Jim Michaelian to step down as CEO, president of Grand Prix of Long Beach

Jim Michaelian, the longtime leader of the Grand Prix of Long Beach for the past quarter-century, will step down from that role after this year’s race, the association in charge of the annual three-day event announced on Thursday morning, Jan. 15.

Michaelian’s last day as president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach will be June 30. He will be succeeded by Jim Liaw, the former general manager of  Performance Racing Industry, which hosts the largest annual motorsports trade show in the world, the GPALB said in a press release.

For the Grand Prix, the leadership change represents the end of an era.

Michaelian, 82, has been involved in the Grand Prix of Long Beach since its inception in 1975. He saw it grow from a modest curiosity — with some people initially calling founder Chris Pook’s idea for a Long Beach street race “crazy” — to an iconic motorsports event that draws around 200,000 people annually and is widely considered the second-most prestigious IndyCar Series race, behind only the Indianapolis 500.

Under his leadership, the Grand Prix became Long Beach’s biggest annual party, enjoyable for everyone from casual fans to diehard motorsports lovers — and even the competitors. He also led the event through some challenging times, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, and got to celebrate his accomplishments last year during the 50th anniversary of the Grand Prix. Ahead of the golden anniversary, he was inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame outside the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

Michaelian has also helped grow the Grand Prix’s audience. For the past several years since the pandemic, the event’s attendance numbers have increased annually — with the 2025 weekend brining in a record 197,000 visitors.

The race, since its founding, has also become a crucial cornerstone of the local and regional economy. In 2024, the event generated about $100 million worth of economic impact in Southern California.

“Leading the Grand Prix Association and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Michaelian said in a statement. “This event and this community mean a great deal to me, and I’m proud of what our team has built together. Coming off our very successful 50th celebration, I feel this is the right time to make this transition.

“For 50 years,” he added, “I have been given the unique opportunity to merge my passion for motorsports with involvement with the longest-running street race in America, which has been a distinct privilege.”

After this year’s Grand Prix, the GPALB said, Michaelian will transition into a new role with Penske Entertainment, which acquired the Long Beach street race in November 2024. It’s unclear what that role will be.

His successor, meanwhile, has plenty of motorsports industry experience, the association said in its press release, from his former role as general manager of Performance Racing Industry. PRI, the GPALB press release said, advocates for the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses.

Liaw is also a cofounder of Formula Drift, alongside Ryan Sage, and previously served as its president.

“He and Sage were the first to take the unknown motorsport of drifting out of Japan and introduce it to America,” the press release said, “eventually making it the global benchmark for professional drifting. Formula Drift’s invitational ‘Super Drift Challenge’ has been a fixture at the Grand Prix since 2005.”

Liaw’s programs, the press release said, have helped introduce younger audiences to motorsports — something Grand Prix of Long Beach organizers have had their sights on for years.

“I’m honored to join the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach and to help lead one of the most recognized and respected events in motorsports,” Liaw said. “The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is incredibly meaningful to me – it was the first major race I ever attended nearly 30 years ago, and it helped spark a lifelong connection to motorsports. I’m excited to be part of this iconic race and to help shape its future for generations to come.”

Liaw will take on the temporary role of general manager for the upcoming Grand Prix of Long Beach, the press release said — working closely with Michaelian to throughout race weekend to make sure the leadership transition goes smoothly.

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