Miami University

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Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056
(513) 529-7592
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Last Lecture for graduating seniors off to the races

04/23/2012

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Jessica Smith (Miami '01) presents Last Lecture.

Jessica Rohlik Smith (Miami '01) is taking a quick break from NASCAR racing to give the annual Last Lecture to Miami University's graduating seniors 5 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at the Hub. If it rains, the event will move to 100 Laws Hall.

Smith is an account manager for Roush Fenway Racing and representative of NASCAR driver and 2012 Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth.

The speech communication major and marketing minor started her career handling communications and promotions for several minor league baseball teams, including the Buffalo Bisons and the Jamestown Jammers.

She switched from ballparks to racetracks when she became marketing manager of DAYTONA USA at Daytona International Speedway in 2004. Three years later she took over as account manager for Snickers Racing and No. 88 Ford driver Ricky Rudd.

A year after, she was hired by Roush Fenway Racing to represent the Yates Racing entries that season, becoming account manager for David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil and their two cars’ 33 sponsors.

The 2009 season saw Smith working with driver Jamie McMurray and sponsor Crown Royal. When McMurray left the organization in 2010, Smith joined 2003 Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth’s team as Crown Royal moved its sponsorship to the No. 17 Ford.

The 2012 season once again finds Smith representing the No. 17 Roush Fenway team and Kenseth, who began the year by winning one of the Gatorade Duel qualifying races at Daytona and then claimed his second victory in the DAYTONA 500.