The North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) and its charitable arm, the North Carolina Motorsports Foundation (NCMF), are proud to announce the appointment of Chad Willis as Executive Director, effective September 15, 2025.
Willis brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in motorsports business, marketing, and stakeholder engagement. His career began with two of the most influential sponsors in NASCAR history, RJ Reynolds and Nextel, where he helped shape brand strategy and fan engagement during
pivotal eras of the sport’s growth. He went on to hold senior roles at Racing Electronics, Sprint, and Pierson Wireless, leading transformative initiatives in sponsorship activation, revenue generation, and digital marketing.
“Chad’s passion for motorsports, strategic mindset, and ability to execute make him the ideal leader to guide NCMA and NCMF into the future,” said Scott Lampe, Vice Chairman of the NCMA Board and President of Hendrick Technical Solutions. “His experience spans every facet of the industry, from sponsorship and marketing to financial oversight and stakeholder engagement. We’re thrilled to welcome him aboard.”
The selection of Willis followed a comprehensive search process led by a committee of NCMA board members and the executive board. The committee reviewed many quality applications and conducted multiple rounds of interviews, ultimately selecting Willis for his alignment with NCMA’s mission, his industry relationships, and his vision for the organization’s future.
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to David Morton and the members of the search committee for their diligence and commitment throughout this process. Their thoughtful evaluation and dedication ensured we found the right leader,” said Scott Lampe.
In his new role, Willis will oversee strategic planning, membership development, fundraising, event execution, and advocacy efforts for both NCMA and NCMF. Leveraging his extensive marketing background, Willis will also lead the development of a robust social media presence for the organization, enhancing engagement with members across platforms. Additionally, he will help drive the future success of the High Performance Expo (HPX) in partnership with Taffy Events, building on the tradeshow’s strong inaugural year and positioning it as a premier event for the motorsports industry in the southeast.
“I’m honored to serve as Executive Director of NCMA and NCMF,” said Willis. “North Carolina is the heart of motorsports in America, and I’m excited to work alongside our members, partners, and board to elevate the industry, expand our impact, and celebrate the legacy and future of racing in this state.”
For more information about NCMA and NCMF, visit www.ncmotorsportsassociation.org, or contact David Morton, Acting Chairman of the Board, at 980-355-1488 or david.morton@53.com.
###