Preston Osborn tapped to Lead Series Competition Role
SPEEDWAY, IND. ~ The American Rally Association (ARA), the premier rally racing series in the USA, announced a new leadership addition to the competition team as part of a planned, multiple phase approach to enhancing rally racing through technology, marketing initiatives and leadership enhancements as the Series enters 2021, its fourth year under leadership of the United States Auto Club (USAC Racing).
Preston Osborn has been hired to the role of Rally Series Competition Director, effective immediately. Preston comes to ARA with a substantial resume of rally racing background. Preston has been leading the O.D.D. Racing effort as Team Manager for the past several years, and in 2019 was the top ARA Limited 4WD Co-Driver.
Osborn’s new ARA Series role includes managements over a broad range of series and event competition, including the development and implementation of new technologies, review of procedures and processes, as well as oversight of ARA roles and responsibilities at all ARA sanctioned events.
“I am excited to get going and have input on how we can make the ARA, and rally overall, a better product for competitors, fans and events,” said Osborn. “I hope my love of this sport, combined with my desire to push it forward, are beneficial to our growth.”
The move coincides with the transition of current Series Manager, Doug Shepherd into a senior advisory role starting in 2021, as well as the elevation of current Marketing Director, Jeremy Meyer, into a larger role involving more oversight of the series day-to-day business operations.
Shepherd took the overall leadership role of the ARA after the United States Auto Club (USAC) took over operations prior to the 2018 season. The rally veteran will work with the new leadership team over the next few months, before digging into a litany of special projects and becoming a key resource for the ARA in everything from competition to safety.
USAC’s Senior Vice President Jason Smith, who has also taken a more active role in the ARA over the past few months, is excited about the path the series has taken and is beyond grateful for the dedication and leadership implemented by Shepherd.
“Doug Shepherd has gone above and beyond what we asked of him when he took over the lead role three years ago. He has led us from getting our feet off the ground as a new series owner, was instrumental in bringing America’s largest rallies back together under one banner, and been the key in executing a plan to return to rally action during a global pandemic. We will continue to lean on him in the months and years to come, and will count on him to work closely with Preston and Jeremy to make this a smooth transition.”
The ARA will continue its 2020 national schedule on October 2-3 with the Show-Me Rally in Missouri and conclude in November with the Olympus Rally. For more information on the American Rally Association, presented by AMSOIL, or to volunteer for an upcoming ARA event, go to: www.americanrallyassociation.org. To reach Preston Osborn, e-mail preston@ara-rally.com.