Motorsports company also will launch new race team at VIR
RICHMOND – On a day in which Governor Mark R. Warner announced three job expansions representing nearly $1.3 billion in investment and 1,022 new jobs from Northern Virginia to Southside, the Governor announced that ADi Motorsports, a subsidiary of American Detail, Inc., will expand its facility in Halifax County. The company will create 32 new positions to do the fabrication, detail and top and body repair for race cars.
This expansion includes the launch of a new race team in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.
The announcement comes on the same day that Governor Warner announced creation of 860 jobs through an expansion at Micron Technology, Inc., in Manassas, and a $5 million expansion of Framatome ANP in Lynchburg that will create 130 nuclear engineering jobs.
“ADi Motorsports’ expansion in Halifax County is a significant announcement for the region as well as the motorsports industry,” said Governor Warner. “It is exciting to see our Virginia Motorsports Initiative accomplish its purpose of supporting existing industry and promoting motorsports-related jobs. Virginia has a strong cluster of racing venues and motorsports businesses, and I am gratified that ADi Motorsports has chosen to build on the existing assets of Halifax County and VIR.”
American Detail moved to VIR after 15 years of servicing the commercial paint, body and graphics needs of its customers in Greensboro, North Carolina. American Detail moved to VIR to become situated in an area that would allow the company to pursue racing customers and an eventual race team ownership. American Detail founded ADi Motorsports in early 2005 after adding Shawn Bayliff, a former Karting, Sprint Car and Sports Car Club of America champion, to head up itsracing program.
“We are very happy to be a part of what we feel will become a major hotbed for the migration of more race teams,” said Hassel Moran, President, ADi Motorsports. “We look forward to helping those teams with all their needs, as well as demonstrating our racing prowess in the highly competitive and fast-growing sport of sports car racing and the Grand Am Rolex Series. The growth of VIR and the attention to making it a first-class facility makes it the perfect place to continue with our racing business plans.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $50,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds allocated to attract motorsports businesses to the tobacco region. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Program.
“We are so excited about working with ADi on this announcement,” said William Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors. “It is a great opportunity for Halifax County to diversify our economy and expand our motorsports market.”
Mike Eades, Executive Director of the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County stated, “ADi understands that Halifax County is serious about the motorsports industry. The Virginia International Raceway complex provides us with a unique selling point to this booming industry.”