NASCAR fOUNdERS & EXECUTIVES wILLIAm H.G. fRANCE NASCAR fOUNdER


a sport. In the years since his 1992 death, his legend has grown, along


T


with that sport. France spearheaded NASCAR from its beginning and directed it to its present role as the world’s largest stock car racing organization. Born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 26, 1909, he came to Daytona


Beach, Fla., in the 1930s. In 1936 he helped lay out the first beach / road course in Daytona Beach; in the first race on the course he fin- ished fifth. Starting in 1938, he helped promote races on the sands. That endeavour was interrupted by World War II but resumed in 1946. In 1947 France became the driving force behind the establishment of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. NASCAR, it was called, resulting from a famous meeting at the Streamline Hotel on A1A in Daytona Beach – a structure that stands to this day, as a racing landmark.


Things moved quickly in the 1950s and ’60s for NASCAR. As the sanctioning body’s first President, France built two superspeedways that came to personify the sport – 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway and 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Along the way he also founded the International Speedway Corporation that operates those two tracks and others involved in NASCAR’s three na-


hey called him “Big Bill,” and only partly because of his 6- foot-5 stature. William Henry Getty France was larger than life it seemed, during the years of founding, then building,


tional series – NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Na- tionwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.


In January 1972 France stepped down as President of NASCAR and handed the reins to his son William C. France. The elder France continued to be a consultant for a number of years, in addition to serv- ing as ISC chairman/presi- dent. After retirement he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. The honours were the result of vision – and good, old-fashioned hard work. In the words of noted motorsports journalist Larry Woody, “Big Bill France looked at an untamed diver- sion called stock car racing and saw a promising future … he founded NASCAR and through sheer iron will hammered it into shape.” “Big Bill” France died in June 1992. He left behind a lasting legacy. He remains larger than life – still. In May 2010, France was one of the five inaugural inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.


BILL fRANCE JR. INAUGURAL HALL Of fAmE INdUCTEE


illiam (Bill) Clifton France is re- membered – and revered – as the man who followed his vi- sionary father at NASCAR’s helm, in the process becoming a visionary himself, as he guided NASCAR to unprecedented lev- els of popularity. He combined pragma- tism with optimism, an approach that resulted in a calculated – and adventurous – road to success. France, who died in June 2007 at the age of 74, grew up in the formative years of stock car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport from his own experiences, and those of his father William Henry Getty


W 48 NASCAR CANAdIAN TIRE SERIES


France – who was known as Bill Sr., or “Big Bill” because of his 6-foot-5 stature. Bill Sr. was the founder and first President of NASCAR. France became NASCAR’s President in January 1972, replacing his father and be- coming only the second president of the world’s largest auto racing sanctioning body. His emergence coincided with the sport’s emergence, and its eventual ascent to be- come America’s No. 1 form of motorsports and the nation’s second-most popular sport overall. France remained President until No- vember 2000, when Mike Helton took over the position. At that time, France an- nounced the formation of a NASCAR board of directors on which he served as Chairman and CEO until October 2003, when he was replaced by his son, Brian Z. France. From that point, France served as Vice-Chairman until his death. France’s involvement in NASCAR was far- reaching, but it began in the sport’s “grass roots.” During his career, he did everything a person can, in stock car racing. He flagged events, scored, promoted, served as a stew- ard and even raced himself a few times in the 1950s. Before being named NASCAR’s president, France served six years as Vice- President and prior to that served in other capacities. In addition to his NASCAR du-


ties, France served as Chairman of the Board of the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) which oversees Daytona International Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Tal- ladega Superspeedway, among other racing facilities around the country. He also served as a director of the National Motorsports Council of ACCUS-FIA. Born in Washington, D.C., France was less than two years old when his parents moved to Daytona Beach, Fla. in 1934. He at- tended Seabreeze High School, where he played basketball and later attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. He served two years in the United States Navy and turned to a full-time career in racing when his service stint ended.


In addition to his son, other members of


France’s family have played – and continue to play – major roles in the operation of NASCAR. His wife, the former Betty Jane Zachary, serves as Assistant Secretary for NASCAR, while daughter Lesa France Kennedy serves on the board of both ISC and NASCAR, is a NASCAR Vice-President and the president of ISC. Younger brother Jim is Vice-Chairman / Executive Vice-Presi- dent of NASCAR and is CEO for ISC. In May 2010, France was one of the five inaugural inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.


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