Brian France

Brian France (born August 2, 1962) is the CEO and chairman of NASCAR, taking over the position from his father, Bill France, Jr., in 2003 [http://www.nascar.com/2003/news/headlines/official/09/13/new_chairman/] . He had previously managed NASCAR's marketing department and touring divisions and was involved in the creation of the Craftsman Truck Series.

France is also the head of Brandsense, a marketing company whose clients include Tony Stewart, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and Britney Spears.

Career highlights

*Named one of the five most powerful sports executives by "The Sporting News" in 2005
*Oversaw the beginning of the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup in 2004
*Negotiated new television deals with several networks in 1999 and 2005
*Manager of NASCAR's Los Angeles office, becoming a liaison between NASCAR and the entertainment industry
*Co-founder of the Craftsman Truck Series in 1995
*Managed several short tracks, including Tucson Raceway Park in Arizona

Controversy

*Fans upset at recent changes in NASCAR, including the end of racing at North Carolina Speedway, The Chase for the Cup, getting rid of the Traditional Points system, the demise of the Southern 500, the arrival of Toyota, and the Car of Tomorrow in Cup racing have made France into a symbol of what they do not like about the sport's direction. [http://www.laidbackracing.com/Articles2007/MM4.html Example from Mike Kuver at Laidback Racing]

Brian France has also been criticized for having presided over a period of NASCAR history that had seen two lawsuits by racetracks (Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway) to get NASCAR dates.

The Car of Tomorrow which is ruining the sport, controversy did not diminish with the vehicle's first eight races during the 2007 season, and the model was universally derided by fans and most race drivers, with Jeff Gordon pointedly stating after the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire, "I could have told you from when I first drove this car that the aero-push would be worse."

Brian France was made the face of efforts by International Speedway Corporation to purchase ground near New York City and Kitsap County, Washington for speedways with NASCAR dates already penciled into their schedules; as of July 2007 neither speedway effort has gone anywhere and both have stirred heavy local opposition.