NASCAR Announces Brent Dewar as New COO

NASCAR have announced today a number of executive changes with the headline move coming from auto industry executive Brent Dewar who has become their new Chief Operating Officer.

Dewar will begin his role at NASCAR on January 6, 2014.

The motorsport governing body also revealed that Steve Phelps, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has been promoted to executive vice president, while Steve O’Donnell, senior vice president, racing operations, has also been promoted to executive vice president. The company’s general counsel, Gary Crotty, has been elevated to chief legal officer/general counsel. Mike Helton continues as NASCAR President with continued oversight of all racing operations.

“In Brent Dewar, we will add a seasoned leader with deep experience in the automotive sector, plus intimate knowledge of and passion for NASCAR as well as various other forms of motorsports,” NASCAR’s Chief Executive Officer Brian France said. “Brent brings creativity, drive, intelligence, operational acumen and a clear understanding of our assets and challenges to NASCAR. He’s a leader who’s naturally collaborative, an essential trait as we work more closely with the OEMs, teams, tracks, broadcast partners and others to grow the sport over the next decade.

“Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell have led critical evolutions in key areas of our business over the last several years with great success, and Gary Crotty continues to lead one of the best legal teams in all of sport,” added France. “Their promotions are reflective of their achievements and the increased role they’ll play in 2014 and the years ahead.”

In recent years, Dewar has worked in senior executive consulting roles at GreenOrder, Courland International and most recently has been managing partner at Whitby Advisors, the company through which he has consulted NASCAR on its wide-ranging initiative to transform its Competition model in the areas of governance, rules, deterrence / penalties and officiating / inspection.

“Because of the heavy involvement of technology — and that’s something I’m personally passionate about, technology — it just kind of evolved,” Dewar said. “I could see how committed they were to the change process and what’s going on. How can you say no? It’s a great company and a great brand, and at the end of the day, it’s about racing. I’ve been a fan of all forms of racing since I was about 9.”

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