AP

SHR restructures as Frood leaves NASCAR team for lacrosse

Aug 1, 2022, 4:50 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2022, 4:51 am

Stewart-Haas Racing restructured its leadership department of the NASCAR team to replace president Brett Frood, who was announced as commissioner of the National Lacrosse League on Tuesday.

Frood has been with SHR since Tony Stewart became co-owner of the organization in 2009. He’ll still be an an executive advisor to SHR, as well as the board chairman for all Stewart-related entities.

Brian McKinley will move from vice president of sales to chief commercial officer for SHR, while Greg Zipadelli, who guided Stewart to two of his three Cup championships, was named chief competition officer. Current team co-president Joe Custer will continue his role, and the entire executive team has fiduciary oversight for SHR co-owners Stewart and Gene Haas.

The biggest move is the departure of Frood, who was recruited by Stewart 18 years ago upon Frood’s graduation from Harvard Business School. But he came from the lacrosse world and led Brown to Ivy League titles in 1994 and 1995 as captain of the team that also advanced to the 1994 NCAA Final Four.

“Brett is the type of person that puts 100% effort into any project,” Stewart said. “No job is too big, but no job is beneath him, either. He’s negotiated multi-million dollar contracts and then the next day has stood in the mud at Eldora Speedway to hang sponsor banners.

“I’m lucky to have him and SHR is in a great place because of him. Being commissioner of the National Lacrosse League is a dream job for him. They’re getting one of the most trustworthy, detail-oriented people I’ve ever met.”

Frood called his 14 years at SHR “some of the most satisfying of my professional career” but couldn’t turn down the NLL.

“Becoming commissioner of the National Lacrosse League is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I appreciate the support everyone has provided me at Stewart-Haas Racing as I embark on this new chapter,” Frood said.

Frood will assist with the transition of McKinley, who joined the organization in 2020 and has secured several commercial partnerships for SHR. He previously was the co-head of global partnerships at Feld Entertainment, where he managed more than $40 million worth of partner activation across seven live touring properties.

“Brian McKinley joined SHR two years ago and in his short time here has already made a big impact,” Stewart said. “He’s helped secure new partnerships and made strong bonds with partners who have been a part of our race team for years. Brian has earned this opportunity.”

Zipadelli was Stewart’s crew chief for 10 years, beginning with Stewart’s rookie 1999 season. The duo won the 2002 and 2005 championships for Joe Gibbs Racing before Stewart left for an ownership stake in Haas’ team ahead of the 2009 season.

Stewart hand-picked Zipadelli to lead SHR’s competition department when the team expanded to three cars in 2012.

“Obviously, I think a lot of Greg Zipadelli,” Stewart said. “He brought the same determination that made us so successful together on the racetrack to Stewart-Haas Racing.”

___

More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

SHR restructures as Frood leaves NASCAR team for lacrosse