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a~'~,~,4~.~ CHARLOTTE <br />~ MOTOR <br />· ~'*.~',~k~,,~ SPEEDWAY <br /> <br />P~. BOX 600 · CONCORD, NC 28026-0600 · (704) 455.3209 <br /> <br />· CONTACT: <br /> <br />Eddie Gossage <br />Karen Woodruff <br />(704) 455-3209 <br /> <br />-- For Immediate Release <br /> <br />CONCORD, N.C. (June 11, 1992) -- Doug Stafford, president of the Charlotte (N.C.) <br />Convention and Visitors Bureau (CCVB), will leave that post to join Charlotte Motor Speedway <br />effective August 1. <br /> <br /> Stafford has been named as the vice president of development, a newly created <br />position with responsibilities including the speedway's real estate development, governmental <br />and legislative affairs and travel and tourism activities. <br /> <br /> "Doug's achievements since joining the CCVB in 1986 are monumental and have <br />meant a great deal to Charlotte," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president of the speedway. <br />"Doug has proven himself on both the local and state level. He has a Iongtime interest in <br />racing and brings some very valuable skills that will help us in our continued development." <br /> <br /> Under Stafford's leadership the CCVB has grown from a staff of 13 to a fulltime staff <br />of 22, with a current budget of $2.6 million, <br /> <br /> It has also stepped up sports recruitment efforts for the city and has taken an active, <br />more aggressive role in marketing motorsports as a tourism attraction. All efforts which have <br />attracted more businesses, travelers and dollars to the city. <br /> <br /> "Two achievements of the Bureau I am most proud of," said Stafford, "are winning the <br /> prestigious Pinnacle Award (presented by Successful Meetings Magazine, based on votes from <br /> readers, to the Bureau to most successfully market its city) in both 1990 and 1991 and <br /> succeeding in securing the new Convention Center in Charlotte. <br /> <br /> "There is still much to be done at the Bureau, but it is on a good course. Although the <br /> decision to leave was a difficult one, I always knew that I would return to the private sector <br /> and this is tile time to do so. <br /> <br /> "1 grew up around motorsports. My family was involved and my dad often took me <br /> to drag races, stock car races and motorcycle races around Asheville, N.C. <br /> <br /> (more) <br /> <br /> <br />