Balash, Auton, Little Promoted By NASCAR

NASCAR Nationwide Series Director Joe Balash and Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton are the beneficiaries of pre-holiday promotions today.

 

Auton has been named by the sanctioning body to head-up the NASCAR Nationwide Series, effective immediately. been a part of the NASCAR scene for decades. He is the son of longtime NASCAR official Robert "Hoot" Auton, who oversaw events from the short tracks to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for more than 37 years prior to his passing in February of 2009.

 

NASCAR's Wayne Auton

Auton replaces Balash, who has served as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Director since 2004. He will assume a new role as International Competition Liaison, serving as NASCAR’s point of contact for competition-related matters on the NASCAR Toyota Mexico Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the Euro Racecar NASCAR Touring Series and other international series with which NASCAR may be involved and/or considering involvement.

Former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor Chad Little will replace Auton at the helm of the Camping World Truck Series, after heading the NASCAR Mexico and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours in recent seasons. Little won six races in what is now the NASCAR Nationwide Series between 1992 and 2002, with a top championship finish of second in 1995. He also made 217 career Sprint Cup Series starts over a 16-year career, driving for car owners Chuck Little, Cale Yarborough, Harry Melling, Greg Pollex and Jack Roush.

“We recently completed a thorough, strategic review of all of our racing series and believe the changes we’re announcing today will further strengthen our overall racing and offer us the best opportunity for growth,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Joe (Balash) is terrific at building relationships with track operators, sponsors and other key stakeholders, and he will be an excellent fit in his new role. I’m also pleased our system allowed us to promote our talent up the ranks, as is the case with Wayne (Auton), Chad (Little) and Brad (Moran). I think this shows that we have a great deal of depth in our series director leadership roles and these moves reflect that depth and versatility.”

George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president regional and touring, highlighted the fact that these moves will aid NASCAR as it continues to focus on expanding its reach beyond the United States.

“Our sport is ever-evolving and we plan to grow in regions of the world where an increasingly strong appetite exists for NASCAR racing,” said Silbermann. “Joe (Balash) certainly will help us achieve our international goals which not only include conducting our existing series at a best-in-class level but also attracting new partners for global exhibitions and/or series.”