New CEO Steve O’Donnell vows to unite NASCAR and return the enjoyable : NPR

Steve O’Donnell, govt vp of NASCAR, talks concerning the Next Gen Cup Cars that might be used within the 2022 season throughout the NASCAR media occasion in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

Mike McCarn/AP

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Mike McCarn/AP

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Steve O’Donnell desires to convey some enjoyable again to NASCAR, which he calls a “badass American sport.”

O’Donnell was launched because the sanctioning physique’s chief govt officer at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday and vowed to “make some moves” that may return the storied racing collection to its roots.

“We lost that in recent years,” O’Donnell stated.

Majority proprietor Jim France stepped down as CEO however will stay NASCAR’s chairman, and his majority possession stake won’t change.

O’Donnell will develop into the primary particular person outdoors the France household to carry the CEO title.

Bill France Sr. based the racing collection in 1948 and all the time had a member of the family within the prime function. Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew and the son of NASCAR govt Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief working officer.

“They’re going to take this thing even further,” Jim France stated.

Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR because the 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian.

It marks the second promotion in almost a 12 months 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 Front Row Motorsports. The sides reached a settlement in December that granted NASCAR groups the everlasting charters they’d sought.

France struggled to recollect a number of subjects throughout a shaky first day of testimony and wanted a number of questions repeated.

NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this 12 months after inflammatory texts he despatched throughout contentious revenue-sharing negotiations had been revealed throughout the trial.

O’Donnell escaped unscathed and now will get tasked with NASCAR’s subsequent part, which he steered 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 handle issues with urgency.

“It’s what we have to do each and every day,” O’Donnell stated. “We’ve got to showcase that.”