Jay Frye (IndyCar Photo)
Jay Frye. (IndyCar photo)

IndyCar’s Jay Frye Is Latest Race Industry Week Speaker

Jay Frye, President of the NTT IndyCar Series, has joined the impressive lineup of featured speakers for the 5th Annual Race Industry Week, taking place Monday through Thursday, Dec. 2–5. 

There is no charge to attend. Click here to register.

For more information about Race Industry Week, click here.

Frye’s tenure as president of IndyCar has coincided with many impactful initiatives in essential facets for the sanctioning body of North America’s premier open-wheel series.

Named president in December 2018 after spending the previous three years as IndyCar’s president of competition and operations, Frye has made significant contributions for the commercial and competition sides of the business.

NTT, a Fortune Global 500 global informational technology and communications leader, opened the 2019 season as the new series title sponsor. Frye initiated and consummated this multiyear deal that was pivotal to the future growth of the series. 

2024 featured the successful implementation of the IndyCar hybrid power unit. Highlighted by a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Chevrolet and Honda, the hybrid engine package produced over 800 horsepower and completed a remarkable 94,244 miles after full-field introduction. The record-breaking 2024 season also produced 14 on- track passing records and the fastest pole speed in the 108-year history of the Indianapolis 500. As an indicator of overall series health, 2024 featured 27 full-time starters – matching the record set in 2023.

In May 2019, Frye spearheaded a partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to design the aeroscreen, an industry-changing, total driver cockpit safety solution, which debuted in the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season. The innovative addition to the open-wheel cars proved extremely effective in competition when put to the test. 

In 2016, Frye introduced an effective, rolling five-year plan that serves as a strategic blueprint and assists in cost containment for the teams moving into the future. The impetus for the plan was built around the introduction and successful implementation of the AK-18 universal aero kits in 2018.

That initial five-year plan has extended through the 2026-’28 seasons of the IndyCar Series, where Frye has set up the series to continue to succeed strategically and competitively.

For his accomplishments and leadership, he was recognized by Autosport on its prestigious 2019 Motorsports Power List covering the 50 most powerful people in global motorsport.

Frye joined the company in 2013 as chief revenue officer of Hulman Motorsports and led the combined team of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway sponsorship sales, licensing and account services. 

Prior to joining Hulman & Co., Frye flourished in team management roles in the NASCAR industry. He was vice president and general manager for Red Bull Racing’s NASCAR team (2008-11) and was named 2008 NASCAR Executive of the Year by ESPN and the Kansas City Star. From 1996-2007, Frye was chief executive officer and general manager of MB2 Motorsports, a team he created and built.

Before his executive roles with NASCAR teams, Frye worked at Valvoline Racing, and his extensive sales and marketing experience began with a variety of roles at Anheuser-Busch Inc.

Frye, a native of Rock Island, Ill., graduated with a marketing/education degree from the University of Missouri, where he played tight end and offensive tackle for four years on the Tigers’ football team. He and his wife, Danielle, have two daughters.