About the Talk:

What does AI look like inside one of the world’s fastest and most data-driven sports?

Join the OpenAI Forum for a conversation with NASCAR’s Rich Bowman, AI Operations Specialist, and Derek Thomas, Managing Director of Analytics, for a discussion on how the organization is bringing AI into its day-to-day work, including analytics, operations, and workforce enablement.

In racing, safety and performance go hand in hand. NASCAR has applied that philosophy to technology for more than 80 years and AI is no different. The organization is moving quickly to explore new capabilities while building the training and guardrails that help teams use these tools responsibly.

We’ll also explore how organizations empower employees with the tools and guidance they need to succeed with AI, and how early adopters inside teams can become leaders who turn experimentation into repeatable workflows that scale innovation across the entire organization.

You’ll also see a short demonstration from NASCAR’s analytics team showing how AI can accelerate everyday work.

About the Speakers:

Rich Bowman, AI Operations Specialist @ NASCAR

Richard Bowman operationalizes AI at scale, translating strategy into secure, adoptable workflows that deliver real business outcomes. At NASCAR, Rich leads governance, policy, and day-to-day enablement for enterprise AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, partnering with Strategy, IT, Legal, and business teams to accelerate responsible adoption. His focus is on clear guardrails, practical training, measurable ROI, and a repeatable operating model that helps people work smarter, on and off the track.

Derek Thomas, Managing Director of Analytics @ NASCAR

Derek Thomas analyzes a range of datasets, including competition-related metrics and survey data, to better understand what makes the sport exciting. He has previously leveraged both independent and custom research to gain insights into the NASCAR audience, providing strategic counsel to inform initiatives related to audience and revenue growth. He also presents key findings to stakeholders to support efforts to more effectively reach and engage the NASCAR fan base.