NASCAR

Frank Kelleher replaces Chip Wile as president of Daytona International Speedway

Zach Dean
The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Daytona International Speedway is getting a new president.

Frank Kelleher, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, has been appointed Speedway president, officials confirmed to The Daytona Beach News-Journal on Tuesday.

Kelleher replaces Chip Wile, who has been promoted to a new role overseeing all 13 NASCAR-owned tracks as Senior Vice President and Chief Track Properties Officer.

Kelleher and Wile will assume their new roles immediately.

“I’m beyond honored,” Kelleher told the News-Journal. “It’s an historic role that represents the most iconic motorsports venue in the world. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”

More:Robin Braig, former president of Daytona International Speedway, dies at 64

FANS FOR THE 500:Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile expects 30,000 fans at Daytona 500

New Smyrna Speedway:Local track is one of 22 tracks featured in NASCAR Advance My Track Challenge

Frank Kelleher has been named the ninth president in Speedway history.

Kelleher, 40, has been in NASCAR for nearly two decades, starting with an internship in 2002. The following year, he took on a full-time role as a marketing coordinator, and has been steadily moving up the ranks.

Most recently, Kelleher oversaw a team responsible for driving both media and partnership sales for NASCAR and its tracks.

Locally, Kelleher helped secure the founding sponsorships to the Speedway’s highly visible injectors, which were installed as part of the $400 million Daytona Rising project that began in 2013.

“Growing up a racer, the Daytona brand means a lot to me,” said Kelleher, who is a two-time national champion with the World Karting Association. “(Racing) is all about our fans … without our fans we’d be nothing. That’s what makes working in motorsports so special. So Day 1, that’s where my head’s at.”

Kelleher, originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, lives in Ormond Beach with his wife, Lauren, and two children. He becomes the Speedway's ninth president.

“For nearly two decades, Frank has demonstrated the ability to foster meaningful relationships and lead critical areas of our business,” said Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice Chairperson. “He is a dedicated member of the greater Daytona Beach community, a true team-builder, and most importantly, he has a deep-rooted passion for motorsports and promoting the fan experience.”

Chip Wile replaced Joie Chitwood III as track president in 2016, holding the position for nearly five years.

Wile replaced Joie Chitwood as track president in 2016, holding the position for nearly five years. Robin Braig, who died in February, was the Speedway’s president from 2002-2010.

“Chip has played a tremendous role in guiding the success of two of our flagship racetracks in Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway,” said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. “Always looking to deliver for our incredible fans, Chip’s constant desire to improve and drive innovation will serve our sport well in this new and important leadership role.” 

Prior to Daytona, Wile was president of Darlington Raceway, spearheading a five-year strategy to reinvent the track experience, including the successful introduction of the now widely celebrated "throwback" race weekend. 

At Daytona, Wile successfully oversaw the promotion and operation of several new events, including the Country 500 in 2016 and a revised Speedweeks this past February which included a triple-header weekend on Daytona’s Road Course.  

Robin Braig, who died in February, was the Speedway’s president from 2002-2010.

“Serving the community of race fans, our industry and the France family as president of Daytona International Speedway has been the greatest honor of my career,” Wile said. “I look forward to working with our team of talented track presidents as we continue to elevate the fan experience and deliver lifetime memories every time someone sets foot on our track properties.”

The Speedway’s next major race weekend is a NASCAR doubleheader Aug. 27-28, featuring the Cup Series' Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Xfinity Series' Wawa 250. 

"I'm a motorsports person," Kelleher added. "This is the industry I've always wanted to work in."