Former NASCAR team owner, Ford exec considering IndyCar

Executives within NASCAR and Ford Motor Company could be in line for senior management positions within Hulman Racing, The Indianapolis Star has learned.

Hulman Racing oversees motor sports activities of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar.

Jay Frye, who has owned or managed at least three Sprint Cup Series teams (all of which failed, or nearly so), is considering a position as chief sales officer.

Frye, who led the MB2, Ginn and Red Bull teams, has spent the past two years working with Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR’s top team, in business development. Years ago, Frye managed Valvoline’s NASCAR account, working out of an office on Hendrick property. Frye considers Rick Hendrick a mentor.

C.J. O’Donnell, the group marketing manager of Ford’s electrification department, would be Hulman Racing’s chief marketing officer if the deal comes together.

O’Donnell previously was the group marketing manager of Ford’s Lincoln division, and he was global marketing director for Jaguar’s Land Rover division.

Neither Frye nor O’Donnell could be reached for comment Friday.

Both positions will report to Mark Miles, the CEO of Hulman & Co., which owns IMS and IndyCar, and they will round out Miles’ direct reports. The other senior officials are Jeff Belskus (president of Hulman & Co.), Derrick Walker (president of IndyCar), Doug Boles (president of IMS), Robby Greene (president of IMS Productions) and Gretchen Snelling (chief legal counsel).

Miles declined to comment Friday on personnel matters, although he said during last weekend’s season-ending race at Auto Club Speedway that he was close to finalizing the sales and marketing positions.

“We’re there," he said. “(It’s) one more (position) than I thought, but I think it makes all the sense in the world, and I’m really happy about it." Indy Star