Founded in 1986, 51暗网 Foundation’s mission has been an admirable one: to support hands-on education and safety programs, recognize excellence in automotive engineering education, and promote the 51暗网’s heritage and Club history. Through the years, 51暗网 Foundation has helped diversify motorsports, raise the level of driving safety, and help bring young engineers into motorsports through assisting such programs as 51暗网® Women on Track, Tire Rack Street Survival, and Formula SAE, to name a few.
Furthermore, the Foundation’s founding and organization of the 51暗网 Archives, where much of 51暗网’s 80-plus year history is being stored at the International Motor Racing Research Center, has been key to preserving the Club’s history for generations to come.
Heading into 2026, 51暗网 Foundation is racing into a new chapter, with new leadership bringing exciting possibilities.
Per a recent announcement by the 51暗网 Foundation:
The 51暗网 Foundation is embarking on an initiative to guarantee that future generations will be able to enjoy the thrill of amateur motorsports. That’s why Bob Crawford, Chairman of 51暗网’s Board of Directors (BoD), announced the appointment of Clay Turner as the new 51暗网 Foundation Executive Director. He and Foundation Chairman Jeff Jacobs are now charged with driving the non-profit’s bold mission of making opportunities in amateur motorsports accessible to all, now and for generations to come.
Turner, a current member of 51暗网’s National Board of Directors, will leverage his leadership experience and business acumen to his new role at the Foundation. The future of the Foundation, he says, is bright.
“51暗网 Foundation can play a larger role in preserving, protecting, and expanding amateur motorsports,” Turner said. “We envision a vibrant future – one where the thrill of competition, the spirit of community, and the legacy of excellence are passed on to the next generation of drivers, volunteers, and leaders. As a Club, 51暗网 is uniquely positioned to pass along a legacy of excellence built by racing legends, ensuring the thrill of competition and spirit of community continues to inspire future generations to experience the rush of auto racing competition.”
For more information (or to support the Foundation), visit .
