Motorsports Management Int'l news 2010-02-11

MOTORSPORTS MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL ADDS KEY PERSONNEL TO STAFF
Industry Veterans Emmett Byrd and Lorin Ranier Join Representation Firm

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 11, 2010) - Motorsports Management International announced today the hiring of Emmett Byrd as part of the representation firm's client management team. Byrd, a long-time racing industry veteran with experience on both the marketing and racing operations side, will serve as the primary day-to-day manager of driver Kyle Busch, the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and a 16-time winner on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"With Kyle's growing stature in the sport and his entry as a team owner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, we mutually felt Kyle needed a business manager focused 100 percent on his overall program," said Motorsports Management International (MMI) Founder and President Cary Agajanian. "Emmett brings with him a great deal of experience and respect in the racing industry."

Byrd previously served as President and General Manager of Xpress Motorsports, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team that driver Brian Scott piloted to victory last year at Dover International Speedway and finished the season seventh in driver standings. Byrd will work closely with an internal MMI team that includes William Anthony (legal counsel), Brad White (financials), Chris Newman (sales and marketing) and several others servicing Busch and Kyle Busch Motorsports, his first-year NASCAR Camping World Truck Series operation.

Byrd takes over a role previously handled by MMI Vice President Jeff Dickerson, who managed Busch along with several other MMI clients last year in addition to serving as Busch's race day spotter. Dickerson will continue to serve as Busch's spotter across all three NASCAR touring series and can now focus his attention on MMI's growing list of clients and his specialty of developing young talent.

"From a management perspective, Jeff has been an instrumental part of Kyle's rise in the sport, helping him to navigate difficult waters on and off the track and to achieve great early success," said Agajanian. "Jeff's forte is working the NASCAR Garage and mining for opportunities for developing drivers, which is an increasing necessity in today's sponsorship landscape."

Byrd's addition to the staff follows last year's addition of another well-respected industry veteran, Lorin Ranier, as MMI's director of driver development, a similar post that Ranier previously held with Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Ranier, the son of legendary NASCAR car owner Harry Ranier, is most known for giving Davey Allison and Tony Stewart their first big rides in NASCAR. More recently under Chip Ganassi, Ranier helped guide the racing careers of MMI clients Jamie McMurray, David Stremme and Reed Sorenson.

"I've known the Ranier family for a long time and have always respected "their contributions to the sport," said Agajanian, Lorin grew up in "the sport and has the unique ability to discover and cultivate talent, "making him a great fit for MMI."

ABOUT MMI Motorsports Management International is at the forefront of motorsports representation and promotion. With origins dating back over a half century ago, MMI and its premier client management team work across all facets of motorsports, offering full-service expertise in Driver Management, Driver Development, and Motorsports Consulting to an unrivaled client roster.

-source: mmi