Lesa Kennedy

Who is Lesa Kennedy?

Lesa France Kennedy, is the chief executive officer of International Speedway Corporation and a member of the board of directors of NASCAR.

Kennedy joined ISC in 1983 and was named to the board of directors one year later. She served as ISC's secretary from 1987–96 and as its treasurer from 1989-96. From that point until April 2003, Kennedy was the company's executive vice president. She was then appointed president of ISC after her father, Bill France, Jr. stepped down. Most recently, Kennedy was named chief executive officer in April 2009.

Kennedy's husband, Dr. Bruce Kennedy, was killed in a plane that crashed into two homes in Sanford, Florida on July 10, 2007. Five people were killed, including two small children.

Kennedy received a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Psychology from Duke University in 1983. In October 2009, Forbes named Kennedy "The Most Powerful Woman in Sports." In 2005, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal named her "The Most Influential Woman in Sports Business."

Other honors include:

"Most Influential Woman in Business" by Volusia Flagler Business Report;

"One of the 10 Secret People Who Will Change The World" by AutoWeek magazine;