Benjamin Kennedy

 


 

Benjamin_KennedyALUM_40Under40_Logo-white-01.pngBenjamin Kennedy
BSSPM '14 |  Daytona Beach, FL

TITLE:
Senior Vice President, Strategic Development
COMPANY:
NASCAR
INDUSTRY: Entertainment
 


Ben currently serves as SVP, Strategic Development for NASCAR. Under his leadership, NASCAR has experienced tremendous growth, with Ben implementing strategic initiatives to evolve the sport for future generations.

During the pandemic Ben became a catalyst for change, being charged with leading the effort to reconstruct the schedule across all three national series. An effort that included shifting and adding new venues, implementing mid-week races, and scheduling double-headers for the first time in history. Thanks to his leadership, NASCAR became the only sport to complete a full schedule of events in 2020.

Since then, Ben has transformed the NASCAR Cup Series schedule introducing the most dynamic schedule in over five decades. That has included introducing the sport to new venues, new markets, new track configurations, new digital platforms and ultimately, new fans.

Ben is regularly recognized for his leadership, most recently he was Sports Business Journal’s "New Voices Under 30” class, highlighting the sports industry’s most talented and influential figures under the age of 30 years old. Ben also etched his name in the record books in 2012, when he won the very first oval race in NASCAR Whelen Euro Series history at Tours Speedway, just outside of Paris, France. He was awarded Most Popular Driver of the NASCAR K&N Series in 2013.

Ben is an active member and advocate for the NASCAR Foundation. The NASCAR Foundation is a leading charity that works to improve the lives of children who need it most, providing health and medical attention to children in underserved communities. The Foundation has raised nearly 40 million dollars and has assisted more than 1.4 children.


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