Road America gets new President

Mike Kertscher

After 20 seasons as president, George Bruggenthies will turn the job over to senior vice president of business operations Mike Kertscher on Jan. 1. But the executive who brought NASCAR to the track, brought Indy cars back and led Road America’s evolution into a premier racing facility will still be around in a reduced role with a title to be determined.

The ascension of Kertscher, 33, to the presidency has been a two-year process, Bruggenthies said. It became more widely known throughout the season and was announced internally in July. Bruggenthies will work with Road America through 2021.

Kertscher has been part of the leadership team, with Bruggenthies and Greg Wieser, vice president of operations.

“He’s still conferring with me and we talk and we’re all part of the team, but I just want him to get the final stages of this transition under his belt and also to show IMSA, IndyCar, NASCAR – all of our important people we deal with – that Mike is the person that is going to replace me here," said Bruggenthies, who plans to spend more time at his vacation home in Arizona.

“What am I going to become? I’m going to become a team member who’s not going to be here all the time. I’ll be heavily involved in sponsorship and the vintage July event. And I’ll be here as need and as a counsel, as a past president, executive colleague, executive at large … we don’t know what the title is going to be.

“But Mike is the team leader right now and will continue to be. It’s well-planned. It’s a good transition." JSOnline