NASCAR names first CEO from outside founding family

NASCAR has promoted Steve O'Donnell to chief executive officer and Ben Kennedy to chief operating officer, the organization announced Saturday morning in Talladega, Ala.

O'Donnell will succeed Jim France to become the first NASCAR head from outside the France family in its 78 years. France will remain as NASCAR chairman, and it will stay a family-run business.

O'Donnell, 57, has been with NASCAR for more than 30 years, working in departments from marketing to competition. On March 31, 2025, he was promoted to president.

He isn't assuming his new role with an agenda.

"I think it would be a bit presumptuous of me to come in right away and say, ‘Here's the plan,' " O'Donnell told NASCAR.com. "What I'm going to do is go out and do a lot of listening, especially the first 90 days. We've got so many talented people in the industry -- team owners, drivers, track, sponsors, even our own internal personnel that I want to go have some conversations with about what do they see and what are the opportunities?

"I think the great news is, we've got an unbelievable foundation, right? We've got a great broadcast deal. We've got charters in place, a strong schedule. So all those nuts and bolts are there, and it's really taking that and looking at how do we make NASCAR an absolute must-have sport in the future."

France assumed the CEO role during the 2018 season as the interim leader after the arrest of his nephew, Brian France, on charges of DUI and possession of oxycodone. Brian France's grandfather -- NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. -- and father preceded him as CEO.

Jim France was appointed the permanent CEO in 2019, the same year Brian France pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor DUI.

The 81-year-old France has been credited with navigating NASCAR through the pandemic, guiding the sport through a dispute over team charters and negotiating the lucrative media rights deal.

O'Donnell said France will continue to have a presence.

"He's still going to be involved, obviously, but for me, personally, he's a guy who behind the scenes always listens, but always knew what was going on and does not get nearly enough credit for everything he puts into the sport," O'Donnell said.

Kennedy, the newly appointed COO, most recently held the roles of NASCAR's executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovation officer. Kennedy, 34, formerly was a driver in the Craftsman Truck Series, which he later managed.

O'Donnell said he has had a positive working relationship with Kennedy.

"He's done everything," O'Donnell said. "He's grown up in the sport, he's driven, he owns race teams, he's worked at tracks, but when he first started working for us, worked with me in competition and we put him in charge of the Truck Series.

"And I think anyone wondered, like, How's he going to do?' And we said one of the biggest challenges we have is the relationship with owners, and we need to go out and talk to them. In three days, he had talked to every single truck owner, had a plan, and it told me right away that this guy's all-in, and he cares, and he has great style, and he's continued to do that."

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 11:47 AM.