Before Nascar finalizes its new charter deal with its full-time teams, which is still being negotiated, the sanctioning body is making key internal changes.
Nascar will shift around several of its executives, Sports Business Journal first reported. Among the changes are President Steve Phelps taking on greater responsibilities, as well as focus on the sport’s “strategic vision and global expansion of Nascar-owned racing properties.”
Ben Kennedy, a former racer himself and the likely heir-apparent to eventually replace current Nascar CEO Jim France, will switch roles. He will move from being SVP of racing development and strategy to EVP and chief venue and racing innovations officer. The new division will be a combination of the scheduling and facility development groups, putting the two together with Nascar’s consumer strategy division.
Kennedy is the 32-year-old son of Lesa France Kennedy, currently executive vice chair of Nascar. France Kennedy, 63, would potentially take the helm as CEO before her son. He is seen as one of the driving forces to lead many of Nascar’s major shifts over the last few years, including diversifying the schedule.
Tim Clark will become Nascar’s new EVP and chief brand officer. Eric Ryan will be the SVP and chief communications officer, while Nick Rend goes from being managing director of gaming and esports to VP of interactive and emerging platforms.
Each of these decisions is vital as Nascar attempts to show its ability to make major internal shifts before a new charter agreement is sealed. At the same time, the moves show Nascar is willing to make changes and try new things when its new broadcast rights agreement kicks off in 2025, a major year for Nascar that will see Amazon and Turner Sports broadcast Cup Series races.
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Nascar teams want the new charter agreement to provide them a larger piece of the pie when it comes to the significant money from the new broadcast deal. The new seven-year media rights deal with valued at nearly $8 billion, and teams want Nascar to cover a chunk of their expenses. Among the changes team owners are requesting includes permanent charters to help teams secure stability for the future.
One of the most promising prospects in Real Madrid’s famous La Fabrica academy has decided to leave the club according to AS, which cited anonymous sources.
Paulo Iago has been on Madrid’s books since he was a seven-year-old in 2014, and has netted more than 200 goals in the club’s white shirt over the past decade.
The youngster from Rivas, around 12 miles from the center of the Spanish capital, seemed to be progressing at an astonishing rate until an ankle injury complicated his trajectory.
Paulo managed to recover in time for the U17 World Cup in Indonesia, but didn’t enjoy a role with as much prominence as he would have liked as Spain was eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by Germany.
