- Steve O’Donnell becomes NASCAR’s first CEO from outside France family in 78 years.
- Appointment of Ben Kennedy as COO makes one of youngest exec teams in major sport.
- Jim France remains Chairman and majority owner, ensuring stability while delegating.
For the first time in 78 years, in what is set to be a landmark decision, a France family member will not serve as CEO of NASCAR.
From the days of Bill France Sr. to the modern era, leadership at the top of the sport has rarely strayed beyond that inner circle. That’s what makes this latest development feel different. Jim France, who stepped in during a moment of crisis in 2018, is now reportedly preparing to step aside.
Although France is expected to remain chairman, the move still marks a shift in how the stock car racing giant will operate day to day. With Steve O’Donnell lined up as his successor, NASCAR could be entering a phase where experience and structure matter just as much as family legacy.
Jim France’s quiet tenure ends after years of change and pressure
When Jim France took over from Brian France in 2018, the situation was far from ideal. It wasn’t a long-planned transition; on the contrary, it was a necessary one. And in many ways, he did exactly what was needed at the time: steady the ship.
He was never the loudest voice in the room. In fact, he often avoided the spotlight altogether. But during his tenure, NASCAR quietly pushed through some of its most important changes in years. The introduction of the Next Gen car, for example, was a major step toward leveling the playing field and cutting costs, even if it came with its share of growing pains.
Behind the scenes, France also remained deeply tied to the business side of the sport. As revealed during the 2025 antitrust trial, ownership of NASCAR is split between him and his niece, Lesa France Kennedy, with France holding a 54% stake and Kennedy 46%. That structure remains intact, which is why this move feels more like a shift in leadership style than a change in control.
Still, the last couple of years have been turbulent. The antitrust lawsuit brought forward by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports put NASCAR and France himself under a microscope. Suddenly, the behind-the-scenes leadership style no longer worked. He had to answer questions, defend decisions, and represent the sport publicly.
Same ownership, new regime
It’s not a role France ever seemed fully comfortable in, and it showed at times. The trial didn’t paint NASCAR in the best light. It also brought long-standing tensions to the surface, especially around the charter system, which many team owners felt needed more permanence.
The eventual settlement helped move things in that direction, but it also made clear that the old way of doing business was being challenged.
France, to his credit, never wavered in his connection to the sport itself. Even on the witness stand, he spoke more like a racer than an executive, leaning into his lifelong passion for stock car racing.
At 81, this feels like a natural point for France to step back from the daily grind. Remaining as chairman means he’ll still have influence, especially given the France family’s ownership stake, but the pressure of running the sport day-to-day will shift elsewhere.
Steve O’Donnell Set to Take Over as NASCAR Enters New Phase
NASCAR is expected to make it official this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, with current president Steve O’Donnell set to step into the CEO role.
If O’Donnell does step into the CEO role as expected, it won’t be a leap into the unknown. He’s been around NASCAR for decades, working his way through the organization and becoming one of its most recognizable voices in recent years.
Last year, he officially took over as president, stepping into the role after Steve Phelps moved into a commissioner position, which he eventually left in the aftermath of the lawsuit.
In many ways, O’Donnell already operates like a day-to-day leader. He’s been front and center during rule changes, competition debates, and big-picture decisions. Drivers know him. Teams know him. And fans, even if they don’t always agree with him, know who he is.
At the same time, this is still a break from tradition. For the first time, the CEO role won’t be filled by a direct member of the France family.
Ben Kennedy, France’s great-nephew, is reportedly set to move into a chief operating officer role. At just 34, Kennedy represents the next step in the family’s long-term plan. A former driver, he has grown into one of the key architects behind NASCAR’s schedule and event innovation in recent years.
Kennedy the younger
What’s interesting is how this reshapes NASCAR’s leadership profile compared to other major leagues. NASCAR now goes from having one of the oldest leadership groups to one of the youngest. O’Donnell, at 57, would sit comfortably in the middle compared to peers like Adam Silver (63) of the NBA, the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (67), and Gary Bettman (73) of the National Hockey League.
Meanwhile, Kennedy, at 34, is significantly younger than most top executives across major leagues. Even figures like Stefano Domenicali, who leads Formula One at 60, and Mark Miles, the 72-year-old head of IndyCar, are considerably older than NASCAR’s emerging leadership group.
The real question is what changes, if anything, this brings. NASCAR is still working through a lot right now. The fallout from the lawsuit hasn’t completely disappeared. Teams still want a bigger voice. Fans are always debating the product on track. And the sport, like every major league, is trying to figure out how to grow in a rapidly changing media landscape.
