| (1909
- 1992) |
| Inducted: |
2008 |
| Region: |
U.S. |
| Industry: |
Sports
|
|
France spearheaded NASCAR from its beginning and directed it to its present role as the world’s largest stock car racing organization. France 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 finished fifth. Starting in 1938, he helped promote races on the sands.
As the sanctioning body’s first president, France built two superspeedways that came to personify the sport – Daytona International Speedway and 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 national series – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck.
In 1972 France stepped down as president of NASCAR and handed the reins to his son William C. France. 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. |
