluating several specific areas of the SCCA Pro Racing PRR (Pro Racing Regulations) for appropriate changes that might need to be made," added Clagett. "Both Charlie and Terry have scheduling conflicts with their other responsibilities throughout this season, but with Charlie as Chief Steward, and Terry as Operating Stewarda steward-in-training positionthe BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series will be well positioned in operations for this season and beyond."

Charlie Earwood's experience in motor sports dates to his E and F Production SCCA National racing in the 1960s. Most recently, Earwood continues to serve as the Chief Steward for the Historic Sports Car Racing association, and his other Chief Steward experience includes the Rolex 24 at Daytona (1968-1986); the 12 Hours of Sebring (1968-1986); the SCCA Club Racing Runoffs (1964-1998); SCCA Pro Racing's Playboy Endurance Series, Escort Endurance Series and the World Challenge Championships (1985-1994); SCCA Pro Racings Truck Series (1988-1993); the IMSA Firehawk series (1985); SCCA Pro Racings American Continental Championship/U.S. F2000 (1993-1997); and SCCA Pro Racings Spec Racer Ford Pro Series (1994-1995). Earwood also served as the Trans-Am Series' Chief Steward at two 1998 events.

"I look forward to working again with the Trans-Am Series," said Earwood." The Panoz/Sanchez Group and SCCA Pro Racing have made some significant strides to increase the visibility of this great series, and I welcome the opportunity to renew my many acquaintances with the drivers."

Terry Earwood was the 1996 IMSA Touring class champion and is the winningest driver in the history of the IMSA Showroom Stock series (with 30 wins), and he also is a NHRA drag racing U.S. Nationals Super Stock champion. Terry was the Chief Instructor at the Road Atlanta driving school from 1978 until 1984, when he joined the Skip Barber Racing School, where he's served as Chief Instructor since 1989. Terry was instrumental in designing the curriculum for the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School, and in addition to being the Chief Instructor, he also currently serves as the Chief Steward for the Skip Barber Racing Series regional championships. Additionally, Terry is the driving coach for the Dodge effort in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and he also provides the color commentary for The Speedvision Network's Motorola Cup coverage, where he also races (finishing second in Grand Sports at the 2000 Sebring race).

"I've been so fortunate to have had a drag racing career, a road racing career and a teaching career," said Terry Earwood. "And now I'm looking forward to working with my father in the tower. I've always been a big fan of the Trans-Am Series, back to the days when Mark Donohue was driving. I'm a Southern-bred, rear-wheel V8 kind of guy."

Earwood takes over Chief Steward duties from John Martinsen, who has held the position since 1998.

Text provided by Greg Rubenstein

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