DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta announced Monday that IMSA President Scott Atherton has been named Grand Marshal for next week’s 22nd annual Motul Petit Le Mans.

Atherton recently announced his plans to retire at the end of this year, ending a professional motorsports career that has spanned nearly 35 years.

Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta’s 10-hour endurance race takes the green flag on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12:05 p.m. EDT. The 12th round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will also mark the end of IMSA’s 50th Anniversary season.

The 50th Anniversary celebration has centered around four cornerstones – “Drivers and Teams,” “Tracks,” “Manufacturers” and “Fans.” The Motul Petit Le Mans event features a celebration of the fans and what they have meant to IMSA throughout its 50 years.

“Scott has been an instrumental partner in the growth of the Motul Petit Le Mans and the ongoing development of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, including the new Michelin Tower,” MRRA President and General Manager Geoff Lee said. “We are excited to have him serve as this year’s Grand Marshal as we thank him for all that he has done for both this iconic race and IMSA.”

Atherton served as President and CEO of Panoz Motor Sports Group for many years. He then co-led the American Le Mans Series through the merger with the Grand American Road Racing Ass’n under the IMSA banner in 2014, before assuming his current role.