Thursday 5th June 2014

John M. Bishop (87), co-founder of the International Motor Sports Association that has developed into the premier sanctioning body for sports car racing in North America, died. Bishop and his late wife Peggy launched the IMSA in 1969 when NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. called him to discuss the need for such an organization. Bishop at the time was serving as executive director of the Sports Car Club of America, a role from which played an influential role in developing sports car racing in America but from which he resigned that same year. He spearheaded the launch of the inaugural IMSA GT Championship in 1971, bringing major sponsors and manufacturers on board and organizing new events while successfully integrating existing prestige races at Daytona and Sebring. After building up the IMSA but facing some health issues, Bishop sold the body in 1989 to the organizers of the St. Petersburg race, but remained involved in the American sports car racing scene. He served as a Grand-Am commissioner and lived to see that series merge with the American Le Mans Series into the United SportsCar Championship that now runs under the auspices of the IMSA.