Chip Wile leaving Darlington
Chip Wile at press conference on Monday April 25, 2015 discussing his promotion to track president at Daytona International Speedway
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
The Lady in Black is losing her main man, as track president Chip Wile announced April 25 that he will leave Darlington Raceway to become president of Daytona International Speedway.
“It’s an honor for me to be selected as the president of Daytona International Speedway. It’s a little bittersweet just because this place means so much to me and my family, and the group here has become family to me,” said Wile at a press conference Monday afternoon.
In two years at Darlington Raceway, Wile launched an initiative to revitalize the historic track by mining NASCAR’s rich history with a throwback campaign, reviving fan interest so strongly that the Bojangles Southern 500 reclaimed the prestigious Labor Day Weekend race date and became one of the 2015 season’s biggest events.
Wile has also worked to integrate Darlington Raceway into the fabric of the community by hosting such popular events as the Speed & Feed BBQ Cook-Off and the July 4 Freedom Fest fireworks and music spectacular.
Daytona International Speedway has seen major upgrades recently, with International Speedway Corporation spending over $400 million to transform the venue into the world’s first motorsports stadium. Wile is understandably excited about the opportunity to lead NASCAR’s premier track.
“I’m going from one historic race track to another, and I’m looking forward to the new challenge,” Wile said. “Daytona just finished their $450 million renovation of the Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona Rising project, and it’s going to be an honor to lead that team into the future.”
Wile said that for the next few months, he will balance obligations to Darlington and Daytona until his successor is hired.
