Home Lifestyle WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: King’s career embraces Richmond County racing roots

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: King’s career embraces Richmond County racing roots

After more than 25 years in racing-related public relations, Ellerbe's Kristi Richardson King was recently hired as the president of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.
Contributed photo

Wave the checkered flag for this trailblazing NASCAR powerhouse and our newly appointed CEO/ president of the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce. Paving the way for females in a male-dominated industry, Kristi Richardson King from Ellerbe continues to advance at racing speeds. 

For 26 years, King traveled with NASCAR all over the country and held several prestigious positions with the sanctioning body of racing. Applying the racing culture from her upbringing in Richmond County and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she became the first female director of Public Relations at North Carolina Speedway and made history again in the same capacity 10 years later when she held the same role at Talladega Superspeedway.

Following 17 years on the track side of the sport in consumer marketing, communications, and operations, she returned to her home state for another position with NASCAR. King was the director of Strategic Media Communications, where she served as communication liaison with Public Affairs, Events Group, and NASCAR Foundation until May 2020. 

Along with her history-making career, her work has earned her multiple honorable recognitions, including NASCAR Track Public Relations Person of the Year, Ken Patterson Helping Others Award by the National Motorsports Press Association, International Speedway Corporation Corporate Citizenship Award, and was also named one of NASCAR’s 50 Most Beautiful People. 

Advertisements

In the summer of 2020, she returned to her roots and relocated with her son, Will, to Ellerbe. Prior to her recent appointment to lead the Chamber, she worked in business and development and accounting at Superior Cranes, Inc. from January-December 2021. 

King is very active in her church, Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church and serves as the president of the Mount Pleasant Community Club, in which she coordinates the children’s outreach to organize and plan events for the youth. 

Today we celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of this leading lady and her many imprints on Women’s History in Richmond County. Thank you, Kristi, for representing Richmond County so well!

Meghann Lambeth is executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority. Republished from visitrichmondcounty.com. Throughout March, Visit Richmond County will feature a local leading lady in honor of Women’s History Month.



Previous articleN.C. Forest Service urges residents to exercise caution when burning debris
Next articleLive at 5 (Thursday, 3/3/22)