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 CRANDON, WI - Veteran off-road racer, official and administrator Jim Conner has been named as the director of contingency for the Lucas Oil World Series of Off-Road Racing.
Conner has an extensive background in off-road dating back 36 years when he was one of the sports top drivers and a seven-time winner of the world famous SCORE Baja events. He also managed the Nissan Motor Corporation Off-Road Race Team which included drivers such as Rick and Roger Mears, as well as two-time Indy 500 winner Gordon Johncock. Conner continued his professional duties behind the wheel as a stunt and precision driver for many national Nissan car and truck commercials filmed in Hollywood. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
When Conner retired as a driver in 1987, he designed and launched Jim Conner Racing as an organization capable of representing major companies at off-road events displaying and merchandising their products and administering their contingency efforts.
"If you want to put together the very best contingency program for your off-road race organization, there is unquestionably only one person with the experience, contacts and background to do that and he is Jim Conner," said Doug Davis, general manager, WSORR. "We are thrilled to bring Jim on board because he enhances our efforts to do everything we can to reward race teams participating in the World Series," he said. "Not only will we have the largest Series purses ever offered in off-road history, we are confident we can build the largest contingency program ever," he added.
Conner has served as the director of contingency for the Championship Off Road Racing Series since its inception and is also responsible for contingency in seven other race organizations. Prior to his full-time contingency duties, he was the race director for SCORE International. He also has managed a race track and been a race promoter.
"I've been involved in this sport in a lot of different capacities and have a full appreciation for how important a good contingency program is to everyone from the grassroots racer to the professional teams," said Conner. "These racers can really use our help with their programs and the exposure they provide to sponsors makes it a win - win situation for everyone. There is a tremendous buzz out there right now concerning the new World Series and we fully intend on taking advantage of that," he remarked.
Conner and his wife Melanie live in Lake Havasu City, AZ. He was awarded the 2001 Michael Gaughan award in recognition of " a lifetime of support of off-road racing."
"We are delivering a proven product, managed by full-time, experienced and veteran personnel who understand the needs of racers, sponsors and fans," said Davis. "Jim Conner is just another example of this key staffing." Davis noted that Conner has been involved in Midwest off-road racing circles for more than a decade. "He is an institution in the Midwest with both racers and fans and Jim Conner Racing is a tremendous asset to WSORR."
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