Names In The News

PENSKE RACING after the ’06 IRL season is moving its HQs from Reading, Pennsylvania, to the company’s new NASCAR facility in Mooresville, North Carolina. The move will “allow the organization to consolidate its stock-car, Indy-car and sports-car teams in the 424,000-square-foot facility” (Curt Cavin, INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/1).

MARATHON WOMAN: N.Y. Road Runners President & CEO and ING N.Y. Marathon Race Dir MARY WITTENBERG this weekend will become the first female race director of a major international marathon. Wittenberg, a former lawyer who specialized in international trade deals for U.S. banks, joined the Road Runners six years ago, taking a 67% salary cut. Now she is “earning high marks not only for her skill and vision, but for the passion she has for the sport” (Wayne Coffey, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/1).

DENIAL: Chicago-based trainer TIM GROVER “strongly denied” a N.Y. Daily News report that he gave Knicks C EDDY CURRY ephedra to help him lose weight before the ’04-05 season. Grover: “That’s an outrageous lie and if I can find out who started it, my lawyer and I will take them to court” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/1).

HONORED: The SPORTING GOODS INDUSTRY HOF has announced its six newest members to be inducted in May. The inductees are: The Finish Line Chair & CEO ALAN COHEN; late New Era Cap Co. CEO DAVID KOCH; Sports Inc. Chair & CEO DON PFAU; former Germany-based Karstadt Sports Dir for Sports & Toys JOACHIM SCHROEDER; M.J. Soffe CEO JIM SOFFE; and Dick’s Sporting Goods Chair & CEO EDWARD STACK (THE DAILY).

INDY’S FEMALE STARS: The INDIANAPOLIS STAR named NCAA Senior VP/Championships & Education Services JUDITH SWEET the most influential woman in Indianapolis sports. Sweet has the highest-ranking position a woman has held in the NCAA. The industry leaders were judged “by the influence of their position and their performance” (Mark Montieth, INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/30). Others on the list include WNBA Fever F TAMIKA CATCHINGS, IMS Chair MARI HULMAN GEORGE, Fever GM & COO and Pacers Sports & Entertainment Senior VP KELLY KRAUSKOPF and Pacers VP/Team Development KATHRYN JORDAN (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/30).