Winston Kelley
MODERATOR – Winston Kelley is the executive director of the highly anticipated National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Hall of Fame. Formerly vice president of economic and business development for Duke Energy Carolinas, Kelley brings with him a wealth of public sector experience, a lifelong background in NASCAR and an immense enthusiasm for the sport
Born into a racing family, Kelley’s passion for NASCAR began over 40 years ago when he attended his first race — the 1964 Daytona 500. His father, Earl Kelley, served as a public relations director for the Charlotte Motor Speedway and was also a pioneer public address announcer and member of the Universal Racing Network broadcast team. Kelley attained one of his lifelong dreams when he became a member of the Motor Racing Network (MRN) radio broadcasting team in 1988. To this day, he still reports and serves as MRN Radio’s lead pit reporter. His background also includes working as a race statistician for the Universal Racing Network and a public address announcer for numerous speedways including North Wilkesboro Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Kelley also served as field reporter for NASCAR This Morning on Fox Sports Net from 2001 to 2004.
Kelley is especially grateful for the open access the NASCAR owners, drivers and team members have provided him and cherishes the strong relationships he has developed and maintained within the NASCAR community and fan base over the years. He was a member of the Charlotte NASCAR Hall of Fame team that helped secure what he and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority will strive to make Charlotte’s signature tourist attraction.
A true NASCAR enthusiast, Kelley also possesses an extensive managerial track record with Duke Energy Carolinas that spans 27 years. Kelley joined the company in 1979 and after a series of promotions was named vice president of business and community relations in 2002. He then moved on to additional vice president roles in government and business relations in 2003 and economic and business development in April of 2006. Kelley and his team contributed to significantly increasing company growth, jobs, investment and electric revenues in the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina. He also managed the company’s competitive choice and territorial assignment activities as well as relationships with Catawba Nuclear Station co-owners and wholesale customers within Duke Energy’s North and South Carolina franchised electric service territory.
As the NASCAR Hall of Fame complex is now under construction Kelley and the NASCAR Hall of Fame team are working on script development and finalizing exhibit design, construction, artifact acquisition, partnership development, NASCAR Industry and Charlotte community outreach, and longer range operational planning.
In addition to his position as NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director, Kelley serves the Charlotte community through a number of civic organizations. Among many, he currently participates on the Charlotte Regional Partnership board of directors, UNC-Charlotte’s Belk College of Business Sports Advisory Council, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce board of advisors, North Carolina Motorsports Foundation board of directors, 600 Festival Executive Committee and board of directors, North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center Advisory Board and Governor’s Motorsports Advisory Council, Wingate University School of Graduate and Adult Education Advisory Council and Classroom Central Advisory Council. Other past activities include serving on Charlotte Center City Partners Executive Committee and board of directors, Classroom Central’s board of directors, Charlotte Research Institute’s board of directors, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce board of directors and executive committee, Union County Arts Council board of directors, the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors and Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Chester County Communities in Schools boards of directors.
Kelley graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in business management and economics. A native of Concord, North Carolina, Kelley currently resides in Charlotte.
