Penske Entertainment Corporation announced some significant changes to the management structure of INDYCAR before the start of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in less than three weeks. Following the departure of Jay Frye from the organization, J Douglas Boles will serve as both President of INDYCAR alongside his current role as President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Doug Boles brings decades of motorsport experience to his new responsibilities, including being the President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2013. At IMS, he oversaw the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500, the first full-capacity crowd in the event’s storied history. In addition, he’s managed more than $150 million in strategic investment at the Racing Capital of the World, including “Project 100” and significant infrastructure improvements following the acquisition of IMS by Penske Corp.
Across his tenure at IMS, he has been particularly lauded for his promotional prowess and strategic marketing capabilities, growing the Speedway’s global reach and better connecting Indy 500 fans to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. As a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at Panther Racing and as Hulman & Company’s Vice President of Communications, he has worked extensively within the INDYCAR paddock, as well. At Panther Racing, Boles helped lead the team to 15 INDYCAR SERIES race wins and two INDYCAR SERIES championships, in addition to seven INDY NXT by Firestone race wins and a championship. In total, he has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in motorsports, within team operations, sponsorship, marketing, public relations and more.
Penske Entertainment Corporation President and CEO Mark Miles commented on the news saying:
“Doug is the ideal choice to lead both INDYCAR and IMS as we enter a new era of opportunity and visibility. “He’s an exceptional leader and motivator who is appreciated by our fans and respected by our owners, drivers, partners and additional key stakeholders.”
Doug Boles commented saying:
“Racing is in my DNA, and no form of racing resonates more personally and strongly with me than the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. I’m honored to lead the amazing team at INDYCAR, and I truly believe the future is bigger and brighter than ever for our sport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I’m extremely grateful to Mark Miles for this opportunity, and fans can rest assured the hard work is already under way and 2025 will be a fantastic season.
Jay Frye leaves INDYCAR following ten tremendously successful years with the organization and speaking about today’s announcement he said:
“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to be the President of INDYCAR and work alongside the dedicated and talented men and women at INDYCAR and in the INDYCAR paddock. “The growth and success the series has had over the last 10 years would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of the owners, drivers and teams.”
At INDYCAR, Mark Sibla has been named Senior Vice President of INDYCAR Competition and Operations. He has been a senior member of INDYCAR’s management team for more than a decade and will lead workstreams focused on general operations and special initiatives such as development of the new car.
Also at INDYCAR, Kyle Novak begins an enhanced role as Vice President of Officiating and Race Control. In this position he will lead both the Race Control and Race Tech teams at INDYCAR, responsible for ensuring rigorous and equitable enforcement of NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT presented by Firestone competition regulations. Novak has served as INDYCAR’s Race Director since the 2018 season and was elected to the FIA General Assembly in 2022.
In addition, as INDYCAR prepares for new levels of audience exposure through its relationship with FOX Sports, Alex Damron has been named Chief Marketing Officer, charged with fully implementing a maximized and unified promotional plan for the sport. In this role, he will lead the marketing and communications teams at INDYCAR. He will also continue as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Penske Entertainment, responsible for overseeing IMS PR efforts and Penske Entertainment’s photo and editorial operations.
“We’re confident Alex is ready for this opportunity,” Miles said. “He’s played an integral role in our transition to FOX Sports, driving significant work to implement the phenomenal promotional initiatives we’ve already seen, ensuring we can quickly and efficiently leverage new opportunities.”
At IMS, Kissinger steps into the role of General Manager, IMS Operations, leading teams responsible for suite/hospitality sales, track operations and event operations. Kissinger began his career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway serving as a distinguished Orr Fellow, with his most recent role being Director of Event Operations & Experience at IMS.