INDUSTRY: Curtis leaves Michigan International Speedway

Michigan International Speedway president Roger Curtis is leaving his position immediately to pursue other opportunities, International Speedway Corporation announced Tuesday. ISC chief operating officer Joie Chitwood will oversee MIS operations in the interim.

Curtis, an Indiana State University graduate who began working at MIS in 2006, has spent more than 30 years in motorsports administration, including a stint as vice president of sales and marketing at California Speedway, senior director of marketing and sales at Richmond International Raceway and director of marketing and Sales at Watkins Glen International. His notable fan outreach programs at MIS include "Roger's Fantasy Pick 'Em Contest," a weekly fantasy pick 'em contest and podcast, and "Ask the President" sessions.

"We want to thank Roger Curtis for his many years of service with ISC, and the last 10 years, specifically, as the face of Michigan International Speedway," Chitwood said. "We wish him much future success."

In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek named Curtis an "Innovator" for his efforts to bring research and development testing to the Brooklyn, Michigan track, with the hope that opening the speedway to researchers would persuade auto companies to keep their research and development spending in Michigan. Under his watch MIS partnered with the Michigan Department of Transportation and hosted the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition for fuel-efficient vehicles.