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Wesley Zirkle '98 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 5/19/2021

a race track with a sign on it

Wesley Zirkle '98 is a motorsports attorney who represents two IndyCar teams and others within the racing industry. Photos here were taken during a visit with Zirkle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 19, 2021. Photographs by Becky Wendt.

a race car on a track

The speed of the cars at IMS has captivated Zirkle since his first visit to IMS as an 11-year-old.

a man sitting at a table

Zirkle said of IMS, 'It's the best thing ever. It is so much fun. I mean, I look forward to it every year. There's something just very visceral and inspiring about coming to this place.'

a group of people in a room

He is there to understand and protect his teams’ businesses, shape the negotiations that make them go, and figure the best way to approach deals and issues that affect the sport. His work touches on software, apparel, and e-commerce. He has closed $2 billion in motorsports sponsorship deals alone.

a man and woman in a room with a camera

'I enjoy motorsports,' Zirkle says from a suite overlooking the front straightaway of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 'But what I love is the business of motorsports. It is why I do this and why I get so fired up. It's fascinating.'

a man sitting at a table with another man in the background

Smiles are never far from Zirkle's face.

a man standing on a ledge looking at a race car

Coming to the Speedway is an experience for all of the senses.

a man leaning on a railing

A moment of calm...

a man leaning on a railing

...before a car grabs his attention.

a race car with a bitcoin symbol on it

The Bitcoin IndyCar to appear in 2021 was one of meany deals Zirkle has brokered in motorsports.

two men standing in front of a garage

Zirkle (right) chats with a team member outside the garage.

a group of men in a garage

'All of this is just about relationships,' Zirkle said. '100% is relationships. People have to trust you. And they have to know you to trust you.'

a close up of a car engine

A look under the hood, so to speak.

a man wearing a face mask

Zirkle is as comfortable in Gasoline Alley as he is atop the front straightaway.

a group of people in a race track

Zirkle stops for a conversation in the pit area.

a group of people standing in a row

'The way I operate is to best understand their business,' Zirkle says. 'My job is to see around the corners. The closer I am to my clients and their business, the easier I can raise my hand and say, ‘wait a minute, if we think x, y, and z are happening, let's think about the downward effect.'

a group of tires on a track

The view from behind the pits.

a man talking on a cell phone in front of a stadium

There is always time to take a phone call.

a group of people standing outside a building

Zirkle chats in the shadow of the legendary IMS Pagoda.

two men standing next to each other

Zirkle (left) with Indy Lights driver Christian Rasmussen in May 2022 (provided photo).

a man wearing a face mask

Zirkle prefers the role of general counsel and he’s learned that it takes time to build, develop, and strengthen the relationships within the client’s organization necessary to be an effective counselor.

a close up of a logo

'Wabash just told me, you can do anything you want.' Zirkle said. 'That's what the liberal arts experience is, because it's all connected. When you take physics, or English religion. It's all connected.'

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