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Steve Newmark Has Made the Shift From Auto Racing Executive to North Carolina’s AD-in-Waiting

On Aug. 27, 2025, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Steve Newmark, executive associate athletic director, as Bubba Cunningham's successor; Newmark began working alongside Cunningham this month to prepare for the role.
Recruited from RFK Racing, Newmark moves into a transition role after UNC's July succession plan and discussions with Bubba Cunningham since last summer.
That announcement came as revenue sharing began after the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, allowing up to $20.5 million in Year 1; Newmark will manage a 28-sport program and Smith Center's uncertain future.
Cunningham, 63, will transition into an advisory role focusing on special projects like the Carolina North campus expansion, while framing the hiring as an ongoing, collaborative transition with Steve Newmark.
Newmark said he will spend the coming months evaluating long-term options to generate additional revenues as UNC weighs pro-style deals like naming rights, field sponsorships, or jersey patches permitted by the NCAA last year.

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Steve Newmark has made the shift from auto racing executive to North Carolina's AD-in-waiting

Steve Newmark has shifted from auto racing to the rapidly changing world of college athletics. Newmark had spent 15 years as RFK Racing team president before becoming North Carolina's designated successor to become the school's new athletic director next year.

3 days ago·United States

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