A Routine NASCAR Executive Move That Might Not Be So Routine
LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JUNE 23: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Joe Gibbs Racing Chief Operating Officer, Michael Guttilla celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 23, 2024 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Getty Images It isn’t unusual to get a press release in the middle of a normal week announcing the hire of an executive for a NASCAR team. These sorts of releases are about as exciting as watching grass grow and get about as much attention.
Such was the case Wednesday when Legacy Motor Club sent out a release about a new president of coming own board with the organization. There was, naturally, the flowery business centric language that accompanies such announcements, corporate speak that needs a translator with an MBA. About how the new executive is Michael Guttilla, a “seasoned leader with over two decades of experience” and and how his “experience within the Toyota racing ecosystem also positions him to maintain and strengthen key manufacturer relationships.
” On the surface this all might appear as little more than a mundane message about a new suit who will occupy a C-level office suite. But there was a reason to raise an eyebrow. You see Michael Guttilla’s most recent tenure came at Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the top teams in NASCAR.
There he served as the COO, the chief operating officer. And his time there was relatively short, having occupied that position since June of 2023. What’s even more eyebrow raising is the timing.
After all, JGR is in the midst of an HR firestorm that has spilled over into the courtroom with departing crew chief Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports. It’s a drama filled tale with allegations of the theft of trade secrets, non-compete clause violations, and includes charges of nepotism, low morale, and internal squabbles in the house that NFL legend Joe Gibbs built. So, could this latest announcement be another chapter?