IndyCar Racing
Steve Lauletta Biography
Steve "Jake" Lauletta was named president of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams on July 17, 2007 after a long career in the sports and entertainment industries. Lauletta oversees all aspects of the Chip Ganassi Racing’s business and marketing operations including both its Concord and Indianapolis facilities. He is responsible for the creation and implementation of the company’s overall strategic direction as it relates to sponsorship acquisition and retention, organizational branding and communications and league partnerships.
Lauletta has been instrumental in expanding the global reach of Chip Ganassi Racing by positioning it at the international forefront of American auto racing. His world-wide relationships have proven to be invaluable in marketing the team’s stable of international drivers. He has developed and expanded relationships with companies based in a number of foreign counties, including Argentina, China, Colombia, Dubai, Great Britain and Venezuela. He has also worked diligently to solidify Chip Ganassi’s place in the motorsports world as one of the most diverse and forward-thinking owners as Ganassi’s teams employ 11 different drivers, span five different touring series and represent six different countries.
Formerly the president of Radiate Sports, the sports marketing division of Omnicom’s The Radiate Group, a global network of independently branded, best-in-class marketing service agencies. Lauletta was responsible for Radiate Sports’ overall strategic marketing direction, including leading new sports business development enhancing The Radiate Group’s current clients’ sports marketing initiatives in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
Previous to Radiate, Lauletta enjoyed a successful 11-year career at the Miller Brewing Company. He served in a variety of marketing leadership positions with Miller, most recently as director of sports and event marketing. Lauletta was responsible for the strategic direction and management of Miller’s sports and event marketing. He oversaw the negotiation and administration of Miller’s sports and entertainment sponsorships, including all major professional sports leagues, music venues, and celebrity endorsements. Lauletta began his sports marketing career working for sports agencies in the areas of client management, event production, promotion and athlete representation.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Lauletta was a member of the 2002 and 2003 Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class and was also named to the 2002 Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. Lauletta is frequently called upon by journalists for analysis and context concerning sports marketing issues.
Lauletta is a sought after industry and campus speaker. He has been a speaker and panelist at several major industry conferences, most recently as a panelist on the “State of the Industry” during the 2007 Motor Sports Marketing Forum in New York. He has enjoyed sharing his sports marketing experience as a guest lecturer at the University of Notre Dame, Georgia Tech University, Arizona State University, University of South Carolina, and Marquette University.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Lauletta currently resides in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife. In his free time he enjoys playing golf and running.