A new CEO, a familiar direction for NASCAR

Noting its always-evolving emphasis on growth and innovation, NASCAR announced Saturday major changes to its leadership structure naming Steve O’Donnell as the sport’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Ben Kennedy as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately.

The New Jersey-native O’Donnell, 57, is now the first non-France family member to hold the position of CEO in the 78-year history of the sport and assumes the role from NASCAR Chairman Jim France, who has served as CEO since August, 2018. France will remain NASCAR’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. Lesa France Kennedy will remain Executive Vice Chair and the NASCAR Board of Directors remains unchanged as well.

After serving as a longtime member of NASCAR’s executive team – a 30-year tenure in the sport – O’Donnell now assumes “all strategic and operational leadership for NASCAR, its affiliated racing series and businesses.” He had previously served as the sport’s COO and was named NASCAR president in March, 2025.

Kennedy, 34, a fourth-generation member of NASCAR’s founding France family, will now lead NASCAR’s competition department in addition to his longtime role overseeing “track and event operations, racing innovation, hospitality and venue strategy.”

After coming to the microphone to thank NASCAR employees for their work and forward progress during his tenure, saying he believed, “we have the finest team of people working and running NASCAR that we’ve ever had in our entire history.

Moments later France turned and motioned to O’Donnell, “So Steve, you’ve got the wheel, partner.’’

“I am incredibly proud of the strength and stability we’ve achieved across the sport, which gives me tremendous confidence in our plan to transition leadership to Steve as NASCAR’s next CEO and Ben as COO,” France said in announcing the new roles.

“Together, they represent the future of the sport, and along with our world-class executive team and race team partners in the garage, they will guide NASCAR into its exciting next era.”

O’Donnell certainly brings a wide-reaching resume to his latest leadership role having worked in the sport’s competition, operations and marketing departments “from grassroots racing through the NASCAR Cup Series.’’ In his new role, O’Donnell will continue to lead strategic plans in succession and NASCAR’s next media rights and content distribution deals.

He spoke Saturday about creating a renewed, unified direction

“When we’re at our best as a sport, the teams, the tracks, manufacturers, television partners, OEMs, drivers, we’re all working together and we’re aligned to make each other better,’’ O’Donnell said.

“The first goal that we’ve got is to really unite our industry. I want to create a culture where there’s collaboration, a genuine collaboration, where everybody wins.

“The great news I think for us is we’re not starting from scratch. We’re close to 80 years of building a foundation. We’ve got racing series, not just Cup, but a portfolio of racing series that’s unrivaled in all of motorsports.”

For Kennedy, the increased leadership role seems like a very natural evolution. He has served in multiple positions within the sport and been responsible for several major successful innovations. He will now oversee a wider range of “business and competition-critical functions” including the Competition department. He will continue in his role overseeing the compilation of the sport’s schedule, including the addition of new marquee events such as this summer’s Freeway Insurance 500 street race at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado.

Addressing the room, Kennedy immediately thanked his uncle France and mom, Lesa France Kennedy for the longtime work they have done leading the sport.

“You think about everything this sport has accomplished over the last several years, going to new locations from a schedule perspective, all the work that [Executive Vice President] John Probst and the team have done on the competition side, bringing new cars, thinking about our race portfolio, what the future that is going to bring to the table.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the events and venues team. I think it’s neat to be able to somewhat follow in my mom’s [France Kennedy] footsteps. She was always on the track side of the business, working with International Speedway Corporation.

“We have a great group of people that are second to none in this industry,’’ Kennedy continued. “I think it’s rare that you find people that are truly passionate and care about this sport. We have a lot of that.

“Look forward to the new challenge, rolling up our sleeves and getting back to work.”

As official word of the new leadership became public Saturday, drivers and teams responded with positive feedback.

“It’s great for him, obviously he’s been dedicated to the sport for a long time so for him to be able to step aside and allow Steve O’Donnell and Ben [Kennedy] to fill those roles and bring in new management I feel like was going to happen at some point,’’ Spire Motorsports veteran driver Michael McDowell said shortly after the news came out.

“Honestly I don’t think it changes a whole lot because we were already there a little bit, feel like new titles but I feel comfortable with where the sport’s at and where we’re headed.’’

The ambiance was unmistakable – the press conference room inside Talladega Superspeedway was filled with track presidents, NASCAR employees, industry insiders and team members all curious and optimistic about the sport’s new direction.

“NASCAR has always been an American original,’’ O’Donnell said. “My job, our job, I think all of our jobs, is to make sure that the next generation of fans, wherever they grow up, whatever they do, wherever they come from, whatever makes them unique, knows that this sport belongs to them, not because we changed who we are but because new fans recognize what our core fans have known all along: that we’re a bad-ass American sport.”