CONCORD, N.C. — Ben Geisler, who has served as the chief marketing officer for the World Racing Group for more than a decade, is leaving the organization for an opportunity outside of the motorsports industry.
Geisler confirmed the news to SPEED SPORT when reached by phone Friday afternoon.
“In no way was I looking for an opportunity outside of the World of Outlaws,” said Geisler, who has worked for the parent company of the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing for 14 years. “I love the company. I love the brand. I love the people inside the company. I love the sport. I grew up in it. In no way is this any reflection on my level of satisfaction inside the company or where I see the future of the company and the sport.
“I had an opportunity that I kind of decided to look into a little bit that came to me,” Geisler continued. “It’s an opportunity for me to do something that’s outside motorsports that is an opportunity to build something from scratch on my own.
“A number of factors in play led to this being the right time,” Geisler added.
Though he declined to discuss exactly what he’ll be doing once he departs the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing, Geisler said his new job is related to COVID-19.
“It is COVID response related,” Geisler said. “Obviously I feel like the World of Outlaws has been pretty far out front in the sports world in terms of our response (to COVID-19) and our return to racing.
“The same way that opportunity created out of a very difficult situation for our sport, motorsports in general and the World of Outlaws in particular, some of that same opportunity found its way to me. It was not an easy decision,” Geisler added.
“The path that we went on with the World of Outlaws very much led to the path that I’m on now outside of the World of Outlaws. There is a motorsports angle to it even though it’s well outside the world of motorsports.”
Geisler praised World Racing Group CEO and Owner Brian Carter for his leadership within the company.
“I certainly saw myself being with the World of Outlaws for a long, long time. I’m comforted by the fact that I feel like I leave it better than I found it and the company has a great group of leaders. Brian Carter is probably the most underappreciated asset in the world of motorsports. His commitment level to the company, to the people, to the sport is something more and more people start to realize going forward.”
According to a statement issued to SPEED SPORT by officials from the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing, Geisler will continue to work in an advisory role during a transition period.
“After 14 years, a new opportunity outside of the racing industry has led Ben Geisler to step down as Chief Marketing Officer of the World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Racing,” the statement read. “There will be a transition period and he will be available to the company in an advisory capacity. Ben’s effort over the years has driven the organization to build bigger events, attract multiple major entitlement sponsors, engineer a return to live television, rebrand every World of Outlaws and DIRTcar entity, and the expand DIRTVision.
“Most recently Ben has been coordinating the company’s groundbreaking COVID-19 response. His leadership, energy and tireless approach to navigating multiple business units has played an important role in our ongoing Return to Racing campaign.
“We wish Ben much success in his new endeavor.”