In a high-profile move that will draw attention around sports, NASCAR owners Jim France and Lesa France Kennedy have promoted President Steve Phelps to the newly created position of commissioner, making him the first person in company history to hold that title.
In turn, the Frances are elevating Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell as Phelps’ successor, making him only the sixth person to ever hold the title of president since NASCAR was founded in 1948.
The moves will be made this morning.
“We’re obviously in a very different spot than where we were when he took over as president of the sport, which is a testament to what he’s done and it’s put us in a position to really succeed,” O’Donnell said of Phelps, who became president in 2018. “We’ve got a great relationship working together, and that’s a testament not only to what Steve has done internally but the industry as well.”
Since Phelps took over in 2018, NASCAR has re-invented itself in many ways and had to face increasing competition, but while maintaining its status as the No. 1 motorsport in America by most key metrics.
Jim France remains chairman and CEO, while Lesa France Kennedy remains executive vice chair and family scion Ben Kennedy remains an executive vice president.
For Phelps, the move will allow him to take a more big-picture role at NASCAR and optically be on a more level playing field with stick-and-ball leaders like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The move also allows O’Donnell to run day-to-day operations, something he had already been preparing for over the last year by taking on an increasing number of direct reports who had reported to Phelps.
