Steve O'Donnell (NASCAR)

Steve O'Donnell
O'Donnell at Texas Motor Speedway in 2026
President of NASCAR
In office
March 31, 2025 – April 24, 2026
Preceded bySteve Phelps
In office
CEO of NASCAR
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 24, 2026
Preceded byJim France
Personal details
Born (1968-11-03) November 3, 1968
New Jersey, U.S.
EducationRollins College

Steve O'Donnell (born November 3, 1968) is an American motorsports executive. He is CEO of NASCAR.[1]

Early life

O'Donnell was born in New Jersey and was raised in Massachusetts. As a teenager, he and his family lived in Egypt near Cairo.[2][3]

O'Donnell graduated from Rollins College in 1991. He then worked for a communications company before joining the Daytona Cubs and later the Florida Citrus Bowl.[4]

NASCAR

O'Donnell joined NASCAR in 1996 as part of the marketing department. Part of his role involved handing out hats in victory lane and placing sponsor products on the winning car for victory lane ceremonies.[5] He was heavily involved in the planning and promotion of NASCAR's 50th Anniversary celebration in 1998.[6]

O'Donnell was named managing director of Events and Operations  of NASCAR's weekly racing series and his job involved traveling to the many local short tracks.[7] He was soon promoted to Vice President of Racing Operations for the national series.[8]

In 2014, O'Donnell was promoted to Chief Racing Development Officer. He was credited with implementing the NASCAR Playoff System in the top-three series, the creation of stage racing in 2017, and the development of the Next Gen car in 2022.[9]

In March 2022, O'Donnell was named Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR.[10] In March 2025, O'Donnell was promoted to President.[11] In April 2026, O'Donnell was promoted to CEO, the first non-France family member to hold that position in NASCAR.[1]

Personal life

O'Donnell is married. The couple have a son and a daughter.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 Bianchi, Jordan (April 24, 2026). "NASCAR's Jim France exiting CEO role in favor of longtime exec Steve O'Donnell: Sources". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (February 15, 2018). "How I Got Here With Steve O'Donnell". JeffGluck.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Steve O'Donnell on his special connection to an international push". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. July 7, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Rising Star Steve O'Donnell Is The New Voice Of NASCAR". autoweek.com. Autoweek. July 27, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  5. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (February 15, 2018). "How I Got Here With Steve O'Donnell". JeffGluck.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Steve O'Donnell on his special connection to an international push". nascar.com. NASCAR. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  7. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (February 15, 2018). "How I Got Here With Steve O'Donnell". JeffGluck.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Steve O'Donnell on his special connection to an international push". nascar.com. NASCAR. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Steve O'Donnell on his special connection to an international push". nascar.com. NASCAR. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Steve O'Donnell on his special connection to an international push". nascar.com. NASCAR. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Steve Phelps named NASCAR's first-ever Commissioner; Steve O'Donnell elevated to President". nascar.com. NASCAR. March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ Gluck, Jeff (February 15, 2018). "How I Got Here With Steve O'Donnell". JeffGluck.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
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