Johnson chases down fourth straight Sprint Cup title Nov 23, 2009
To love the sport like I do and respect it like I do and the history, from the pioneers of the sport to Bill France Sr. and the Petty family and you go through what Mr. Hendrick and what he s done in the last 25 years, to look at all that and do something that s never been done in the sport before is so amazing and something I m so proud of. I ve always to set my marks high, but I had no clue that this would happen. (Boston Globe)
NASCAR's Brian France fights to keep case quiet Nov 14, 2009
France's father and grandfather, Bill France Sr., were recently named to the first class of Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame. Brian France filed the complaint against Megan France last year, a few months after the couple divorced in Florida. (News & Observer -- Sports)
NASCAR takes a ride back in time Oct 20, 2009
The NASCAR on display at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Saturday night's Banking 500 and around the nation was created by Bill France Sr., who organized races on the sand at Daytona Beach, Fla. France then spiked the sport with moonshine runners who learned to drive on the twisting, two-lane roads that run through Wilkes County and on tiny tracks speckled through the South. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Hamlin ready to move on after California collapse Oct 17, 2009
The former champion does wonder if the first Hall class should have been bigger than Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Sr.. "How the heck can you just take five?" Wallace said. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Hamlin is over last week's collapse Oct 17, 2009
The former champion does wonder if the first Hall class should have been bigger than Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Sr.. "How the heck can you just take five?'' Wallace said. "When you pick Junior (Johnson) you want to pick (David) Pearson, you want to pick (Cale) Yarborough, you want to pick Bobby Allison. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
France Father-son Headline 1st Hall of Fame Class Oct 16, 2009
Stay on top of breaking news. Sign up for ABC 7 News e-mail alerts. (ABC 7 News, DC)
NASCAR names five to hall of fame Oct 15, 2009
has named Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty to the inaugural class of its hall of fame ... Bill France Sr. started the stock car organization in 1947 that his son now oversees. (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
France Sr., France Jr., Petty, Earnhardt, Johnson named to NASCAR hall Oct 15, 2009
CHARLOTTE -- The inaugural five-member class for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was selected on Wednesday, with Bill France Sr., Richard Petty, Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson to be inducted next year ... Bill France Sr., nicknamed "Big Bill," founded NASCAR in the late 1940's and directed it to its present status as one of the world's most popular motorsports circuits. (Herald Online, SC -- Sports)
France, son in 1st NASCAR Hall of Fame class Oct 15, 2009
And though you tend to lean toward those daring hot-rodders who actually risked more than a bank loan to put on the show, you absolutely knew Bill France Sr. would be among that First Five. No, he didn't "invent" the sport of stock-car racin', no more than Arthur Murray invented dancing. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
League cracks down on ref criticism Oct 15, 2009
NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. headlined the five inductees into the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He was joined by Richard Petty, Bill France Jr., Dale Earnhardt, and Junior Johnson. (Boston Globe)
NASCAR Hall taps Frances, Earnhardt, Petty, Johnson Oct 15, 2009
Bill France Sr., NASCAR founder ... "At one point, I was wavering and thinking it'd be great for Bill France Jr. to have his own class next year. Then it was like, 'Sorry, I can't go there.' No one can make an argument that none of us would be here if not for Bill France Sr. and certainly none of us would be doing what we're doing today on a global basis if not for Bill France Jr. I wouldn't be here. "It's going to be make this quite interesting over the next four or five years to see if we go... (USA Today -- Sports)
Hall to name first inductees Wednesday Oct 14, 2009
Jim France (left) Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr. (right) at Daytona Internatiional Speedway in 1983 File. Related Content. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Voters still up in the air about first five inductees to NASCAR Hall Oct 11, 2009
It's slanted toward the past more than the present, which means Raymond Parks, who helped Bill France Sr. start the sport, is on the list and Jeff Gordon isn't. Red Byron, who won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948, is on the list and Rusty Wallace isn't. (Herald Online, SC -- Sports)
Poole's picks for 2010 hall class Oct 6, 2009
2010 inductees: Bill France Sr., Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson and Junior Johnson. France was the sport's founder and the visionary who oversaw the building of its foundation. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Fan balloting for NASCAR hall ends on Sunday Oct 4, 2009
The nominees: Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Bill France Jr. and Bill France Sr., Rick Hendrick, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough. The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007, and is scheduled to open May 11, 2010. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Camp Countdown: Scenes from 1948 Jul 29, 2009
Mr. Bill France Sr. founded , Swiss inventor George De Mestral took his and invented Velcro and the Wake Forest football team went to the. In terms of prices, a was around $7700, a gallon of was 16 cents and the Wake Forest football would cost you two quarters. (Wakeforestsports.com)
NASCAR's HOF taking shape before May debut Jul 23, 2009
The May opening will coincide with the first Hall of Fame class, likely to include Petty, Dale Earnhardt and NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. The induction ceremony will be either the weekend of NASCAR's All-Star race at nearby Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 22-23 or the Coca-Cola 600 a week later at the same track. "When I think about what's in here, I think of the stories," Kelley said. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Hall Of A Task Jul 9, 2009
" But it's the question of who is getting in the inaugural class that has everyone guessing. The late "Big" Bill France Sr. would seemingly be a mortal lock. His son and namesake is deserving as the man who took his father's creation from regional craze to national phenomenon. It will be interesting to see if the voting committee fills 40 percent of the first class with members of the same family. Outside of the France family, Richard Petty, the sport's all-time wins leader (200) and a winner of... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Notebook: Gibbs upset with double-file restarts Jul 8, 2009
" Petty, Earnhardt, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and son Bill France Jr. are considered front-runners for the inaugural five-person class. But Petty said car owner Raymond Parks and driver Robert "Red" Byron, who teamed up to win NASCAR's first championship in 1949, should receive strong consideration from the selection committee. "We don't want to get into a deal where it's a popularity contest," Petty said. "It's going to be really hard and it's not going to be accepted by all people, no... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Motor Sports Jul 5, 2009
07/05/2009 - Updated 01:12 AM ET. After a last-lap wreck involving Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. (USA Today -- Sports)
NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees a who's who of stars Jul 4, 2009
Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class. . (Herald Sun)
NASCAR nominates 25 Jul 3, 2009
CHARLOTTE -- Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class. The announcement Thursday night comes 10 months before the Hall of Fame's scheduled opening in downtown Charlotte. (News & Observer -- Sports)
NASCAR Announces Hall Nominees Jul 3, 2009
Stock car racing giants ranging from Bill France Sr. and Junior Johnson to Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are among the 25 nominees for NASCAR's first Hall of Fame class. The announcement Thursday night comes 10 months before the Hall of Fame's scheduled opening in downtown Charlotte. (13WMAZ.com, GA)
Frank Mundy, 90, NASCAR pioneer May 18, 2009
He left NASCAR briefly in 1952 after a disagreement with founder Bill France Sr. to race in the American Automobile Association circuit. There, he twice won that organization s championship. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
SPORTS BRIEFS Apr 15, 2009
Lesa France, the granddaughter of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., will assume her uncle's role as chief executive officer of ISC. The change becomes official June 1. Jim France began working for his father at ISC in 1959 when he was 14 and became president in 1987. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
De La Hoya quits boxing Apr 15, 2009
Jim France, son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., will step down June 1 as head of the largest operator of NASCAR tracks. Lesa France Kennedy, granddaughter of NASCAR's founder and older sister to current NASCAR chairman Brian France, will move from president to chief executive officer of International Speedway Corp. The announcement was made at Tuesday's annual stockholders' meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Jim France leaves as head of NASCAR track operator Apr 15, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Jim France, son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., will step down June 1 as head of the largest operator of NASCAR tracks. Lesa France Kennedy, granddaughter of NASCAR's founder and older sister to current NASCAR chairman Brian France, will move from president to chief executive officer of International Speedway Corp. The announcement was made at Tuesday's annual stockholders' meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Lesa France taking over as ISC CEO on June 1 Apr 15, 2009
Lesa France, the granddaughter of Bill France Sr., will become CEO on June 1 ... CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jim France, son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., will step down June 1 as head of the largest operator of NASCAR tracks. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Love of racing keeps Stott in sport Apr 2, 2009
His moment in the sun came in 1976 when A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip and Dave Marcis all had their qualifying times disallowed by Bill France Sr., leaving Stott on the pole in the No. 83 Chevrolet. Yes, there's a picture of that on Corrie Stott's wall, too. (Keokuk Daily Gate City, IO)
