Mark Dyer Steps Down As Motorsports Authentics President & CEO

Dyer Leaves Motorsports Authentics

Motorsports Authentics (MA) President & CEO Mark Dyer surprised the racing world yesterday when he abruptly announced he was leaving the company, effective immediately. Dyer left his position as NASCAR VP/Licensing & Consumer Products in June '07 to run MA and do a full review of the merchandise and licensing company jointly owned by ISC and SMI. Dyer was brought on to turn around the company that had losses of nearly $20M in ’07, and he had spent the last 18 months leading a major restructuring, including layoffs and reducing the number of trackside trailers that sell merchandise at NASCAR events. SMI VP/Business Affairs Don Hawk, an MA Board of Managers member, has been appointed on an interim basis to oversee MA's finances and day-to-day operations while a search for Dyer's replacement is conducted (THE DAILY).

LOSS FOR NASCAR: In Charlotte, David Poole writes, "I do not know why Mark Dyer left his job as president of Motorsports Authentics abruptly on Wednesday, but I do know it would be a very bad thing for NASCAR if he doesn't find some place else to go in the industry." Dyer is "one of those guys race fans don't know a whole lot about but who does a lot of good things for the sport" (THATSRACIN.com, 1/22).