1on1: Jeff Moorad

Jeff Moorad has been named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in sports eight times by The Sporting News.

He initially earned that distinction as one of the most influential sports agents, negotiating contracts for such standouts as Will Clark, Manny Ramirez, Raul Mondesi, Mo Vaughn and Shawn Green in baseball and Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Warren Moon and Thurman Thomas in football.

In August of 2004, he switched hats and became an owner and general partner in the group that purchased the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. While continuing to help oversee the day-to-day operation of the Diamondbacks, Moorad also teamed with Tom Garfinkel and Tom Davin to head up an ownership group that purchased a controlling interest in Hall of Fame Racing in August of 2007.

Garfinkel talked about Moorad's management philosophy last weekend at Daytona International Speedway, where he and Moorad were on hand to watch the Daytona 500 (their driver, J.J. Yeley, battled engine problems en route to a 25th-place finish).

"He really believes in putting good people in place and letting them do their job," Garfinkel said. "All the people that we have down there [heading up their racing operation in North Carolina], they know what they're doing. We're going to set a vision and a strategy and have things sort of laid out, but you're not going to see Jeff and I with a monocle looking through at a spark plug or standing on the pit box and telling the crew chief to take two or four with 30 laps to go. But we will set a strategy and a vision for the way we want to go about things."

Moorad expanded on his philosophy as an owner and a variety of other topics with NASCAR.COM.

Q: What drew you to NASCAR as an owner?

Moorad: I have a passion for racing and I have a passion for competition. I'm here largely because of Tom Garfinkel [who has wide-ranging experience in the sport], and also because I believe in the NASCAR model. I believe in the opportunities this sport offers. And I believe ultimately that with the right business plan and focus to be determined, and strategic approach, that we can be successful at Hall of Fame Racing.

Q: What is your vision, your strategic plan? What do you plan to do differently than maybe some of those single-car team owners before you?

Moorad: We're not about buying the biggest, baddest motorcoach -- although we do like the one we have. We are committed to giving our partners -- in particular Texas Instruments and Toyota -- the confidence that we are going to move forward in the most financially efficient, and ultimately most professional manner.

Q: You guys have formed an "advisory board" that includes officials from various companies, including TI and Toyota. Talk a little about what that is and why you have done it?

Moorad: I think this board gives our partners a chance to see up close and firsthand how we intend to do business. (Continued)