NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) is entering a new chapter guided by the vision of owner Kristi Copham, whose commitment to long-term facility growth has been central to the raceway’s evolution since the Copham family purchased the track in 2006.

BIR has announced a strengthened leadership team and a refreshed brand identity, two foundational steps in positioning the facility for its next decade of growth.

Copham’s approach has remained consistent: build on the loyalty and strength of BIR’s long-standing team while bringing in new talent capable of elevating programming, improving operations, and expanding BIR’s reach across multiple motorsports disciplines. Many of BIR’s staff members have been with the raceway for years — some for decades — forming the core group often described internally as “the BIR family.” The recent additions reflect her belief that BIR’s future rests on pairing this deeply rooted foundation with strategic new expertise.

Sara Walker has been promoted into an expanded general manager role, advancing from her position as director of business development. Walker joined BIR one year ago after 17 seasons with the NHRA, beginning in 2007, the year after the Copham family assumed ownership. Her long-standing working relationship with Kristi is rooted in years of shared commitment to strengthening grassroots motorsports and supporting the Sportsman-racing community.

Walker’s experience with NHRA gives her a deep understanding of how grassroots and Sportsman programs are built, sustained, and evolved, knowledge she pairs with a personal background shaped by her family’s involvement in Outlaw Pro Mod racing. That combination gives her a unique perspective on the families BIR serves and the culture that drives the facility forward. She has often said BIR has always felt like home, and this expanded role reflects her alignment with the raceway’s long-term direction.

Michael Morgan has joined BIR as road course & drifting manager, bringing a blend of operational experience and genuine passion for motorsports. Morgan most recently served as operations manager at US Air Motorsports Raceway, where he led drifting, autocross, and road-course programming with a strong emphasis on safety, communication, and participant experience.

His background as a lifelong driver and enthusiast gives him a grounded understanding of what modern road-course and drifting communities are seeking. Morgan’s role at BIR is designed to strengthen these disciplines, complementing Phil Abramson’s leadership on the dragstrip and aligning with the facility’s long-term vision to develop balanced, high-quality programming across all motorsports. As a St. Cloud native, he brings both regional connection and a commitment to the culture that drives BIR forward.

Glenn Van Zee has been promoted to facility & grounds manager, building on his long-standing commitment to BIR’s operations and community. His background combines hands-on facility management with practical motorsports experience, shaped in part by years of managing guest services, property maintenance, and day-to-day operations within the hospitality and powersports industries. That range gives him the steady operational perspective needed as BIR continues modernizing its infrastructure.

A lifelong racer, Van Zee has competed across multiple disciplines and has been immersed in motorsports since childhood, making him deeply connected to the culture that defines the BIR racing family. In this role, he will oversee the care and development of the raceway’s 580-acre facility, strengthening BIR’s ability to maintain and elevate its operations as the venue moves into its next phase of growth.

To complement its leadership growth, BIR is launching a refreshed visual identity that reflects both the facility’s heritage and its trajectory.

BIR has officially retired the long-used stoplight logo. In its place, the raceway is reintroducing a modernized version of its retro “B” logo, a mark rooted in the early 1970s and inspired by the outline of the original Donnybrooke road course. The updated design unifies the raceway’s visual presence across digital platforms, signage, apparel, and upcoming campaigns, bridging BIR’s past with a clear, modern direction for the future.

The brand refresh represents Kristi’s long-held vision to modernize BIR while preserving its soul. It is a continuation of her stewardship: honoring what racers and fans love about the facility and investing responsibly in the improvements needed to support the next generation.

The leadership updates and brand modernization mark the first phase of BIR’s broader long-term strategy led by Copham. Future announcements will detail the rollout of BIR’s new multi-agency marketing structure, expanded drifting initiatives, and program development designed to grow participation across all ages and skill levels.

Brainerd International Raceway moves into the upcoming season with a strengthened team, a unified identity, and a clear vision, anchored by the same family-driven values that have defined the raceway for nearly two decades.