New CEO Steve O'Donnell vows to unite NASCAR and return the fun
Steve O’Donnell wants to bring some fun back to NASCAR, which he calls a “badass American sport.” O’Donnell was introduced as the sanctioning body’s chief executive officer at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday and vowed to “make some moves” that will return the storied racing series to its roots. Majority owner Jim France stepped down as CEO but will remain NASCAR’s chairman, and his majority ownership stake will not change.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Steve O’Donnell wants to bring some fun back to NASCAR, which he calls a “badass American sport. ” O’Donnell was introduced as the sanctioning body’s chief executive officer at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday and vowed to “make some moves” that will return the storied racing series to its roots.
“We lost that in recent years,” O’Donnell said. Majority owner Jim France stepped down as CEO but will remain NASCAR’s chairman, and his majority ownership stake will not change. O’Donnell will become the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO title.
Bill France Sr. founded the racing series in 1948 and always had a family member in the top role. Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew and the son of NASCAR executive Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief operating officer.
“They’re going to take this thing even further,” Jim France said. Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR since the 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian. It marks the second promotion in nearly a year for O’Donnell, who has spent 30-plus years guiding NASCAR’s marketing and later competition departments.