Marylaurel E. Wilks (Lauri)

Most recently served as Executive Vice President of  management and administration of  Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Mrs. Wilks  was responsible for the supervision of the speedway’s executive team and administration of the facility’s day-to-day operations including;  tickets, logistics, events, communications, operations, and development.  She also served as vice president of communications and investor relations for Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the track's parent company.

Mrs. Wilks joined the events department at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1993 and was quickly promoted to Corporate Counsel, which was a first in speedway history.  Within 18 months, Mrs. Wilks assisted Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler to form Speedway Motorsports, Inc. which included Charlotte (or Lowe’s), and Atlanta Motor Speedways.  In 1995, this corporation became public and was traded on the New York Stock Exchange. At that time Mrs. Wilks took on the additional responsibilities of investor relations and corporate secretary for the new public company.  In 1997, she was promoted to General Counsel, and Vice President of Communications of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. In 2006, Mrs. Wilks was promoted to Senior Vice President of administration of Lowe’s Motor Speedway where she oversaw the ticketing, logistics, finance and legal operations at the speedway, as well as the operations of the Speedway Club.

She currently serves on the boards of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, Charlotte Regional Visitor's Authority - Visitor's Advisory Committee, the May 20th Society, Girl's On the Run, Myers Park United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and is a  member of the Women's Impact Fund and Phi Alpha Theta, recognizing conspicuous attainments and scholarship in the filed of history.  Mrs. Wilks has served on the boards of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Speedway Children’s Charities. She is a past North Carolina State Bar Councilor.  She has received the Women in Business Achievement, 40 Under 40 and Legal Elite awards.  Most notably, she has been honored as the 2007 Charlotte Business Woman of the Year. 

Currently, Lauri serves as President of L. Wilks Enterprises, a company specializing in event management and promotion, communications, operations and business solutions.  She recently assisted Wray Ward in its bid to become the advertising agency of record for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  Other current clients include The Wheeler Company and Ecole du Samdi de Charlotte.  She also participates in Vicitms Assistance pro bono legal representation project and is an Executive in Residence at Queen's University.

A native of Jackson, Michigan, Mrs. Wilks earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science Cum Laude from Cedar Crest College and her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.  She was recently named Cedar Crest College Alumnae of the Year.