DANVILLE, VA (February 8, 2010) – Past SCCA President Nick Craw will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 25th Anniversary Spec Racer Ford Celebration event weekend April 9-11, 2010 at Road Atlanta.

Craw served as president of SCCA for 17 years, more than a decade longer than any other chief executive. He supplied the stability and the vision that led the club through its greatest period of growth. During his tenure, SCCA more than doubled its membership, increased total revenues by over 500%, increased outside income six-fold, and doubled member equity. He oversaw the creation of SCCA’s most popular class, Spec Racer Ford, the creation of an industry leading insurance plan for race workers and drivers, and a huge growth in the participation in, and exposure for, SCCA’s National Championship events. He tried to gauge the sentiments of the membership using member and participant surveys and also using his race car, which he took on a nationwide “Beat the Boss” tour of SCCA club races. He had the foresight to recognize that SCCA was too big and too important to be just a club, but too strongly tied to its roots to be just a business. Instead, he pushed SCCA to become a stronger club, run with sound business practices, for the benefit of its members.

Today Craw serves the motorsports community as the head of the Automobile Competition Club of the United States (ACCUS) representing American racing interests on the international scene.

One of Craws most lasting projects during his 17 year tenure with SCCA was the creation of the original Sports Renault, now called the Spec Racer Ford. Craw saw the need for an inexpensive "driver's car", and the positive impact it could have for controlling the runaway costs of road racing. While the seeds of the original concept date back to the late 70's, it was Craw who bucked the trend, ignored the nay-sayers and through an aggressive partnership with Roy Lunn and his group at Jeep/Renault Sports, created the most successful spec racer in America. In mere months, the car went from a vague idea on paper to a running test mule. Over 200 orders were placed before the car ever turned a wheel in testing.

In 1986 Jeep/Renault handed over all production of the car to SCCA and Craw created SCCA Enterprises, a solely owned for profit company that would oversee the Spec Racer and ensure it’s ongoing success. Today over 850 Spec Racer Fords have been sold and the Spec Racer Ford remains one of the most successful classes in SCCA's National racing program.

Craw will also reprise his famous "Beat the Boss Tour" as he takes the wheel of a Spec Racer Ford during a very special VIP Driver's Race on Saturday. Craw will be competing against past SCCA National champions, SCCA Pro Spec Racer champions, and drivers who progressed though the Sports Renault and Spec Racer series as they ascended the professional driving ranks.

“It is an honor to have Nick serve as our Grand Marshal for the Anniversary event," said Ken Grammer, Director of Competition. “Nick is a living legend both on and off the track. Having him involved both as our Grand Marshal and as a driver as we celebrate 25 years of the most successful spec class car in SCCA's history is a fitting tribute to both his vision, and the success of the program he helped create,” added Grammer.

The attached photo shows Craw in action at the Lime Rock Vintage Fall Festival in 2006.

On April 9-11, 2010, SCCA Enterprises will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Spec Racer Ford with an exciting weekend of racing at the home of the first SCCA National Championship that featured the Spec Racer Ford, historic Road Atlanta in Winder, GA. Further details on the 25th Anniversary Celebration Event are available through the official event web site at www.srf25.com.