der Bayerische July/August 2021 - 29

A Chat with Summit Point Raceway's
Director of Motorsports: Edwin Pardue
By Jack Raymond
A
s I recall, I first met Edwin Pardue in
early 2020, not long after he became
the Director of Motorsports at Summit
Point Raceway (SPR). If you're a regular
attendee at SPR, you'll have noticed that
Edwin makes a point of making the rounds at
virtually every event to say a quick hello to the
group and welcome them to the track. He's
the tall, laid back gentleman with the southern
accent who is typically dressed " business
casual " : a sports coat, collared shirt, and
dress slacks; he definitely stands out
amongst SPR's motorsports clientele.
Edwin's operating philosophy is that he's here
to listen and then to try to meet the needs of
SPR's customers and employees. dB had the
good fortune to persuade Edwin to participate
in an interview for our magazine.
dB: What's your business background,
particularly with regards to motorsports?
(Above) Edwin Pardue and Assistant Director of Motorsports
Kathleen Lazorchack.
Edwin: For nearly 30 years I worked in Broadcast Media; mainly radio, but also
some television and print. Most of that time was in advertising sales and then
10 years in sales management. During all of that time I was involved in
motorsports as either a side business or hobby.
dB: Would you describe the recent journey that led you to becoming the
Director of Motorsports at Summit Point Raceway?
Edwin: In 2014 I had the opportunity to make motorsports my full-time career
and took the position of General Manager at Dominion Raceway in Thornburg,
Virginia. I was there until 2019 and then took the position here at Summit in
the Fall of '19.
dB: What are the duties and responsibilities of the Director?
Edwin: The most important part of the job is managing the " vision " of the
facility. By listening to lots of input, keeping abreast of industry trends,
understanding corporate needs and creating a great team; we are able to really
impact the " feel " of the entire program. It's a careful balance of constantly
moving forward while also respecting the history and heritage of this motorsports
landmark.
dB: What do you like best about your position?
Edwin: Obviously the people I get to work with on a daily basis are a joy.
Our employees understand what we are trying to create here; having that buy-in
is crucial. The individual clubs and participants are just as wonderful to work
with. I have tried to make myself available to answer questions or just chat
July I August
during event weekends. I try to take time each
day and walk through the paddock and
spend time with our " stakeholders " . I think it's
appreciated by them.
dB: What changes would you like to make?
What's your vision for the future?
Edwin: We want to continue to make track
improvements; updating safety is an ongoing
project. I'd like to add some additional
amenities to the facility in order to improve
the overall experience here. I think it's
important to get spectators back for our
events; we have some incredibly exciting
events and having the track lined with fans
and vendors... it just creates that experience
for everyone.
dB: What's your favorite personal hobby? (It
doesn't have to be motorsports!)
Edwin: Music. Being in radio all those years you have to have a love for it.
I play guitar (poorly), it's a great way to relax.
dB: Would you tell us something about yourself that most people don't already
know?
Edwin: My degree from George Mason University is in Public Administration.
I was going to go be a city manager or county executive. I saw an advertisement
that the college radio station was looking for Summer DJs and thus took
a 30-year detour.
dB: What else would you like to share with our readership?
Edwin: My wife Sharon and I have been married for over 25 years. Our son
James is now Sophomore at George Mason University.
dB: What's your favorite movie in the car, car chase, heist, or racing related genre.
Edwin: That's hard. Ford v Ferrari was fantastic. Ron Howard's movie Rush
was almost perfect. The 2010 Senna documentary is a must see. I love James
Garner in Grand Prix... I could go on. Of course there is the one film that I think
was overlooked by the Academy Awards... I mean this movie should have won
10 Oscars - Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
dB: Thank you for your time!
Edwin: You're welcome.
29
https://www.summitpoint-raceway.com/
der Bayerische July/August 2021

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