Race Director University Opens Sponsorship, Advertising, and Regional Training Partnerships for 2026

February 12, 2026

The Nation's First National Certification Program for Race Directors Invites Industry Suppliers and Partners to Reach the Professionals Who Buy Their Products

DeKALB, Ill. (February 12, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Race Director University (www.racedirectoruniversity.com), the nation’s first national certification program for race directors, is opening sponsorship, advertising, and regional training partnership opportunities for 2026. With the endurance events industry generating $650 million in registration revenue across 39,000 events and 12 million participants annually, RDU offers direct access to the professionals who make purchasing decisions for every event on the calendar.

RDU’s audience includes race directors, operations managers, logistics coordinators, timing professionals, medical liaisons, volunteer directors, municipal recreation departments, park districts, and law enforcement liaisons — every professional who touches endurance event production. These are the decision-makers who select timing systems, registration platforms, insurance carriers, safety equipment, security services, medical providers, and course supplies. RDU puts sponsors in front of these buyers year-round.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are built around RDU’s five professional pillars: Liability, Safety, Logistics, Security, and Risk Management. Digital banner advertising is available in vertical, horizontal, half-page, and full-page formats on racedirectoruniversity.com. Sponsors can also align their brand with specific certification programs, the RDU Academy for young professionals ages 15–18, The Professional Race Director Portal, RDU documentary films, and Endurance Sportswire press releases.

Regional Training Partnerships. RDU is scheduling 2–3 day intensive training sessions in cities, counties, and states across the country. Organizations interested in producing their own endurance events receive hands-on professional training from RDU’s certified instructors. Sponsors who host these sessions at their facilities become the local hub for race director education in their market — putting their brand, their space, and their services directly in front of every aspiring and active race professional in the region.

RDU Supplier Directory. Industry suppliers and vendors are invited to join RDU’s Supplier Directory, a vetted resource list available to all RDU-certified professionals. Complimentary listings provide basic company visibility. Exclusivity exists when a supplier becomes a paid subscriber — preferred placement, featured positioning within pillar categories, and priority recommendations to RDU’s growing network of certified race professionals.

“The endurance industry is a $4.8 billion market that is still growing,” said Gregory J. Evans, Founder and CEO of Race Director University. “Every one of those 39,000 events needs timing, registration, insurance, safety equipment, medical support, and security. RDU is where those professionals come to learn, and our sponsors are the first names they see when they’re ready to buy.”

Sponsorship inquiries, advertising rates, regional training partnership proposals, and supplier directory enrollment can be directed to greg@racedirectoruniversity.com or (630) 327-1619.

About Race Director University: Race Director University is the nation’s first national certification program for endurance event professionals. Founded in 2012 by Gregory J. Evans, RDU offers 11 certification programs covering liability, safety, logistics, security, and risk management. Evans brings more than 30 years of experience in endurance event management, served as Chairman of Long Distance Running for the USATF Illinois Association from 1989 to 2022, and holds a Master’s degree in Community Health Education. RDU’s strategic partner Orbiter Inc. provides RFID timing technology for the RDU Academy and certification curriculum.

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Contact: Gregory J. Evans | greg@racedirectoruniversity.com | (630) 327-1619