Steve O’Donnell, government vice chairman of NASCAR, talks concerning the Subsequent Gen Cup Automobiles that shall be used within the 2022 season through the NASCAR media occasion in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Could 5, 2021.
Mike McCarn/AP
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Mike McCarn/AP
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Steve O’Donnell needs to convey some enjoyable again to NASCAR, which he calls a “badass American sport.”
O’Donnell was launched because the sanctioning physique’s chief government officer at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday and vowed to “make some strikes” that can return the storied racing collection to its roots.
“We misplaced that in recent times,” O’Donnell mentioned.
Majority proprietor Jim France stepped down as CEO however will stay NASCAR’s chairman, and his majority possession stake is not going to change.
O’Donnell will grow to be the primary particular person outdoors the France household to carry the CEO title.
Invoice France Sr. based the racing collection in 1948 and at all times had a member of the family within the prime function. Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew and the son of NASCAR government Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief working officer.
“They’ll take this factor even additional,” Jim France mentioned.
Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR for the reason that 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian.
It marks the second promotion in almost a yr for O’Donnell, who has spent 30-plus years guiding NASCAR’s advertising and later competitors departments. He was named president in March 2025.
France took a hardline stance in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing settlement, triggering an antitrust lawsuit by Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Entrance Row Motorsports. The edges reached a settlement in December that granted NASCAR groups the everlasting charters that they had sought.
France struggled to recollect a number of matters throughout a shaky first day of testimony and wanted a number of questions repeated.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this yr after inflammatory texts he despatched throughout contentious revenue-sharing negotiations have been revealed through the trial.
O’Donnell escaped unscathed and now will get tasked with NASCAR’s subsequent part, which he prompt was to verify everybody is aware of it is a “badass American sport.” He vowed to unite the trade, pay attention to each stakeholder — together with followers — and tackle issues with urgency.
“It is what we’ve got to do every day,” O’Donnell mentioned. “We have got to showcase that.”
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