Tracey Lesetar-Smith is a longtime senior sports, entertainment, and government affairs executive with over 20 years of experience. She is former Senior Vice President and General Counsel of NASCAR, part of the senior-most C-suite overseeing the league through its historic $4 billion merger, culminating in the addition of twelve massive racetracks to a league portfolio of 8 racing series across 3 continents. Tracey oversaw the reorganization of 50 corporate subsidiaries and was a pivotal decision-maker and crisis manager throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

During her time in NASCAR’s senior management, the league made groundbreaking gains in diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as transforming its business and operations model to usher in a new era of efficiencies and growth investment. Her unique position gave her a deep access to every single division in the sport’s governing body as well as experience helping these divisions fit together, grow, pivot to chase opportunity, and successfully develop their talent and succession planning. Tracey’s expertise played a critical part in NASCAR’s being the first major pro sport returning to action during the global pandemic. She also led Government and Community Affairs for NASCAR, responsible for shepherding NASCAR’s crucial relationships with public officials and community organizations everywhere NASCAR holds races, as well as serving as Chairwoman of NASCAR’s longstanding corporate PAC.

Prior to NASCAR, Tracey was General Counsel and Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Bellator MMA, a ViacomCBS property. As one of the league’s first C-suite leaders, she helped build Bellator to be one of the fiercest and longest-standing competitors in the MMA space, expanding operations into 9 countries, exponentially growing Bellator’s global media rights revenue business, spearheading legalization of MMA in France and New York, and ushering in the first legitimate free agency market for MMA athletes in decades. Tracey was the first woman to serve in this senior role for an MMA promoter in the history of the sport.

Tracey currently enjoys helping growth enterprises build their business operations, develop talent, scale, and strategically plan for long-term growth. She is a graduate of Duke University and the George Washington University Law School.