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Sprint Cup
Hall Of Fame Profile: Bill France Jr., Part 2 Of 5
Bill France Jr. navigated the waters with skill and ultimately lifted NASCAR to elite status among American professional sports...
Bill France Jr. is shown in his office shortly after taking over NASCAR’s presidency. (Photo: France Family)
The NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct the five members of its inaugural class May 23. Leading up to the hall’s induction ceremony, SPEEDtv.com is profiling the first five racing legends chosen for this unique honor.
Bill France Jr. didn’t know everything about racing and business when he assumed NASCAR’s presidency, but he learned – and quickly.
He read everything he could find about topics that interested him, and he educated himself on people and policies that might cross his path. He often knew the case law surrounding situations that might impact his business operations.
After France named Jim Hunter president of Darlington Raceway, an ISC track, France visited him. “Hunter, what about the sewer line here? Does it run east-west or north-south?” France asked. Hunter didn’t know. “Damn, Hunter, you have to know that,” France said.
When it came time for him to rise to the top of the sport in 1972, replacing his father, France Jr. navigated the waters with skill and ultimately lifted NASCAR to elite status among American professional sports. Attendance soared, new tracks were added to the schedule, rich television contracts were signed and the sport’s reach into corporate America was extended.
There was some surprise at the timing of the transfer of power. Bill France Sr. was still active in the sport and had not issued hints that he was ready to fade into the background.
“When it happened, I was surprised,” Helton said. “As I now know and look back, I’m not because there’s a pragmatism that exists inside the France family. I’ve seen this routinely throughout the history of NASCAR.
“I look back and see what Senior did in transitioning to Bill Jr. Knowing and being involved in the transition as Bill Jr. developed the sport, it doesn’t surprise me that Senior turned it over to Junior when he did as much now as it did in the middle ’70s. What I now know is that there is a genuine seriousness inside the France family that is far-thinking. They’re as worried about 50 years from now as they are 50 minutes from now."
“When I look back now at what Bill Sr. did back in the middle ’70s when he really wasn’t that old, he was thinking forward. He was looking forward to go ahead to let Bill Jr. take it to the next level and re-energize it after Senior had spent the first couple of decades getting it up and running and getting the foundation laid. He saw that Bill Jr. was ready to take it, and it worked.”
Was it difficult for France Sr. to move “down the hall” after so many years as the lead dog? Probably, but France Jr. was ready to move on.
“I think there were some incidents where Senior caught himself (still acting as leader) and some incidents where Bill Jr. reminded him,” Helton said, smiling. “I’ve heard stories. But, for the most part, I think it was about as good a transition as it could have been.”
France Jr. seemed to fit into the role quickly. He had been on NASCAR’s front lines for a while, running races from the tower, handling negotiations with promoters, working with emergency vehicle operators, doing all the little things that were important.
“He was probably the best race director I ever knew,” Hunter said. “He had to keep up with what was going on on the track, had to keep up with radio communications and the emergency vehicles, had to do it all. Now there are specialists for everything.”
Former NASCAR team owner Bud Moore said France Jr. “Probably knew about 75 percent of what he had to do, but he had some learning to do. He had to get along with the car owners and the drivers. It took him a little while to get all that squared away, but it worked.”
Richard Petty, who also has been around for the entire stretch of NASCAR history, said France Jr. “was a lot different from his dad. His dad was stern. When he wanted something done, he said, ‘This is the way we’re going to do it.’ Bill Jr. could come at you a little easier. He got the same job done, but he wasn’t as dominant a personality.
“He was more receptive to at least listen to you. He had his own ideas, but he would at least listen, where you didn’t even tell Big Bill what you thought. He was a lot more forceful.”
WEDNESDAY: Winston And Other Steps Forward
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening is set for May 11, 2010. Outdoor Opening Ceremonies are May 11th from 9 to 10 am ET free of charge, open to the public. Outdoor festivities including driver appearances and concerts May 11th from 10 am until 8 pm ET open to the public, free of charge. Tickets to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. The countdown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is on! Visit www.NASCARHall.com/50days for daily updates about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Bill France Jr. didn’t know everything about racing and business when he assumed NASCAR’s presidency, but he learned – and quickly.
He read everything he could find about topics that interested him, and he educated himself on people and policies that might cross his path. He often knew the case law surrounding situations that might impact his business operations.
After France named Jim Hunter president of Darlington Raceway, an ISC track, France visited him. “Hunter, what about the sewer line here? Does it run east-west or north-south?” France asked. Hunter didn’t know. “Damn, Hunter, you have to know that,” France said.
When it came time for him to rise to the top of the sport in 1972, replacing his father, France Jr. navigated the waters with skill and ultimately lifted NASCAR to elite status among American professional sports. Attendance soared, new tracks were added to the schedule, rich television contracts were signed and the sport’s reach into corporate America was extended.
There was some surprise at the timing of the transfer of power. Bill France Sr. was still active in the sport and had not issued hints that he was ready to fade into the background.
“When it happened, I was surprised,” Helton said. “As I now know and look back, I’m not because there’s a pragmatism that exists inside the France family. I’ve seen this routinely throughout the history of NASCAR.
“I look back and see what Senior did in transitioning to Bill Jr. Knowing and being involved in the transition as Bill Jr. developed the sport, it doesn’t surprise me that Senior turned it over to Junior when he did as much now as it did in the middle ’70s. What I now know is that there is a genuine seriousness inside the France family that is far-thinking. They’re as worried about 50 years from now as they are 50 minutes from now."
“When I look back now at what Bill Sr. did back in the middle ’70s when he really wasn’t that old, he was thinking forward. He was looking forward to go ahead to let Bill Jr. take it to the next level and re-energize it after Senior had spent the first couple of decades getting it up and running and getting the foundation laid. He saw that Bill Jr. was ready to take it, and it worked.”
Was it difficult for France Sr. to move “down the hall” after so many years as the lead dog? Probably, but France Jr. was ready to move on.
“I think there were some incidents where Senior caught himself (still acting as leader) and some incidents where Bill Jr. reminded him,” Helton said, smiling. “I’ve heard stories. But, for the most part, I think it was about as good a transition as it could have been.”
France Jr. seemed to fit into the role quickly. He had been on NASCAR’s front lines for a while, running races from the tower, handling negotiations with promoters, working with emergency vehicle operators, doing all the little things that were important.
“He was probably the best race director I ever knew,” Hunter said. “He had to keep up with what was going on on the track, had to keep up with radio communications and the emergency vehicles, had to do it all. Now there are specialists for everything.”
Former NASCAR team owner Bud Moore said France Jr. “Probably knew about 75 percent of what he had to do, but he had some learning to do. He had to get along with the car owners and the drivers. It took him a little while to get all that squared away, but it worked.”
Richard Petty, who also has been around for the entire stretch of NASCAR history, said France Jr. “was a lot different from his dad. His dad was stern. When he wanted something done, he said, ‘This is the way we’re going to do it.’ Bill Jr. could come at you a little easier. He got the same job done, but he wasn’t as dominant a personality.
“He was more receptive to at least listen to you. He had his own ideas, but he would at least listen, where you didn’t even tell Big Bill what you thought. He was a lot more forceful.”
WEDNESDAY: Winston And Other Steps Forward
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening is set for May 11, 2010. Outdoor Opening Ceremonies are May 11th from 9 to 10 am ET free of charge, open to the public. Outdoor festivities including driver appearances and concerts May 11th from 10 am until 8 pm ET open to the public, free of charge. Tickets to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. The countdown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is on! Visit www.NASCARHall.com/50days for daily updates about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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