Tony Dean: Winner of the first race ever at Road Atlanta, Can-Am Series. He also stopped Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren (The McLaren’s) 19-win winning streak at this race.

Peter Gregg: Road racing legend won the first IMSA race at Road Atlanta in 1973, as well as the first Trans-Am race at RA. Dominated the late 1970s in his famous No. 59 Porsche.

Kel Carruthers: Australian, Kel Carruthers, turned pro when he was 15 and won championships all over Europe and Australia before coming to the US to do the same. In fact, after a short period of time in the states he managed to finish eighth in the AMA Grand National Championships, winning his first AMA national at Road Atlanta in April of 1971.

Paul Newman: Legendary actor proved he was a real racer, winning four SCCA national championships at Road Atlanta’s Runoffs.

Jim Fitzgerald: Beloved racer who competed in dozens of SCCA races, winning two national championships at the Runoffs. He was killed at the St Petersburg Grand Prix and our Jim Fitzgerald Park at Road Atlanta was named after him.

Al Holbert: Legendary driver won four consecutive years at Road Atlanta.

Geoff Brabham: Won three straight Camel GT races for Nissan in addition to his Can-Am and Super Vee victories.

Yvon Duhamel: (Late 60s-80s): This French Canadian was a top road racer during the
1960s and '70s. He is best remembered as a Kawasaki rider in the early 1970s. Duhamel also had two sons who continued his effort in racing, Miguel (who has raced many times at Road Atlanta) and Mario.

Jim Downing: Atlanta native won seven major events at Road Atlanta and later built and raced his own “Kudzu” chassis. He also was a part of the team that developed the HANS device.

Doc Bundy: Won in five different series at Road Atlanta over a 12-year period.

Gene Felton:  Won numerous races at Road Atlanta in a variety of cars, but the Georgian is best remembered for his Camaros.

James Weaver: In 20 years of racing at Road Atlanta, he scored six major wins.

Rinaldo Capello: Five Petit Le Mans Wins in ten years.

Mat Mladin: The seven-time AMA Pro American Superbike Champion and all-time class winner and pole leader led many laps around Road Atlanta in his motorcycle racing years. The legend just retired after winning his last championship in 2009.

Ben Spies: Turned pro in 2000 and 6 short years later took 3 consecutive AMA Pro American Superbike Championships away from veteran Mat Mladin and several races right here on Road Atlanta turf. In 2009 Spies moved to World Superbike only to get voted Best Rider of the year by Cycle News.

Dave Sloyer: Founder and track designer. Along with partners Earl Walker and Walter Montgomery, he turned Road Atlanta from a dream into reality. >>> More

Charlie Earwood: For over 30 years he officiated at Road Atlanta, earning the respect of every driver.

Dr. Don Panoz: Ownerof Road Atlanta since 1996 who initiated massive revamping of the facility and has brought it to the world renowned road racing course it is today.

Geoff Lee:  Road Atlanta’s current President has made Road Atlanta and the Petit Le Mans the cornerstone event of the American Le Mans Series.

Don & Bill Whittington: Infamous owners and promoters during the 1980s, they also each won a Camel GT race at Road Atlanta.

John Burns: Veteran SCCA official and he served as the track’s pace car driver since it’s opening. Also, Road Atlanta’s Medical Center “Quack Shack” was after him.

Panoz: The iconic front-engine machines of Dr. Panoz shook the racing world, literally.

Kudzu: Home grown weed and race car built by Atlanta’s Jim Downing. Downing named his car after this fast growing plant because it can be described similarly: creeping past the competition, growing fast, overwhelming everything in its path, and covering the field.

Datsun/Nissan: Manufacturer was a key fixture at Road Atlanta from the 1970s thru the early 1990s, and its cars won numerous championships at the Runoffs in the hands of legends such as Bob Sharp, Paul Newman and John Morton.

Audi R8/10: Won Petit Le Mans nine consecutive years.

Porsche 935: Dominated Camel GT racing at Road Atlanta from 1978-82.

Porsche 917/10:  The meanest, nastiest racecar ever to compete at RA. George Follmer drove this car to consecutive Can-Am victories at RA in 1972 and 1973.

First Race (1970) –The legendary Can-Am Series was Road Atlanta’s first major race.

First Petit Le Mans (1998) – Despite its impressive history, Road Atlanta lacked a signature event, until Dr. Don Panoz founded the Petit Le Mans. The race included one of the most spectacular accidents in road racing history, when a Porsche became airborne.

Panoz Purchases Road Atlanta (1996) – Entrepreneur takes over Road Atlanta and brings it to world class status.

The Runoffs (1970-94) –– Road Atlanta’s biggest event for over two decades.

The Can-Am Series (1970-74, 78-84) – Legendary series produced Road Atlanta winners such as George Follmer, Al Unser Jr., Peter Revson, KeKe Rosberg and Alan Jones.

First Time Track Hosts Cycles (1971) – Road Atlanta has always supported two wheels, even from its first years with the AMA race in the early 70s. This included the chance to see a multitude of bikes: 100cc, 125cc, 175cc, 250cc, and open.

Karting Nationals (1972) – First time Road Atlanta held a Karting event was August 31 – September 3.

Bicycles (1990) – Beginning in the early 90s Road Atlanta brought cycling to its facility including the famous Tour de Georgia in 2008.

Paul Newman Wins 1st National Championship (1976) – Paul Newman wins the first of his four national championships driving a Triumph TR6.

Panoz wins Petit Le Mans (1999) – Don Panoz’ namesake race car gives America its first great International sports car racing win in nearly 30 years. Drivers were Geoff Brabham, Andy Wallace and Eric Bernard.

Sebring at Road Atlanta (1974) – The energy crisis forced the cancellation of the 12 Hours of Sebring for the first and only time, thus Road Atlanta’s spring race was renamed “Sebring at Road Atlanta.”

Camel GT Series (1973-92) – Road Atlanta hosted some of the greatest Camel GT races ever during this period.

Gilles Villenueve Wins at RA (1976) – Soon to be Formula One legend Gilles Villenueve wins the first Formula Atlantic race held at Road Atlanta.

First NASCAR race at Road Atlanta (1987) – Darrell Waltrip wins the first NASCAR race ever held at Road Atlanta.

Nissan Day of Destruction (1992) – Nissan’s legendary GTP team destroyed both cars in separate but equally spectacular accidents with Chip Robinson and Geoff Brabham driving.

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First Ferrari 333SP Win (1994) – The new World Sports Car formula was introduced by IMSA, and Jay Cochran gave the Ferrari 333SP its first ever win.

Petit Le Mans Close Finish (2007) – Arguably the most exciting finish in RA history, as Audi drivers Rinaldo Capello and Allen McNish held off Porsche (Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, and Patrick Long) by a margin of less than one second!

Double Header weekends for AMA Superbike events (1998-Present) – The introduction of the Superbike doubleheader format changed professional motorcycle racing with points paying races on both Saturday and Sunday of race week, meaning more fun and excitement for the fans and competitors!