TALLADEGA, Ala. — Steve O’Donnell wants to bring some fun back to NASCAR, which he calls a “badass American sport.” Introduced as NASCAR’s chief executive officer at Talladega Superspeedway, O’Donnell said he will “make some moves” to return the series to its roots and unite the industry.
Majority owner Jim France stepped down as CEO but remains chairman and keeps his ownership stake. O’Donnell is the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO title. Ben Kennedy, a great-nephew of Bill France Sr. and son of NASCAR executive Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief operating officer.
O’Donnell, who has spent more than 30 years in NASCAR guiding marketing and competition and was named president in March 2025, said he plans to listen to every stakeholder — including fans — and address issues with urgency. “It’s what we have to do each and every day,” he said. “We’ve got to showcase that.”
The leadership change follows a contentious period: Jim France took a hardline stance in 2025 revenue-sharing negotiations, prompting an antitrust lawsuit from Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The parties settled in December, granting teams the permanent charters they sought. During trial testimony, France struggled to recall several topics and required questions to be repeated. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this year after inflammatory texts he sent during the negotiations were revealed.
O’Donnell escaped the turmoil and now faces the task of healing divisions, restoring fan engagement and reinforcing NASCAR’s identity. He vowed to unite the sport and return excitement to the track.