NASCAR went outside its offices in 2013 when it named former General Motors executive Brent Dewar as its chief operating officer and then promoted him to president in 2017.
Now it must decide who will be the CEO if Brian France doesn't return from an indefinite leave of absence.
Sure, there are well-respected internal candidates, but could NASCAR recruit from outside its circle again?
Maybe. If NASCAR hires outside of its current staff, it would be the first time it would have an "outsider" as CEO.
But whom could it be? Here are some people who might be outside-the-box-but-good candidates. To be clear, this is just a list made by this author -- it's not a list of people NASCAR is considering -- and it's not a knock against anyone already on the payroll.
Sometimes, though, a fresh face can bring a different perspective. Here are seven people NASCAR should consider for its CEO position, what each would bring and the challenges each could face (listed in alphabetical order):
Zak Brown, chief executive of McLaren Racing
If NASCAR is looking for someone who loves racing (he has 25 career starts in national sports car events) and has knowledge of both the business and competition sides of racing, Brown has been involved in it all as the former chief executive of Just Marketing International and now the current head of McLaren. He is not afraid of bold moves -- hence Fernando Alonso's participation in the Indianapolis 500 and Rolex 24. Like anyone in the business, though, he has those who believe in him and those who don't.
Tom Garfinkel, vice chairman/president/CEO of the Miami Dolphins
Garfinkel once served as executive vice president of Chip Ganassi Racing and he was a co-owner of Hall of Fame Racing, which competed from 2006 to '09. Garfinkel, a former CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, also is heading the group that is trying to get a Formula One race in Miami. While Garfinkel's time in NASCAR could be considered a little underwhelming, the Dolphins have experienced growth in both the business side and ticket sales under Garfinkel.
Robert Niblock, former CEO, Lowe's
No one would know more about the power of marketing in NASCAR than Niblock, whose company has sponsored Jimmie Johnson for his entire career but will leave after this season. It's probably not a coincidence that Niblock also retired in July. He's only 55 years old and has a long list of connections and decades of business savvy, but he obviously doesn't have a deep knowledge of the competition issues. Plus, everyone would wonder if Rick Hendrick would have undue influence on him.
Bea Perez, chief public affairs, communications and stability officer, Coca-Cola
Perez oversees the company's role in sports and entertainment and is credited with building Coca-Cola's relationships as an official NASCAR sponsor. From the Olympics to World Cup to American Idol, the universally well-respected Perez has been involved in the sponsorship side in her former role as Coca-Cola's chief marketing officer.
George Pyne, founder, Bruin Sports Capital
Pyne probably is never coming back to NASCAR, but he enjoyed 11 years at NASCAR, rising to the role of chief operating officer until leaving in 2006 for IMG as its president of sports and entertainment. He is well-respected in the sports industry and helped NASCAR navigate its meteoric growth in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
John Skipper, executive chairman of Perform Media and former president of ESPN
Yeah, this might be a stretch, but when looking for someone with knowledge of the media world -- from the board room to how the landscape evolves to being the public face of an organization -- few have Skipper's experience. And he knows a little more about NASCAR than you might think.
Doug Yates, president and CEO, Roush Yates Racing
OK, he's not really an outsider considering he's in the garage each week. But of anyone who is in the NASCAR garage on a weekly basis, few are as well-respected and well-liked as Yates. Talk to Yates in the garage, and he has incredible passion for the sport, but he also tries to take a look at the global view. He has been a team owner and obviously still is an engine builder, meaning he understands the costs of competition. You want someone who can build consensus? He got bitter rivals -- his father, Robert, and Jack Roush -- to work together.