Dick Berggren

SALISBURY, Mass., Oct. 30 -- Speedway Illustrated Magazine, a leading stock car racing publication for racers and fans, today announced that they have signed a new exclusive four year contract with Dick Berggren, auto racing commentator on FOX TV and the magazine's co-founder. The appointment of Bones Bourcier, Speedway's editor-at-large, to the magazine's editorial board was also announced today. Both announcements were made by Robert Fernald, publisher and CEO of Performance Media LLC, the magazine's parent company.

As part of the new agreement, Dick continues in his role as Executive Editor of Speedway Illustrated where he remains a core member of the editorial board. He will take on an expanded role in the magazine's business development and will concentrate on advertising sales while continuing to write his monthly column and features. Dick will remain with FOX covering NASCAR events under a separate agreement.

It was also announced that Bones Bourcier, Speedway's Editor-at-large and an award-winning writer, was appointed to the magazine's editorial board. Bones will join Dick Berggren, Editor-in-chief Rob Sneddon, Director of Marketing Dave Ferrato, Publisher and CEO Robert Fernald, and VP of Operations Jim Butler, in driving the editorial content and direction of the magazine.

"Speedway is thrilled to have Dick Berggren continue as part of auto racing's most experienced publishing team. He is an icon in stock car racing with well over twenty years of editorial experience covering the sport both in print and on TV," said Fernald. "We are also excited to have an award-winning writer, Bones Bourcier take on a new role as part of the editorial board, helping to realize the future of the magazine. Dick and Bones have the vision, expertise, and access to all the people to bring to our readers the behind-the-scenes stories in a unique way," he added.

Berggren said, "I've got two of the best jobs a racing junkie could hope for. Speedway Illustrated was launched with a directive from its investors that it had to be the best publication in stock car racing. Our team got the message and so apparently did America's racers and fans who have taken to Speedway in impressive numbers. This sport is all about being first, so I like being involved in a project like Speedway where being the best is the goal every day."

"I am pleased and proud to join this board," Bourcier said. "This appointment is an extension of a personal and professional relationship that dates back 15 years to 1988, when I first began writing for Dick Berggren. More recently, I have come to look at Dick and the rest of the Speedway Illustrated family as just that: family. I welcome the opportunity to take a further role in the decision making process at Speedway Illustrated."

Berggren co-founded Speedway Illustrated in 2000, bringing in a complete team of writers, photographers, art, circulation and ad sales people from a competitive auto racing magazine where he served as editor for 22 years. Dick raced sprint cars, stock cars and supermodifieds, earning 26 feature wins. In 2002, Dick was inducted into the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, IA.

Bones Bourcier is one of racing's most recognized writers. He is a two- time winner of the Catlin Award for Journalism, and he wrote Speedway Illustrated's cover story for its premiere issue. Prior to Speedway, Bones was editor of Speedway Scene and Trackside. Bones began writing in 1976 and since then he has won every writing award in the annual Eastern Motor sports Press Association. He has published books on the sport including "True Speed," about Winston Cup Champion Tony Stewart, "Bugsy: The Life and Times of Bugsy Stevens," and "Racing Safely, Living Dangerously" with speed equipment manufacturer Bill Simpson.