Long-time U.S. and Hispanic market media executive takes
The helm at vibrant South Florida racetrack
Click here to download a headshot of Guillermo Santa Cruz. (Photo credit: Homestead-Miami Speedway)
En la parte inferior del correo se encuentra la convocatoria de prensa en español.
MIAMI, Fla. (July 2, 2024) – Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced long-time sports and entertainment media executive Guillermo Santa Cruz has been named the new president of the South Florida motorsports facility. Santa Cruz brings extensive experience in live event production, sales, and business development in the U.S. and Hispanic media markets to the position.
Santa Cruz joins the Homestead-Miami Speedway team after spending more than 10 years at IMG, a leading global sports agency, where he served as Vice President, Latin America, Mexico and US Hispanic. In that role he managed sales, business development, and client relations – with a heavy focus in sports and entertainment programming – across the entire region of Latin America for IMG.
During that time, he represented and negotiated media rights for several highly sought-after sports properties, including Major League Soccer, Concacaf World Qualifiers, WWE, and Roland Garros (French Open).
“Guillermo’s vast experience in the competitive media market will help grow Homestead-Miami Speedway into its next phase as one of the preeminent motorsports facilities,” said Chip Wile, Senior Vice President and Chief Track Properties Officer at NASCAR. “He has a diverse background in sales, production, and promotion in a key market for HMS and will offer unique opportunities for the team to expand the track’s influence.”
Prior to his work at IMG, Santa Cruz spent over a decade at Telemundo, including time as the executive producer of Olympics, and Vice President, Special Events/News & Sports. He began his career in sports media at Univision Network, where he was the lead producer of two FIFA World Cup events.
Santa Cruz’ leading role on the 2004 Olympics won him a Sports Emmy Award during his time with NBC/Telemundo, and his contribution to coverage of the events surrounding September 11, 2001, earned a special citation from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In 1996, Santa Cruz was also part of the Univision team that collected an Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast following its coverage of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta.
Santa Cruz’ ties to the greater Miami area are lifelong. The son of Cuban exiles, Santa Cruz was born in Puerto Rico and his family moved to Miami as he started middle school. He has called the area home ever since. Staying in Florida for college, Santa Cruz is a graduate of Florida State University. He currently lives in Miami with his wife and two college-age children.
“It’s an exciting time to be a sports fan in South Florida, and having grown up here, and spending nearly my entire life working in sports, it’s a great honor to join the NASCAR family and be handed the keys to Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Santa Cruz. “I believe in the future of Homestead, both the city and the track, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Santa Cruz takes over for long-time Homestead-Miami Speedway executive Al Garcia, who has served as the president since 2019. Garcia will remain with the track in a consultant position.
“Al has been a key part of Homestead-Miami Speedway literally since its inception in 1995,” said Wile. “We’re grateful for everything he has done to make HMS a premier sports facility in South Florida and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”
The NASCAR Playoffs race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, October 26. The day kicks off with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The NASCAR Cup Series will cap off the weekend’s action on Sunday, October 27.
Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-409-7223 or online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com. Fans can stay connected to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
Founded by Miami businessman, racing enthusiast and philanthropist Ralph Sanchez, Homestead-Miami Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The 650-acre facility features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course which also hosts on-track events nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. NASCAR crowned champions in all three of its national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway for 18 straight years (2002-19). Homestead-Miami Speedway is home to Fast Lane Friday, which serves as a legal drag racing event open to all car enthusiasts 18 and older with a valid driver’s license and proof of registration and insurance. Located inside of Turn 3 on a 20,000 square foot beach, Beach Bash is exclusively offered for fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Open to all ages, the beach sits on the spring-fed 7-acre lake which spans the width of the backstretch and offers live entertainment, beach and water activities, and unique food and beverage options all while taking in the race action. For more information on Homestead-Miami Speedway, please visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
