Brian France
FILE - Bill France Sr., left, and son Bill France Jr. talk in Daytona Beach, Fla., Jan. 11, 1972. Bill Sr. was a racing enthusiast who saw Daytona Beach as a fit for his family, and when he grew tired of disorganization of the local racing scene, he called a meeting to put together a formal league. It was called NASCAR and what started as a small regional hobby has grown over 75 years into the most popular form of racing in the United States. (AP Photo/File)
NASCAR 75: France family built US racing at Daytona Beach

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 14, 2023 05:08 PM EST

A sign reading "Let's go Brandon" is displayed on the railing in the first half of an NCAA college football game between Boston College and Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Critics of President Joe Biden have come up with the cryptic new phrase to insult the Democratic president. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
NASCAR denounces 'Let's go, Brandon' conservative rally cry

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 05, 2021 04:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks before the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday n Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR’s layered relationship with Trump took a sharp turn Monday, July 6, 2020, when Trump blasted the series for banning the Confederate flag and wrongly accused the sport’s only full-time Black driver of perpetrating “a hoax” when a crew member found a noose in the team garage stall.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Trump sideswipes NASCAR, Wallace over flag and noose

By Jill Colvin And Jenna Fryer Jul. 06, 2020 10:09 AM EDT

Bubba Wallace stands for the national anthem before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Noose found in stall of Bubba Wallace at Alabama NASCAR race

By John Zenor Jun. 21, 2020 04:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, a Confederate flag flies in the infield before a NASCAR Xfinity auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. Bubba Wallace, the only African-American driver in the top tier of NASCAR, calls for a ban on the Confederate flag in the sport that is deeply rooted in the South. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR bans Confederate flag from its races, venues

By Dan Gelston Jun. 10, 2020 04:55 PM EDT

A NASCAR official kneels during the national anthem before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Hampton, Ga. NASCAR paused before Sunday’s Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway to acknowledge the country’s social unrest. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ban the Confederate flag? NASCAR could see the end of an era

By Dan Gelston Jun. 09, 2020 04:53 PM EDT

Brad Keselowski stands under an umbrella on pit road as rain forces a red flag during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Rain postpones Daytona 500, dampening event, Trump's visit

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 16, 2020 02:45 PM EST

FILE - In this July 4, 1984, file photo, President Ronald Reagan congratulates stock car driver Richard Petty, who won the Firecracker 400 race at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. President Donald Trump will look to rev up his appeal with a key voting demographic Sunday — NASCAR fans — as he takes in the Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz, File)
Trump looks to rev up his base at Daytona 500

By Kevin Freking Feb. 15, 2020 12:39 AM EST

Kyle Busch, front left, celebrates with teammates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Column: NASCAR bullish on future after promising rebound

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 18, 2019 05:57 PM EST

NASCAR President Steve Phelps speaks to the media during a press conference before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
NASCAR touts gains but knows short track racing needs work

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 17, 2019 02:51 PM EST

Joey Logano drives across the grass after losing control during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Column: Brian France was right to bring playoffs to NASCAR

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 21, 2019 05:01 PM EDT

Fans explore the new facilities and garages at Talladega Superspeedway, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
NASCAR closes $2B purchase of International Speedway Corp.

Oct. 18, 2019 12:41 PM EDT

Pastor of First Baptist Church Dallas Dr. Robert Jeffress waves the green flag for the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Latest: Rain forces playoff postponement at Talladega

Oct. 13, 2019 01:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 1, 2017, file photo, Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Dallas Church Choir speaks as he introduces President Donald Trump during the Celebrate Freedom event at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The Megachurch pastor has been selected by Talladega Superspeedway to give Sunday's pre-race invocation and wave the green flag. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Pastor, Trump ally Robert Jeffress to give Talladega prayer

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 12, 2019 02:33 PM EDT

Former NASCAR CEO Brian France pleads guilty to DWI

Jun. 07, 2019 02:05 PM EDT
SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (AP) — Former NASCAR CEO Brian France pleaded guilty Friday to driving while intoxicated in New York's Hamptons last year. Suffolk...

A fan follows events from the roof of a camper during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
NASCAR strikes $2B deal with ISC, will gain a dozen tracks

By Mark Long May. 22, 2019 09:40 AM EDT

In this Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 photo, car owner Joe Gibbs walks down pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, , in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
The Latest: Denny Hamlin wins 2nd Daytona 500 in 4 years

Feb. 17, 2019 10:49 AM EST

In this Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, photo, Jim France, executive vice president of NASCAR, stands on pit road as he watches auto racing at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. France replaced his nephew as head of NASCAR in August and has remained behind the scenes as he tries to stabilize the family business. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Jim France leading change at NASCAR from the shadows

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 13, 2019 03:44 PM EST

FILE- In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo Joey Logano waves his steering wheel as confetti flies after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship auto race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. The reset button on NASCAR was triggered as soon as Joey Logano wrapped last year’s championship celebration. There was massive work to be done on stabilizing the stock-car series from a downward spiral speeding toward the bottom and the fix is nothing short of a radical reboot. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR tries to end slide with push for more exciting racing

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 04, 2019 01:20 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2018, file photo, Donald Trump Jr., center, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, right, depart following the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington. Senate investigators have evidence revealing the identities behind two mysterious phone calls that Donald Trump Jr. had with blocked numbers during the 2016 presidential campaign, just days before he met with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. According to phone records provided to Congress, Trump Jr. spoke to Howard Lorber, a New York real estate executive, and Brian France, the former chairman of NASCAR, two people familiar with the records told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Senate panel obtains records for Trump Jr.'s blocked calls

By Jonathan Lemire And Mary Clare Jalonick Feb. 01, 2019 08:07 PM EST