O’Donnell leaving IndyCar

C.J. O'Donnell

Following the conclusion of another successful Verizon INDYCAR Series season, Hulman & Company President and CEO Mark Miles announced that C.J. O'Donnell, chief marketing officer of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has decided to leave Hulman Motorsports at the end of the calendar year.

"We've made noteworthy strides at Hulman Motorsports in recent years," Miles said. "Our fan base has grown significantly, and we've seen improvement across all key marketing metrics. I am pleased with our progress and thankful to C.J. for his strong leadership. His passion for the sport, dedication to his team and tireless effort have produced meaningful results."

Since being hired in November 2013, O'Donnell has built a team committed to driving increased fan engagement, adding over 1 million followers to INDYCAR's social platforms and lifting TV viewership by 23 percent. In addition, INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway produced several years of attendance growth, including the sellout of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2016.

"INDYCAR, fueled by our tremendous drivers, teams and sponsors, has experienced five years of steady growth," O'Donnell said. "In a short time, we've ignited new levels of interest in the IndyCar Series and the Indy 500. I am grateful to Mark Miles for this experience and very thankful to my entire team for their dedication and hard work. This project is not complete, but I am encouraged by our progress and proud of what we've accomplished together."

O'Donnell will now focus on a smooth transition for his team. This includes furthering INDYCAR's strategic plans with NBC Sports and assisting in the development of a comprehensive transition strategy for the marketing and communications departments.