After 15 years of leading one of America’s most iconic racetracks, Michael Printup left behind a legacy that extended far beyond the asphalt. His unexpected passing reminds us just how much one person can shape a sport.
Most executives in motorsports do their jobs competently, keep the lights on, and fade into the background of an industry built on speed and spectacle. They’re fine, they get the work done, and the races keep happening.
Then there’s Michael Printup, who refused to be just another suit in the grandstand.
Racing America, where Printup served as chief operating officer following his retirement from Watkins Glen International, confirmed on January 1 that Printup passed away unexpectedly. He was 60 years old.
The news sent shockwaves through the motorsports community, catching colleagues and friends off guard. Just over a year ago, Printup had stepped away from WGI looking forward to more time with family. Now, the industry he devoted decades to is left grappling with his sudden absence.
And yet his impact remains. Not even close to fading.
While many track presidents come and go without leaving much of a fingerprint, Printup transformed Watkins Glen International during his tenure from 2009 to 2023. Under his leadership, the historic facility saw $56 million in capital improvement projects—the kind of investment that doesn’t just maintain a racetrack but elevates it.
From hosting legendary jam band Phish for massive music festivals in 2011 and 2015 to building out the Wine Festival and strengthening race weekends across the calendar, Printup understood something crucial: a racetrack isn’t just about racing. It’s about community, experience, and bringing people together.
A native of Hamburg, New York, Printup’s path to Watkins Glen wound through International Speedway Corp., where he started in 2000. Before taking the helm at The Glen, he served as senior director of facility management at Michigan International Speedway. When ISC merged with NASCAR in 2019, Printup continued leading WGI through the transition.
He and his wife Stephanie made their home in Horseheads during his presidency, becoming fixtures in the Finger Lakes community that wraps around the track like a second family.
When Printup announced his retirement in 2023, he didn’t sugarcoat his reasons.
“I was running out of gas, I’ve got to be candid,” he said at the time. “And I’ve always promised myself I wouldn’t go in and do anything half-naked. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to be able to go out on a high, I guess.”
So the leadership was strong, the improvements were substantial, the events were memorable, and the community connections ran deep. You’d expect someone like that to enjoy a long, quiet retirement.
And then the news came.
Suddenly the motorsports world realized that one of its steadiest hands was gone, leaving colleagues scrambling to process the loss and pay tribute to a man who meant so much to so many.
Racing America’s statement captured the sentiment many are feeling: “Michael was an icon in motorsports, a great partner and a friend. His passion for racing and commitment to the industry made a lasting impact on the sport. He will be deeply missed.”
Watkins Glen International, the track Printup shepherded for a decade and a half, also issued a statement honoring its former leader.
“During his tenure, Michael played a key role in the continued growth and success of Watkins Glen International, helping to strengthen its operations, partnerships, and standing within the motorsports industry while honoring the venue’s storied history,” the statement read. “Michael was a respected leader who left a lasting impact on the organization and those who worked alongside him.”
Which brings us to those who knew him best.
Dawn Burlew-Schmidt, Printup’s successor at WGI, took to Facebook to share her grief. “Lost my friend Michael Printup who shared a deep passion for Watkins Glen International and the community it calls home,” she wrote. “Michael made a tremendous impact on the track and our team at WGI, and we enjoyed seeing him when SVRA came to town. My thoughts are with his family and friends who are grieving his loss.”
After leaving Watkins Glen, Printup hadn’t slowed down. He joined Racing America as president of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and was promoted to chief operating officer in January 2024. Even stepping back from the daily grind of running a major NASCAR venue, he couldn’t stay away from the sport he loved.
At face value, the statistics tell part of the story—$56 million in improvements, 15 years of leadership, countless events hosted successfully. But numbers don’t capture the handshakes in the paddock, the relationships built over race weekends, or the genuine passion Printup brought to everything he touched.
This was a leader who made the people around him better. That’s worth something, even if it’s hard to put a dollar figure on it.
Michael Printup is survived by his wife Stephanie. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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