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After 25 years as President of Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte County native Ed Clark will retire following the March 13-15 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR weekend.

“I feel that I have been blessed to have a career that has allowed me to follow my passion for the sport since 1977,” Clark said. “It has truly been a dream come true to work with many of my childhood heroes and many amazing individuals who share my passion.”

Clark, who once lived in Keysville and attended Randolph-Henry High School, began his career in motorsports in 1981 as a member of the public relations department at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Clark’s mother Frances, still lives in Keysville.

“Growing up on a tobacco farm in Virginia, I never dreamed as a boy that I’d have the opportunity to work in this sport for 44 seasons,” Clark said. “I have been privileged to work with and for many amazing people, and I will be forever grateful for how they allowed me to follow and live my dream.

t’s been a true blessing and a wonderful journey.”

Clark said he developed his passion for racing in 1963 when he attended his first race at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Richmond.

“I also remembering covering NASCAR events for The Farmville Herald in high school and the Blacksburg Sun while in college,” he said.

During his time in Atlanta, Clark was overseeing modernization projects, expansion of the speedway’s major event schedule, and increasing Atlanta Motor Speedway’s track rental business, brand awareness, and regional economic impact.

Clark now lives in Peachtree City, GA, with his wife Teresa of 37 years.

Growing up in Charlotte County played a great part in helping Clark as he grew his career.

“I grew up working on our family farm and helping other farmers, especially with harvesting their tobacco crops, and this was instrumental in establishing my work ethic, which I feel has played a major role in gaining the career opportunities I have had,” Clark said.

Marcus Smith, Speedway Motorsports’ president and CEO, spoke of Clark’s passion for the sport.

“His love for motorsports is only outmatched by his desire to exceed the expectations of every race fan. He is admired by his peers in Atlanta and across the motorsports community,” he said.