Former track GM, public relations rep dies

Denny Darnell served as VP at Bristol Motor Speedway

RELATED: Kenny Bruce remembers his friend, the General

Denny Darnell, a sportswriter turned track general manager and respected public relations representative, died Saturday at age 70 of an apparent heart attack.

A sportswriter for the Kingsport (Tennessee) Times-News, Darnell was VP/general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway from 1983 through 1988. During his time with the track, he worked with ESPN to televise both NASCAR race weekends live from Thunder Valley.

From 1991 to 1998, Darnell served as director of communications for the National Hot Rod Association before becoming senior manager, media relations for Sports Marketing Enterprises at RJ Reynolds for five years. He supported the company’s motorsports sponsorships, including NASCAR’s premier series.

As president and CEO of Darnell Communications, he managed public relations for Dodge Motorsports from 2008 through 2013. His tenure included a Daytona 500 win by Ryan Newman in the 50th Daytona 500 in 2008, a NASCAR Nationwide Series championship with Brad Keselowski in 2010 and Keselowski’s 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

Darnell retired at the beginning of 2014.

NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Brett Jewkes issued the following statement:

“NASCAR offers its sincere condolences to the friends and family of Denny Darnell. For decades working with Bristol Motor Speedway, RJ Reynolds, NEXTEL and Dodge, Denny was a familiar and friendly face in media centers and NASCAR garages throughout the country. He approached his job seriously and professionally, but few could bring laughter like Denny. He was a public relations institution, and will be greatly missed.”

Industry members fondly remembered “The General” on social media.

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