The NCM Motorsports Park announces two new board members. Michael Newlander and Andy Pilgrim have joined the seven-person board charged with overseeing the operations of the Motorsports Park, owned by the National Corvette Museum (NCM). Current NCM Board Members that dually serve on both the Museum’s board the Park’s board include Johnny Downs, Board Chairman for the Museum, of Sadler, TX; Paul Herzing of Gibsonia, PA; and Henry Younger of Gurley, AL. Wendell Strode, Executive Director for the Museum and Mitch Wright, General Manager of the Motorsports Park are also on the board.
Andy Pilgrim
Andy Pilgrim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in motorsports to the board. He joined the Corvette Racing team in 1999 after a successful career in IMSA racing where he earned four championships in four consecutive years. Teamed with Ron Fellows, Pilgrim scored the team’s historic first victory at Texas Motor Speedway in September 2000. In 2001 he was selected as Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr.’s teammate in the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing second in the GTS class behind the sister Corvette C5-R. While Pilgrim left the Corvette program in 2004, he stayed with General Motors, driving for the Cadillac CTS-V factory team and currently in the new 2015 ATS-V. Pilgrim started the Andy Pilgrim Foundation in 2008 to educate new street drivers and raise awareness of the problems of distracted driving. He also has a long history of attending and serving as an instructor at the Museum’s High Performance Driving School.
“I was very honored to be asked to be on the Motorsports Park board and am extremely proud to accept,” said Pilgrim. “I feel I can bring a wealth of racing experience and ideas to help in the growing process of this wonderful facility. I have been involved in road traffic safety for many years and am excited to hear that the Park wants to also be involved in this area.” Pilgrim added that he sees the potential for the facility to become a leading center for traffic safety initiatives to help parents and students of all ages be safer on our roads.
Michael Newlander
Michael Newlander is no stranger to the National Corvette Museum and their driving programs. He first got involved in 1999 when he took delivery of his new Corvette and said from there, he got more and more involved and now has a new family of friends. Michael has been a part of the Museum’s High Performance Drivers’ Education events since their inception and served as Chief Instructor for the September NCM HPDEs at the Motorsports Park. He also plans to volunteer as Chief Instructor for the April HPDE at the Park. He previously served and helped structure the member committee at Autobahn Country Club’s motorsports park in Joliet, Illinois, served three years including two as the first Chairman and has experience seeing facilities go from grass to track.
“The National Corvette Museum is already an attraction,” Michael said. “This can make it a destination. The Motorsports Park is very exciting.” Michael compared having the Museum, Motorsports Park and GM Corvette Assembly Plant all in one location to a Disney World atmosphere. “You need something for the whole family. People can now spend four to five days at this huge destination.”
Michael expressed how proud and excited he is to be involved with this special project. “I love the Museum, the people involved and racing. I’m proud of it and love the idea of doing something for the Bowling Green community.”
The NCM Motorsports Park is a 186-acre campus featuring a 3.15 mile road course and 22-acre autocross/skidpad/paddock. The Park offers a number of educational and recreational racing opportunities for all makes and models of vehicles and motorcycles. Learn more about the Motorsports Park and upcoming events at www.motorsportspark.org.
