Jim France has stepped down as CEO of NASCAR, according to multiple reports Friday. The job will go to Steve O’Donnell, a longtime NASCAR executive who was promoted to president in 2025. No official announcement has come as of Friday afternoon, but one is expected over the weekend according to industry insiders.
Also reported Friday is a promotion for another France family member. Ben Kennedy, currently the sport’s executive vice president, is expected to be appointed chief operating officer. Jim France is reportedly staying on board as NASCAR’s chairman and maintaining his 54% ownership stake.
France was first promoted to interim CEO and chairman after his nephew Brian France stepped down in August 2018. The interim tag was later removed from his title, and he served in that capacity up until this year.
Steve O’Donnell first joined NASCAR as a marketing professional in 1996. In 2014 he was named chief racing development officer, followed by promotions to chief operating officer in 2022 and president in 2025.
O’Donnell graduated Rollins College in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Business Administration. After brief professional stints in the Florida sports world, he joined NASCAR ahead of the ’96 season.
NASCAR and the France Family
Jim France’s as NASCAR’s CEO was transformative and consequential. He took the helm of his family’s stock car organization four years into the era of the playoff championship format and saw it through as it transitioned back to a Chase format this year. France was also a key figure in last year’s lawsuit against NASCAR by Cup Series teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The case settled on December 11.
The promotion of Steve O’Donnell to CEO marks the first time the job has been held by anyone outside of NASCAR’s founding France family. Bill France founded the organization in 1948 and stayed on as CEO until 1972, when he passed the role to his son Bill France Jr. Upon younger France’s retirement in 2003, the job was given to a third generation: Brian France. Jim France, son of Bill France Sr. and brother of Bill France Jr., then became fourth in his family to serve as CEO.
Lesa France Kennedy, daughter of Bill France Jr, owns 46% of NASCAR alongside Jim France’s 54%. As of Friday, she is expected to remain in her position as executive vice chair. Her son Ben Kennedy was a former Craftsman Truck Series driver before hanging up his firesuit to follow his family’s path as an executive.
