ISC yesterday morning named NASCAR Senior Dir of Competition Communications KERRY THARP President of Darlington Raceway, completing a search that took a few months. Tharp, who worked in the Univ. of South Carolina’s sports information office for two decades before coming to NASCAR in '05, replaces CHIP WILE, who stepped up to the role of President of Daytona Int’l Speedway after JOIE CHITWOOD III was named ISC COO in late April. Tharp has deep relationships throughout the sport, its media and the state of South Carolina. Tharp’s appointment comes at an important time for the track, which is just more than two months away from the second running of its Tradition Returns throwback theme that is now woven into all parts of the race weekend (Adam Stern, Staff Writer). Tharp, who will begin his presidency July 18, said, "Sometimes, life has some twists and turns in it. ... When I first learned of the opportunity, I was kind of like you, ‘Why would I want to do that?’ But very, very quickly, I realized and understood this was going to be a special opportunity." In South Carolina, Scott Chancey noted Tharp will "take on different responsibilities." Tharp: "You’ve got to wear a lot of different hats. And I’m going to be learning on the run. I’ll have to rely on Chip Wile. He’s going to be a real natural resource for me in the days and months ahead. ... This will be kind of new to me. I’ve been on kind of the other side a bit" (Florence MORNING NEWS, 6/30).
