Doyen Jessica Fickenscher elevated to Charlotte Motor Speedway GM

Article posted by Coliseum, September 2^nd, 2026

Image: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chad Davis, CC BY 2.0 / CMS Photo

The Speedway Motorsports Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marcus Smith announced the promotion of longtime executive Jessica Fickenscher to General Manager (GM) of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina (US) thus elevating one of the company’s most respected leaders to oversee the daily operations at America’s Home for Racing.

Expand Role

‘CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY’ stated that the Charlotte Motor Speedway President Greg Walter will expand his role thus leading external affairs across federal, State, regional, and the local levels for both the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the 19,800-seat North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina (US).

Concord (US)-based the Speedway Motorsports, LLC is an American company that owns and manages the auto racing facilities.

The 95,000-capacity Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.500 mi (2.414 km) quad-oval intermediate speedway in Concord, North Carolina, United States.

Jessica Fickenscher follows the Speedway Motorsports’ Executives Humpy Wheeler, Marcus Smith and Greg Walter as the Charlotte Motor Speedway General Manager.

Remarkable Journey

‘CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY’ further stated that the above announcement marks another milestone in Jessica Fickenscher’s remarkable journey with the Speedway Motorsports which began as an intern at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1997. Over nearly three decades she has worked throughout the organization and touched nearly every facet of the fan experience most recently serving as the Chief Experience Officer for the Speedway Motorsports.

Jessica Fickenscher had served as the Acting General Manager (AGM) since April 2025 thus leading the Charlotte Motor Speedway through one of the venue’s busiest and most successful periods while President Greg Walter recovered from heart transplant surgery.

Enhancing Guest Experience

As the General Manager Fickenscher will oversee the day-to-day operations for the Charlotte Motor Speedway and will continue to enhance the guest experience across the world-class entertainment campus. She will also continue to serve as the senior leadership executive at the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Speedway Children’s Charities

Beyond her operational leadership, Fickenscher has been deeply involved with the Speedway Children’s Charities serving on the nonprofit’s Board of Trustees since 2003 thus helping strengthen the organization’s community impact and advancing its mission of improving the lives of the children in need throughout the region.

‘Incredible Legacy’

Said Fickenscher, “To have the opportunity to lead one of the most iconic sports and entertainment venues in the world is both incredibly humbling and exciting. I’m grateful to Marcus Smith and our leadership team for their confidence in me and I’m especially thankful for the talented teammates who make this place special. Together, we’ll continue creating remarkable experiences for our fans, the partners and the community while building on the incredible legacy that makes the Charlotte Motor Speedway unlike anywhere else in the world.”

Expanded Role

In an expanded role as the President Walter will lead the Government and the community relations and external affairs for the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Motorsports Destinations

Serving as the company’s senior executive voice with the business leaders, the community stakeholders and the Government officials, Walter will lead the strategic advocacy and the educational efforts on behalf of both the speedways across federal, state, regional, and the local levels. He will also continue his service as a Board Member for the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Board and the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Coalition thus promoting the in-State motorsports destinations to visitors from around the world.

Community Leaders

Maintained Walter, “Throughout my career with the Speedway Motorsports I’ve been blessed to meet people across North Carolina who are passionate not only about racing but also what our Speedways are trying to accomplish as the community leaders. I look forward to expanding my community service role while I continue to work with the teammates whom I consider my friends.”

Walter Feat

After joining the Speedway Motorsports in 1999, Walter has spent more than 25 years helping grow the company into one of the United States premier sports and entertainment organizations. Before becoming the President of the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2024, he served six years as the facility’s Executive Vice- President (EVP) and General Manager (GM) following leadership positions with the 71,000-capacity EchoPark Speedway in Georgia (US) and the Speedway Motorsports’ national sales organization. A four-time Speedway Motorsports Promoter of the Year, Walter has long been recognized for his leadership within North Carolina’s tourism, business and the motorsports communities.

Commitment to Fans

Stated Smith, “Greg has always been one of the industry’s strongest relationship builders bringing a blend of credibility, vision and passion to promote motorsports tourism while Jessica has earned the respect of the teammates through her leadership, creativity, relentless work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to our fans. Jessica and Greg each embody what makes our company remarkable – servant leadership, innovation, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. With their combined efforts at Charlotte, North Wilkesboro and across the State the Speedway Motorsports is well-positioned to serve our communities by driving tourism, economic impact and industry growth well into the future.”

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