TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) 鈥� Steve O鈥橠onnell wants to bring some fun back to NASCAR, which he calls a 鈥渂adass American sport.鈥�
O鈥橠onnell was introduced as the sanctioning body鈥檚 chief executive officer at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday and vowed to 鈥渕ake some moves鈥� that will return the storied racing series to its roots.
鈥淲e lost that in recent years,鈥� O鈥橠onnell said.
Majority owner Jim France stepped down as CEO but will remain NASCAR鈥檚 chairman, and his majority ownership stake will not change.
O鈥橠onnell will become the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO title.
Bill France Sr. founded the racing series in 1948 and always had a family member in the top role. Ben Kennedy, France鈥檚 great-nephew and the son of NASCAR executive Lesa Kennedy France, was promoted to chief operating officer.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to take this thing even further,鈥� Jim France said.
Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR since the 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian.
It marks the second promotion in nearly a year for O鈥橠onnell, who has spent 30-plus years guiding NASCAR鈥檚 marketing and later competition departments. He was named president in March 2025.
France took a in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement, triggering an by Michael Jordan鈥檚 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The sides in December that granted NASCAR teams the permanent charters they had sought.
France struggled to remember several topics during a shaky and needed several questions repeated.
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this year after inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed during the trial.
O鈥橠onnell escaped unscathed and now gets tasked with NASCAR鈥檚 next phase, which he suggested was to make sure everyone knows it鈥檚 a 鈥渂adass American sport.鈥� He vowed to unite the industry, listen to every stakeholder 鈥� including fans 鈥� and address matters with urgency.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what we have to do each and every day,鈥� O鈥橠onnell said. 鈥淲e’ve got to showcase that.鈥�
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