- July 14, 2026
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The Daytona International Speedway may be across the state, but the speedway's president, Frank Kelleher, said the area of Sarasota, St. Pete and Tampa is the No. 2 area of ticket account holders for the track.
Kelleher took the opportunity to speak with the Rotary Club of Sarasota during its July 8 meeting, sharing his personal story, the speedway's offerings and answering questions from attendees.
“There's just so many great synergies over here in the area that we like to get over here as often as we can and do events like this with rotaries and the business community, and just check in," he told the Observer.
The Daytona International Speedway is the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR, as well as the 24-hour endurance race Rolex 24 at Daytona.
It also hosts other events, including races of the Automobile Racing Club of America, the Sports Car Club of America and the AMA Supercross Championship.
The speedway, built in 1959 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., was originally operated as a separate company, but was purchased by NASCAR in 2019 at a cost of $2 billion.
Kelleher, 46, is a two-time national champion with the World Karting Association. One championship was actually at the speedway. He said that, having grown up as a race fan, he sees the sport through their lens, but he didn't expect to hold the reigns he currently does.
Originally, he told attendees, he was undecided on whether he wanted to take an internship opportunity he was offered in 2002 in the corporate partnership marketing and sales department of what was then the International Speedway Corporation.
Growing up, he was highly devoted to his family's automotive business in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
“I get asked the key to success, and it's like, I don't know, grow up having to work, grow up having to make sacrifices in your community," he said. "But really looking back, I have such a great appreciation for my childhood and my upbringing, and I learned more behind that counter and changing tires than I did in any college course, and I'm grateful for that experience."
Ultimately, he took the internship and spent 23 years as an employee and the last five years as president.
Kelleher took the opportunity on July 8 to answer questions from Rotary Club members, including whether NASCAR ever plans to become publicly traded.
“Currently, I think being private is the right move, as we can make some bold and dynamic decisions with changing up our racing schedule of where we're racing, being able to invest back in properties..." he said. "Candidly, the street course in Chicago did not make money, and if we needed to pitch that to a board, it never would have happened, but the overall cascading effects kind of outweigh that."
He offered a word on a potential follow-up to the 1990 film "Days of Thunder," starring Tom Cruise, for which the Daytona International Speedway served as a filming location and setting.
Kelleher said producer Jerry Bruckheimer was present during the Rolex 24 and the filming of the film "F1." According to Kelleher, Bruckheimer was "all in," though the logistical challenges of bringing together the different components of a film remained.
“There definitely is interest from Tom Cruise and from the cast to do a reboot of it, which I think would be awesome,” he said.
Kelleher also responded to a question on the death of NASCAR racer Kyle Busch in May. He said the company will honor him during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 29.
“No one will ever fill that void or fill his racing shoes,” he said.
Club President Bob Stobaugh says Kelleher's visit is part of a goal for the club to invite multiple high-profile guests.
He called the visit a fortunate opportunity for him, as he served as the best man at the wedding of Lesa France Kennedy and Bruce Kennedy.
The France family founded NASCAR and remain its owners. Lesa France Kennedy currently serves as executive vice chair of the company, while Bruce Kennedy died in 2007.
“As a result of that serendipitous and wonderful opportunity in my life, I had a chance to really get close with the founding family of NASCAR, and to have Frank here, who knew my friend Bruce, is just a wonderful opportunity," he said.
