VALDOSTA, GA — South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP) has named Don O’Neal as its General Manager, overseeing facility operations, racer and fan experiences, partner development, and event planning. A U.S. Army veteran with broad experience in motorsports and business, O’Neal will also guide SGMP’s shift into a multi-use facility while maintaining drag racing as its core focus. SGMP is gearing up for the return of the NHRA Southern Nationals (May 2026). A main goal is to position SGMP as a regional economic hub for South Georgia and North Florida—boosting tourism, education, and economic growth through year-round events and partnerships.
“SGMP is a special place for racers and fans,” said Don O’Neal, General Manager of SGMP. “Our goal is simple: run efficient shows, improve the racer and fan experience, and build strong community and sponsor partnerships.”
Don combines practical race operations with sponsor and community insight,” said Raul Torres, owner of SGMP. “We’re investing in facility upgrades and a sustainable schedule, and Don will lead that plan with accountability. This is about boosting tourism, educational opportunities, and economic growth for South Georgia and North Florida.
Near‑Term Priorities:
• Operational excellence: on-time programs, improved ingress/egress, safety-first culture.
• Racer and fan experience: improved communication, signage, wayfinding, and hospitality upgrades.
• Multi-purpose programming: concerts, festivals, and car culture events that complement race weekends.
• Regional economic impact: aligning hotels and tourism, developing internship and workforce pipelines, tracking vendor/local-spend, and providing quarterly impact summaries to highlight regional growth.
• Partner and community alignment: tourism, workforce pipelines, measurable sponsor ROI.
