NSCS Tour Director Dane Nissen announced, recently, that 2007 would be his last year at the helm of the series. Nissen and his partner, Blair Aiken, have sold their interest in the series to a group very familiar to NSCS regulars.
Current Chief of Timing and Scoring, Mike Hensen, and his wife, NSCS Administrator Johnna Hensen, have partnered with Rick Rodoni, a longtime fixture in NorCal racing, to run the series starting in 2008.
The Hensens, Nissen’s sister and brother-in-law, have been an integral part of the series since 2005 and will continue in their present roles. Rodoni will act as Tour Director as well as Competition Director.
Rodoni has an extensive background in racing, having served as Competition Director or Chief Steward in Carson City, Roseville, Ukiah, and Altamont, as well as the NorCal Best in the West series and the All-Pro West series. For the past four years, he has served as Crew Chief for NSCS driver Junior Roddy, duties he will relinquish in 2008.
The rulebook is expected to undergo very few changes and a seamless transition is anticipated. Rodoni may be called upon to act as Competition Director as the 2007 season winds down, and the new team is already preparing for the 2008 season. Current marketing partnerships are projected to remain intact for the ’08 season.
“Blair and I are very happy to be able to hand the series off to some very capable people and we hope to see it succeed for many years to come. I’m looking forward to more time with my family and I may even do a little racing myself!” Nissen says.
The Hensens had this to say: "We're very excited about this opportunity. What Dane and Blair have started in the North State Challenge Series Presented by Scottfeild Executive Hotels, we plan to continue to build on."
The 2007 NSCS season reaches the halfway point with the Saturday, July 14th, 100-lap event at Ukiah Speedway.
