William C. France, at 74; fiery architect of rapid development of NASCAR
Although his late father, William H.G. France, founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, William C. France was recalled yesterday as the iron-fisted driving force who helped grow stock car racing from a regional sport based in the southeastern United States into a billion-dollar enterprise that carved a niche in the American sporting landscape as the most-watched form of motor sports.
"There's nobody in this world who's ever going to be able to do what he did," said Bob Bahre, the 80-year-old chairman of New Hampshire International Speedway who came to know Mr. France in 1964. "The strength he had is what really made NASCAR. It was run like a dictatorship, but in a good way, because it had to be."
Mr. France, who had battled an undisclosed form of cancer since 1999, had been in remission, but the treatments took their toll. The vice chairman of NASCAR died yesterday at his home in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was 74.
Fox Sports announcer Mike Joy broke the news yesterday to race fans watching the Autism Speaks 400, a Nextel Cup Series race, at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, where flags were lowered to half-staff.
Brian Z. France, NASCAR's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement about his father, "He had a remarkable career and even more remarkable life. Words cannot express how much he'll be missed by myself and the rest of our family and by the NASCAR industry overall."
Said Mr. France's daughter, Lesa France Kennedy, ISC president, "From drivers to owners to other track operators and professionals in the racing world, Bill France served as a champion for motor sports, and his legacy is the renowned success that NASCAR and ISC have, and will continue to achieve."
Bahre, whose 1.058-mile oval in Loudon, N.H., hosts two NASCAR Nextel Cup Series dates, said he had developed a close friendship with Mr. France and hosted him and his wife, Betty Jane (Zachary), last August for a week at his home on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
"I tried talking to him every week and I last spoke to him on the phone about 10 days ago," said Bahre, who was informed of the death by NASCAR president Mike Helton, who seven years ago became only the third president in NASCAR's history and first from outside the France family. "That was one of his better days. In fact, when he said to me, 'Well, Bob, it won't be long now,' I kind of figured I knew what he meant."
Born in Washington, D.C., Mr. France was 1 when his family moved to Daytona Beach in 1934. Mr. France attended the University of Florida and served two years in the Navy.
Known to everyone in the sport as "Bill Jr.," Mr. France returned from his military service and rose through the ranks of his family's business. He worked as a flagman, race scorer, steward, concessionaire, and promoter before succeeding his father, "Big Bill," as NASCAR president and chairman in 1972.
He even had a hands-on role in building one of the most fabled stops of the NASCAR circuit. Working 12-hour days, often atop a bulldozer or grader, Mr. France helped construct the 2 1/2-mile trioval at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR's first superspeedway and home to the season-opening Daytona 500.
"Coming in, I had two big pairs of shoes to fill," Helton said in a statement. "I was more familiar with Bill Jr.'s way of doing business but that didn't make it any easier. He blazed so many trails for our sport. He was determined to follow the vision of his father while also expanding on that vision. Over nearly four decades, he did a masterful job."
After stepping down as NASCAR president, handing the reins to Helton, Mr. France oversaw the sport's unprecedented growth as chairman of NASCAR's new board of directors in 2000, remaining in that position until October 2003, when he stepped aside to allow his son, Brian, to take over as chairman and CEO.
"As the brilliant intellect and blinding force behind NASCAR's incredible growth, Bill France Jr. earned his reputation as one of the true giants in the history of American professional sports," said Dick Ebersol, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics chairman. "He will live forever in my mind as one of the most impressive men I've ever had the privilege of knowing."
A shrewd businessman, Mr. France also moved the season-ending awards banquet to New York City, where NASCAR was better able to court sponsors. In 1999, NASCAR packaged its entire circuit in a $2.4 billion TV contract with Fox, NBC, and TNT.
At the same time, ISC merged with Penske Motorsports, which resulted in the doubling of ISC-owned facilities.
"There's not enough words to describe what he's meant to this sport and what he's done for it," two-time series champion Tony Stewart told the Associated Press. "I guarantee it's the biggest loss in racing since Dale Earnhardt, and it's probably bigger."
In addition to his wife and two children, Mr. France leaves a brother, James, NASCAR's vice chairman/executive vice president and ISC's vice chairman/CEO, and three grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
