Jusan Hamilton, who has been involved in NASCAR race operations since the 2016 season, made history as the first Black race director in NASCAR history in March 2017 and has served as a Race Director alongside Tim Berman for NASCAR since the 2022 season, is no longer employed by NASCAR.
NASCAR confirmed the news, which was originally reported by Bob Pockrass, to TobyChristie.com on Friday afternoon.
NASCAR has parted ways with race director Jusan Hamilton. NASCAR confirmed he is no longer with the company but would not elaborate. My understanding is the decision was not performance related.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 26, 2025
The unexpected change in the race control booth comes with just six races remaining in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. While NASCAR hasn’t given any additional details regarding the Race Control position, it’s expected that Berman will continue in the role throughout the remainder of the season.
While Pockrass initially reported that he doesn’t believe the decision by NASCAR to part ways with Hamilton was not due to performance-related reasons, NASCAR did not give any additional details or information around the departure of Hamilton.
Hamilton made headlines for a decision to call a caution just a few hundred feet from the finish line on the final lap of the second Duel qualifying race at Daytona, which set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. As a result of calling the caution, Austin Cindric won the race despite Erik Jones crossing the finish line first.
Days later, in the Daytona 500, Hamilton chose not to call a caution on the final lap of the Daytona 500 as a multi-car incident was triggered on the backstretch involving the leader, Denny Hamlin.
After the Daytona 500, Hamilton admitted that he had made a mistake in his call in the Duel and that NASCAR would attempt to finish races under green if it made sense to do so.
A week later, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a final lap caution caused Hamilton to call the caution flag once again, which again drew criticism from NASCAR fans.
The 34-year-old Hamilton played linebacker for the Ithaca College Bombers football program prior to taking on an internship at NASCAR in 2012.
