DOVER, Del. — Former XFL executive Erik Moses was named president of Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday, becoming the first Black man to hold that title at any NASCAR track.
Moses, 49, will oversee the return of NASCAR Cup Series racing to Middle Tennessee. The 1.33-mile superspeedway, owned and built by Dover International in 2001, closed in 2011 but will open next year, The Tennessean reported. It hosted NASCAR and IndyCar events and is tentatively set to host a NASCAR Series Cup race on June 20, 2021, the newspaper reported.
Moses was president of the XFL’s DC Defenders until the football league folded after the outbreak of the coronavirus. He also supervised the completion and grand opening of Nationals Park, ESPN reported. He also helped develop and organize two annual college football games: the Military Bowl and the AT&T Nation’s Football Classic, NASCAR.com reported.
Excited to join the Dover Motorsports and @NASCAR families. @nashvilleSuperS Erik Moses to head Nashville Superspeedway, becoming first Black track president in NASCAR history https://t.co/qieX1a43MG
— Erik Moses (@NashvilleSSPrez) August 22, 2020
“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 in a statement. “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 is one of the hottest markets for sports, entertainment and live events in the entire country and 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.”
Moses’ connection to Dover Motorsports began when he met Mike Tatoian, the organization’s executive vice president, when the two served on the board of directors for the Military Bowl.
“I think I made a halfway decent impression on (Tatoian) because when he started thinking about having someone lead this effort in Nashville he gave me a call,” Moses told The Tennessean. “I was intrigued because I know people love NASCAR in Middle Tennessee. I think it’s a hot market for it. Nashville has got to be one of the hottest markets in the country right now for all things whether it’s people moving there, sports entertainment, live events and for companies relocating.”
Moses attended his first NASCAR race in 2019 when he visited Dover International, The Tennessean reported.
Moses is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Duke University School of Law, NASCAR.com reported. He has served as an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s Sports Industry Management Program since 2010.
“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,” Tatoian said in a statement. “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.”
Cox Media Group
