New CEO O'Donnell vows to make 'badass' NASCAR fun again
Published on April 25, 2026.
Steve O'Donnell has been introduced as the new CEO of NASCAR, promising to restore the sport's fun to its roots. This makes him the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO position. Majority owner Jim France will remain NASCAR's chairman and remain with a majority ownership stake. Ben Kennedy, France's great-nephew and son of NASCAR executive Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief operating officer. This follows a controversial period when France's hardline stance in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement led to an antitrust lawsuit by Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
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