Brian z. france cHairMan and ceo Brian Zachary France, actively in-
volved in NASCAR for more than two decades, is a member of the NASCAR-founding France family and assumed the roles of NASCAR chairman and CEO in October 2003. He is the grandson of NASCAR’s founder, the late William H.G. (“Big Bill”) France, and the son of the for- mer president and chairman/CEO of NASCAR, the late William C. (“Bill Jr.”) France. France has been heavily involved with many of NASCAR’s recent innova-
tions, bolstering the sport’s digital presence with the re-acquisition of NASCAR’s digital rights, the relaunch of
NASCAR.com in January 2013 and the unveiling of the Fan and Media Engagement Center in Charlotte, N.C. – all of which have been designed to bring NASCAR fans closer to the sport. On the global front, France has increased the sport’s level of concentra-
tion on the environment as part of NASCAR Green. With the largest recy- cling and environmental sustainability programs among all US sports, NASCAR has not only become a leader in green initiatives across all sports, but a leader within the business community. Tose efforts, among others, were the result of France’s recent implemen-
tation of an industry growth initiative, with a goal of better serving NASCAR’s core fans and growing new audiences throughout the sports landscape. Te plan focuses on strengthening NASCAR’s foothold in such areas as youth, Generation Y, multicultural, driver star power, product rele- vance and digital and social media. On track, France has worked closely with NASCAR’s competition de-
partment. He was integral in the development of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, which debuted in 1995, and was a key proponent of the NASCAR Research and Development Center, a facility opened in 2003 and dedicated to improving the safety and operational efficiency of the sport. France has been at the forefront of NASCAR’s dramatic sponsorship
growth, including the ground-breaking announcement of Nextel Commu- nications as the new sponsor of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series – now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – beginning in 2004. He has also led a host of marketing initiatives, including internalizing the sanc- tioning body’s licensing efforts and developing NASCAR’s consolidated television plans that have culminated with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events being broadcast on ABC, ESPN, FOX Sports, FX, NBC Sports and TNT. France also spearheaded the opening of NASCAR offices in Los Ange-
les, New York and Charlotte to address the sanctioning body’s growing business needs and partner base. France has an extensive background in NASCAR, ranging from his ex-
perience as a racetrack manager to helping develop and manage NASCAR weekly short track and touring competitive levels. As a track manager, he was involved in writing and enforcing rules, developing race procedures and all other aspects of competition. He successfully oversaw the transformation of Tucson Raceway Park from a dirt track into one of the premier paved short tracks in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. In 1999, Te Sports Business Daily named France its Sports Industrialist
of the Year and Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) named him the SMEI Marketing Statesman of the Year. Previous awards include Advertising Age honouring France as one of the
publication’s top 100 marketers of the year and Promo Magazine naming him as one of that publication’s top promoters of the year. In 2007, he was named to the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. He serves on many boards and is the founder and former chairman of NASCAR’s Diversity Council, an organization comprised of motorsports executives focused on encouraging greater diversity within the industry. France resides in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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