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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday morning that Doug Boles has been promoted to president of the fabled auto racing track.
Boles now "is responsible for the daily operations and maintenance of the facility, including our three major racing events, the Indianapolis 500, Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP,” Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles said in a statement. “He’ll also oversee exploring other business opportunities for the Speedway.”
The Speedway's new president faces a number of big challenges, most notably saving the MotoGP race and bolstering the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race. The MotoGP and Brickyard 400 have major attendance issues to overcome. Track officials have considered discontinuing the annual MotoGP motorcycle race if its attendance cannot be improved.
Boles, 46, served previously as chief operating officer for IMS, and replaces Jeff Belskus as president. Belskus will serve as president and chief financial officer of Hulman & Co., the Terre Haute-based firm that owns the Speedway and IndyCar Series.
The moves are part of a front-office restructuring that began in December when Mark Miles became CEO of Hulman & Co.
Miles also recently named Derrick Walker as president of competition of the IndyCar Series. Miles hopes to name a president for the series' commercial side later this year.
A Butler University graduate, Boles was a founding partner of Panther Racing, one of the IndyCar Series’ most successful teams, and served as a co-owner and team chief operating officer from 1997 until early 2006.
Before coming to the IMS in late 2010, Boles worked for i3 Worldwide, representing various motorsports-related sponsors including Coca-Cola, while also operating his own private law firm, primarily representing drivers, race teams and sponsors.
In January, Boles was promoted to chief operating office for IMS. He had previously served as vice president of communications and media relations.
Boles also brings civic experience to the Speedway, having served as director of governmental and corporate affairs for Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith from 1992 to 1997. In that position, he spearheaded one of the nation’s first government-led efforts to lure motorsports companies and jobs to a region.
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