Jon Lewis has been involved in professional auto racing for over 20 years. His experience is extensive and diverse as a driver, team owner and marketing director with extensive involvement in IMSA, SCCA, CART, IRL and NASCAR.

 

2008:             American Spirit Racing returns as a single entity to campaign drivers in the Firestone Indy Lights Series.

 

2007:             Formed Team KMA Racing with business partner Ingo Strackerjan of Atlantic Racing Team to enter cars in

                     the Indy Pro Series and Formula BMW USA Championship. In 2007, Lewis and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

                     inductee Sammy Hagar formed American Spirit Holdings, LLC which owns the Indy Pro Series Car #18.

  

2006:             Operated a one-car team in the Formula BMW USA Championship with rookie 

                     driver Scott Schroeder, claiming 5 top-ten finishes. Formed Team KMA

                     Racing with Ingo Strackerjan of Atlantic Racing Team to field cars in the Indy

                     Pro Series and Formula BMW USA Championship in 2007.

 

2005:             Founder of American Spirit Grand Prix, a Formula BMW USA Championship

                     Team. Represents marketing opportunities in NASCAR Nextel Cup, Craftsman

                     Truck and IndyCar. Oversees marketing programs for American Spirit

                     Racing's clients.

 

2004:              Owner, 12 hours of Sebring American Le Mans Series LMP2 prototype

                      winning entry. Vice President of Marketing for Toyota factory-supported,

                      Germain Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

 

2003:              Owner, American Le Mans Series LMP900 prototype team, Riley & Scott /

                      Lincoln. 3rd place in Team Championship.

 

1999-2003:       Exclusive management of the motorsports marketing program for

  AmeriSuites Hotels in the Trans-Am Series, IndyCar and American

  Le Mans Series.

 

2002:               Owner of the #12 Trans-Am Series entry, Jaguar XKR

 

2001:               Owner of the #12 Trans-Am Series entry, Jaguar XKR. First fuel-injected

                       entry to win a Trans-Am event in over a decade. Partner with PDM Racing

    at the Indianapolis 500 (IRL).

 

2000:               Owner of the #12 Trans-Am Series entry, Ford Mustang. Partner with

                       PDM Racing (with AmeriSuites as primary sponsor) at the inaugural

                       IndyCar event at the Kentucky Speedway with rookie driver Sam Hornish,

                       Jr. Organized and led a grassroots marketing effort called the   

                       “Marketing Support Group” to generate promotional assistance for the

    Trans-Am Series, during the change over in management from SCCA to

    PSG.

 

1999:               Owner of the #12 Trans-Am Series entry, Ford Mustang. Beginning of a

                       five year sponsorship with AmeriSuites Hotels.

 

1998:               Owner of the #18 Vector M12 Professional Sports Car Series (GT2)

                       entry. Claimed two podium finishes in 3 races. Vector Aeromotive

                       purchased the racecar from ASR to be utilized as an in-house

                       development program for their technicians.

 

1997:               Owner of a ProSportsCar GT2 race team. Overall management and

                       development of the Vector M12 super car to a purpose built racecar.

                       Member of the FIA World Council.

 

1995-1996:        Director of Marketing for the CART sanctioned North American Touring

                        Car Championship. Design and development of marketing strategies for  

                        the new North American Series.

 

1993-1994:        Owner of a two car IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance race team, with

                        the support of American Honda Motor Company. Sales and management

                        of primary sponsor program with SLICK50 Engine Treatment.

 

1992:                Driver and Team Owner. Participated in three series (IMSA EXXON

                        Supreme Series-Daytona 24 hour GTS, IMSA SuperCar Series and

                        IMSA Barber Saab Pro Series). Managed the marketing and promotional

                        programs for SLICK50 as primary marketing partner in all three series.

 

1990-1992:        Director of Sales & Marketing for National Survival Games, Inc. (NSG,

                        Inc.), the inventor and primary force behind the sport of Paintball Games,

                        which has grown to a billion dollar a year sport. Driver & team manager

     of a three-car IMSA endurance team (American Honda Motor

     Company). 

1989:                Driver, IMSA Camel GT Series (GTP). Marketing coordinator of

                        programs associated with the race operation.

 

1987-1889:        Driver and team owner, IMSA Firestone Firehawk endurance team with

    factory support from Toyota. Founded American Spirit Racing.

 

American Spirit Racing, Inc.(ASR), is a motorsports marketing and race operations management company, based in Cape Coral, Florida. The company was founded in 1987 and incorporated in May of 1993. ASR has been responsible for the management of numerous marketing programs and race operations at various levels of the motor sports world. Jon Lewis’ pro-active philosophy of “Under Promise and Over Deliver”, has established a platform that has resulted in long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with the company’s corporate partners.

 

ASR was a significant force in the promotion of the Trans-Am Series from 1999 to 2002. In 1999, Lewis formed a marketing support group with three other team owners and marketing managers to promote the Series, Teams and Series’ sponsors in the local markets of each race event. This included the organization, implementation, and management of driver autograph sessions at local sports bars, car displays, multi-media exhibits (in-car video display), ticket giveaways, retail promotions, children’s hospital tours, live television and radio call-in shows with Series’ drivers and local news coverage. ASR was instrumental in developing an ever-increasing brand awareness campaign for AmeriSuites Hotels, including network and cable television advertising, Title of the “Running Order” feature shown throughout each race broadcast, Preferred Hotel status of the Trans-Am Series, Title of the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, business to business relationships with the Series and other associated sponsors, and more.

 

In 1995, Lewis was appointed as the Director of Marketing for the newly formed North American Touring Car Championship, after being recognized for his marketing skills from participation in endurance racing events in The United States and Canada. Developed sponsorship and marketing strategies, promotional videos, marketing materials, organized manufacturer meetings and Series’ sponsorships, which helped bring the proposed series into reality in 1996.

 

ASR was instrumental in the procurement and management of SLICK 50’s motorsports marketing campaigns in road racing from 1990-1994, until the company (Petrolon, Inc.) was acquired by Quaker State Oil in 1995.

 

In 1990, Lewis was recognized by his 1989 sponsor in the IMSA Camel GT Series (the inventors of the sport of paintball) as a strong marketing professional, and was hired to direct the National Survival Game’s marketing department. This relationship helped increase the awareness of the sport of Paintball Games to new audiences, which has now become a billion dollar a year business.

 

Jon was the General Manager for several successful automotive dealerships (Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche/Audi, BMW and Mitsubishi) in Vermont, New Hampshire and Florida, respectively. Hobbies include tennis, water skiing and karting.