Veteran sports executive Erik Moses was named the president of Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday (Aug. 22), making him the first Black president of a NASCAR track.

Prior to the announcement, Moses served as the president of the XFL’s DC Defenders during the 2019-2020 season. In addition, he was Senior Vice President at Events DC for more than a decade, the CEO of DC Sports & Entertainment Commission, and Director of D.C. Department of Small & Local Business Development.

In this new role, Moses will oversee activities on the speedway, which had been closed to NASCAR races since 2011, says The Grio.

“I am excited to join the team at Dover Motorsports to lead the reopening of the Nashville Superspeedway and bring the excitement of Cup Series racing to Middle Tennessee,” Moses said. “I have long admired NASCAR for its commitment to the fan experience and am thrilled to have the opportunity to create the optimal race day experience that NASCAR fans deserve in a market that has such a rich history with the sport.”

Nashville Superspeedway is a 1.33-mile concrete track surrounded by 700 acres in Lebanon, Tennessee. Owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc., the track will reopen June 2021.

“We are very excited and fortunate to hire an outstanding leader and executive such as Erik, who has tremendous experience in all areas of sports, events and live entertainment,” said Mike Tatoian, executive vice president and COO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “Erik’s addition to our company and the outstanding reputation he has in the industry punctuates our commitment to revitalizing Nashville Superspeedway and serving the Middle Tennessee community.”

As conversations about race now swarm racing, the timing of Moses’ hiring is ideal. Despite that, the University of North Carolina and Duke University School of Law graduate is excited to make the speedway a premier destination for fans.

“Nashville is one of the hottest markets for sports, entertainment and live events in the entire country,” said Moses. “I look forward to working with local stakeholders and partners to leverage that momentum to establish the superspeedway as a premier live events venue serving the greater Nashville region.”