Ramsey Poston

For over twenty years, Ramsey Poston has been guiding his clients to successful resolution of high-stakes public relations issues. Mr. Poston develops comprehensive strategies to ensure that his client’s image remains intact and that his client’s position gets a full and public hearing.

In 2004, Mr. Poston took over NASCAR’s Communications Department, leading a team of 30 public relations professionals covering all aspects of the sport’s communications. He has been credited for building one of the best PR teams in sports.  Mr. Poston applied innovation and foresight by developing strategies for social media; development of revolutionary statistical applications; enhanced photography resources; and the creation of the NASCAR Citizen Media Corps.

Mr. Poston takes a hands-on approach with respect to message development, issue management, and overall strategic communications. In his role, he was responsible for each aspect of the communications function including at-track media relations, social media strategy, business communications, and expanding NASCAR outreach to new fans.

Additionally, Mr. Poston served as NASCAR’s chief communications strategist and spokesperson for all litigation and crisis situations. During his tenure at NASCAR, he successfully led the litigation communications efforts in a number of high-profile cases.  He has been the on-record spokesperson for NASCAR, conducting close to 1,500 interviews.

Mr. Poston developed close working relationships with some of America’s top law firms to communicate NASCAR’s defense in concert with the legal strategy. Some recent cases include AT&T Mobility v. NASCAR (contract dispute); Maricia Grant v. NASCAR (racial and sexual harassment); Jeremy Mayfield v. NASCAR (substance abuse policy); and Kentucky Speedway v. NASCAR (antitrust).

He officially joined NASCAR in May 2004 after serving as a consultant for three years. Prior to joining NASCAR, Mr. Poston served as a Senior Vice President at the Washington, D.C. public affairs firm Powell Tate. At Powell Tate, he provided strategic communications counsel to NASCAR on major issues including safety, diversity, sponsorship changes, and schedule realignment. 

While at Powell Tate, Mr. Poston specialized in crisis communications. He led the firm’s Labor & Employment practice, providing strategic communications counsel to companies in a number of employee-management scenarios including litigation, contract negotiations, unionization campaigns, and corporate campaigns. Mr. Poston worked with chief executives and their legal counselors to prepare for and respond to citations and fines proposed by government regulators including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB).

Prior to joining Powell Tate, Mr. Poston served as senior associate at the government relations firm Winner/Wagner & Francis, specializing in referendum campaigns, primarily for the casino gaming industry. He previously founded a government relations firm, Flint, Poston & Associates, focusing on representing clients in legislative and government relations matters in state legislatures nationwide.

Mr. Poston has advised and worked on the campaigns of several mayoral, congressional, and presidential candidates. In 1987 he served as Deputy National Field Director for House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt’s presidential campaign.

Mr. Poston holds a bachelor’s degree in political studies from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, and studied language and Asian political systems at Sophia University in Tokyo.