Stellantis has officially named Kevin Kidd as its new North American Motorsports Competition Director, a role that puts him in charge of the company’s racing programs in the NHRA and Ram’s much-anticipated return to the NASCAR Truck Series. The move underscores Stellantis’ renewed push into high-performance motorsports at a time when the automaker is aligning its racing operations with its performance products.
Kidd is no stranger to competition. With over 25 years of experience in NASCAR and engineering leadership, he’s worn many hats—crew chief, race engineer, competition director, and team manager. His career path includes major stints at RFK Racing, where he spent the past decade in leadership roles, as well as time with Dale Earnhardt Inc., Jasper Motorsports, and Evernham Motorsports. Kidd also logged 171 races as a NASCAR Xfinity Series crew chief, notching four wins with three different drivers while working with powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing.
In his new role, Kidd will work directly with Kaulig Racing, Tony Stewart Racing, and Stellantis’ Direct Connection engineering team. He reports to Tom Sacoman, Senior Vice President of SRT Performance Division Operations, and will help drive what Stellantis calls its “Last Tenth” philosophy—pushing engineering and competition strategies to extract that final edge on track.
“The intersection of engineering and competition has always been my passion,” Kidd said. “Stellantis’ innovative approach to motorsports, especially through partnerships like Kaulig Racing, is a unique opportunity to push boundaries and bring fresh thinking to the track.”
Sacoman echoed the confidence in Kidd’s leadership. “Our unconventional approach to competition demands a leader who can think differently, and Kevin is exactly that,” Sacoman explained. “His reputation in racing and ability to lead teams will strengthen our motorsports presence.”
On the academic side, Kidd holds a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech and is currently pursuing an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. His technical background, combined with decades of hands-on experience, gives Stellantis a blend of engineering expertise and business savvy as it reestablishes itself in multiple racing series.
With Kidd at the helm, Stellantis is positioning itself for a strong motorsports revival. From drag racing’s quarter-mile battles to the grit of NASCAR trucks, the company is making it clear that racing is still an essential part of its DNA.
