NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp talks about his experiences in his 11 years in the sport, Saturday, July 9, 2016 in Sparta, Ky. Tharp is leaving NASCAR at the conclusion of the Saturday race at Kentucky Speedway, and will be moving on to become the track president at Darlington Raceway. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Kerry Tharp’s last weekend serving as NASCAR’s senior director of communications came Saturday at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

That’s fitting for the Louisville native and 1979 Western Kentucky University graduate, who is set to become the new president of venerable Darlington Raceway in South Carolina on Monday.

In 11 years filling a vital role for NASCAR, Tharp earned his “Commander” nickname in part for the seamless, professional manner in which he conducted the business of helping grow the sport. Under Tharp’s watch, news flowed swiftly from trackside to fans, whether through news releases and race recaps or moderated driver interviews. NASCAR has long been commended for providing unique access to fans, and Tharp did much to help facilitate that trait.

His reputation among the media is just as solid, as Tharp is often considered one of the best in the business by regularly going above and beyond to aid the working press in performing its function at the racetrack.

In that sense, it’s a loss to both fans and media. But Tharp’s enthusiasm and work ethic, his welcoming demeanor and ability to adapt and thrive in an always-changing sports landscape, these are traits that should serve Darlington well in the years to come.

Tharp knows he’s leaving his “comfort zone” to take on the challenge of overseeing that historic South Carolina oval.

“I’ll need to know how much toilet paper they’re using at Darlington and concessions, where tractors are parked and how much ice we have for the weekend,” Tharp told the Daily News on Saturday in Sparta. “… What gives me a little bit of confidence is to know I’ve been around all that in some capacity to work with people who have touched those areas the last 10 years, so I think I can draw on that experience.”

Judging by his track record, the folks in Darlington should expect “The Commander” to keep a steady hand on the wheel.