![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26114727840464-678x381.jpg\" "\\"NASCAR")
\nSteve O’Donnell, shown here at a 2022 NASCAR media event in Charlotte, is the new CEO of NASCAR. (Mike McCarn \/ AP Photo)<\/p>\n
\nSteve O’Donnell, shown here at a 2022 NASCAR media event in Charlotte, is the new CEO of NASCAR. (Mike McCarn \/ AP Photo)<\/p>\n
Talladega, Ala. \u2014 NASCAR majority owner Jim France is stepping down as chief executive and will be replaced by president Steve O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\n
France will remain as NASCAR\u2019s chairman and his majority ownership stake will not change.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Donnell will be the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO title of NASCAR. Bill France Sr. founded the United States\u2019 most popular racing series in 1948 and always had a family member in the top role prior.<\/p>\n
The change was announced at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama on Saturday.<\/p>\n
In his introductory remarks, O\u2019Donnell said he wants to bring some fun back to NASCAR, which he calls a \u201cbadass American sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Donnell vowed to \u201cmake some moves\u201d that will return the storied racing series to its roots.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lost that in recent years,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said.<\/p>\n
Bill France Sr. founded the racing series in 1948 and always had a family member in the top role. Ben Kennedy, France\u2019s great-nephew and the son of NASCAR executive Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief operating officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re going to take this thing even further,\u201d Jim France said.<\/p>\n
Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR since the 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian.<\/p>\n
It marks the second promotion in nearly a year for O\u2019Donnell, who has spent 30-plus years guiding NASCAR\u2019s marketing and later competition departments. He was named president in March 2025.<\/p>\n
Ben Kennedy, France\u2019s great-nephew, was promoted to chief operating officer.<\/p>\n
France took a\u00a0hardline stance<\/a>\u00a0in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement, triggering an\u00a0anti-trust lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0by Michael Jordan\u2019s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The sides\u00a0reached a settlement<\/a>\u00a0in December that granted NASCAR teams the permanent charters they had sought.<\/p>\n France was soft spoken, needed several questions repeated and struggled to remember several topics during his\u00a0first day of testimony<\/a>\u00a0in the anti-trust trial before a stronger second day.<\/p>\n NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this year after inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed during the trial.<\/p>\n O\u2019Donnell escaped unscathed and now gets tasked with NASCAR\u2019s next phase. He vowed to unite the industry, listen to every stakeholder \u2014 including fans \u2014 and address matters with urgency.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what we have to do each and every day,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to showcase that.\u201d<\/p>\n A good example of what O\u2019Donnell may envision took place the following day, when\u00a0 driver Carson Hocevar won the Cup Series race at Talladega.<\/p>\n Hocevar never stops thinking about how he can connect with NASCAR fans, whether through zany social media posts or cheering beside them in the grandstands.<\/p>\n He devised\u00a0a unique way to greet NASCAR Nation<\/a>\u00a0after the first\u00a0Cup Series<\/a>\u00a0win of his career.<\/p>\n During\u00a0a daring victory lap<\/a>\u00a0that bordered on dangerous, Hocevar piloted his No. 77 Chevrolet while hanging out the window. He enthusiastically slammed the car\u2019s roof and saluted the crowd as he rolled down the Talladega Superspeedway frontstretch and performed a burnout.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought, \u2018Man, I have really long legs, and I wonder if I can hit the throttle and sit on the door and ride,\u2019\u201d Hocevar said. \u201cI just wanted them to get as loud as possible. I felt like they would if they could see me seeing them. Hopefully, it was cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Based on the cheers, the thousands in attendance loved the celebration.<\/p>\n Led by its new executive management team, NASCAR was just as eager to christen its newest star at the Alabama track known as the biggest party venue on the circuit.<\/p>\n A 23-year-old who embraces the quintessential Gen Z hallmarks of digital outreach and gaming, Hocevar also has an unvarnished and unapologetically aggressive side that has encouraged comparisons with Dale Earnhardt.<\/p>\n Just like \u201cThe Intimidator,\u201d NASCAR broadcasters have affixed the Spire Motorsports driver with a nickname \u2014 \u201cHurricane Hocevar\u201d \u2014 reflecting\u00a0his willingness to stir up trouble<\/a>\u00a0as he relentlessly chases victories.<\/p>\n O\u2019Donnell sat through Hocevar\u2019s first news conference as a Cup Series winner Sunday and gave a thumbs up to the Portage, Michigan, native for \u201cthe coolest celebration I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n