Bill France Jr, the architect of the global phenomenon that is NASCAR, has died aged 74. He had been suffering from cancer for some time.
Under his leadership, over three decades, NASCAR grew from a regional sport in the USA to a global success story with a multi billion dollar TV contract.
Bill Jr will be best remembered for his ability to develop his father’s founding vision of NASCAR. Unsurprisingly, he grew up surrounded by cars and motor racing, and after attending university and time in the Navy, he helped in his father’s quest to build the Daytona International Speedway in swampland near Daytona Beach.
During this time he often worked on the construction machinery himself, dodging rattle snakes as he helped prepare the swamps for the project.
Having held the NASCAR vice-presidency for six years, he took overall control from his father in 1972, and finally relinquished the role to his own son, Brian, in late 2003.
A strong character, he also had a passion for motorcycles and competed in the Baja 1000 race. Most of all, he was years ahead of his time in having a unique understanding of how to market and develop a racing series.
The PH team sends its sincerest condolences to the France family.
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