By Jerry Jordan, Editor
NASCAR’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Global Sales and Marketing Officer, Steve Phelps, is taking on a new role at the company – being named Chief Operating Officer, multiple sources have confirmed to Kickin’ the Tires.
The announcement is expected to come Tuesday afternoon as the transition is being made public to members of the NASCAR staff, sources said. The new position will expand Phelps role and place him all business operations and media, as well as, seeking new sponsorship opportunities and continuing his role in marketing and licensing of the NASCAR brand, among other duties. He will continue to report directly to NASCAR President Brent Dewar, who held the role of COO prior to being promoted to his current position heading the sport.
“Steve has worked passionately over the years to lead the sport and it’s clear his impact is felt in all corners of the industry,” Dewar said.
Phelps previous duties included corporate marketing, brand/consumer marketing, licensing and oversight of the Integrated Marketing and Communications division. He was also instrumental in reacquiring NASCAR’s digital rights, which were controlled since 2001 by Turner Sports and severely limited social media growth and other outreach on the Web.
According to his NASCAR bio, Phelps joined the sport in 2005 and was named Chief Marketing Officer in 2006 and later named Senior Vice-President in 2010. He came to NASCAR from the Wasserman Media Group, where he was the Executive Vice-President. He also served as Vice-President of Corporate Marketing for the National Football League (NFL) from 1990 to 2004, where he focused on sponsor accounts and corporate partnerships with the league.