NASCAR has appointed current chief operating officer Steve Phelps as its new president, replacing Brent Dewar.

Phelps will officially take over as president on October 1 after Dewar chose to step down from the role which he took over in July last year.

Dewar will, however, remain with NASCAR before “transitioning to a senior consulting and advisory role” in 2019, according to a statement from the organisation.

Phelps will report to Jim France, who is NASCAR’s interim chairman and chief executive officer after Brian France took indefinite leave last month over an arrest for drink driving and possession of a controlled substance.

Having previously worked in senior roles at the NFL and sports marketing agency Wasserman, Phelps joined NASCAR in 2005 and has negotiated agreements on the series’ behalf with companies such as Coca-Cola, Monster Energy, Comcast, and Camping World.

“As a life-long fan of NASCAR, the opportunity to provide league-wide leadership is something I am looking forward to,” said Phelps.

“I am confident that the strong team of leaders here at NASCAR and across the industry will accelerate the necessary changes to grow the sport and engage our passionate fans.”

Jim France said, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Steve Phelps as our leader.

“His passion for NASCAR and proven ability to work with our partners has been unparalleled over the years.

“We thank Brent for his service and leadership to our sport. His energy and vision have been of tremendous benefit to our employees and our industry.”

Phelps joined NASCAR in 2013 and also served as COO before his rise to the presidency.

“It has been a privilege to serve this sport these past five years,” said Dewar.

“NASCAR is a close-knit family and I have been blessed to be part of a great team and industry, working collaboratively to deliver great racing for our fans.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the industry and the France family.”

The NASCAR Cup Series continues with the second Playoff race at Richmond this weekend (September 21-23 local time).

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