NASCAR CEO and chairman Jim France, the son of the man who founded the league nearly 80 years ago, is relinquishing his role as CEO and being replaced by current NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell, according to multiple industry sources. O’Donnell will become the first non-France family member to lead the most popular form of motorsport in the United States.
NASCAR is also promoting Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew, to chief operating officer from his current position as executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer, those sources said. The moves will be announced this weekend.
Naming O’Donnell CEO represents a seismic departure for NASCAR, which was founded by the France family in 1948 and has since always had a family member in the top day-to-day role. O’Donnell was named NASCAR president last year and is celebrating his 30th anniversary with the company.
France, 81, remains as NASCAR’s chairman, and his 54 percent ownership stake in NASCAR is unchanged. The other 46 percent of the company is owned by his niece, Lesa France Kennedy, Ben Kennedy’s mom.
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