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Sprint Cup
Hall Of Fame Profile: Bill France Sr., Part 2 Of 5
By 1947, Bill France, Sr. had formed what he called the National Stock Car Racing Circuit and advertised his events in motorsports publications...
In 1947, William Henry Getty France also known as "Big Bill" became the driving force behind the establishment of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR. (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.
When stock car racing resumed after World War II, Bill France Sr. was sitting in prime position. He had experience driving race cars and promoting racing events, and the general population, tired of long years of war and ready to celebrate and have fun, looked to the automobile as a recreational source. Soon, spectators were returning to race tracks, new speedways were being built and thousands of shade-tree mechanics and street-rod owners began gravitating toward “legal” racing competition.
NASCAR Hall Of Fame: The France Family - Through The Years
Daytona Beach, having already established itself as a major motorsports area prior to the war years, quickly became alive again with the sound of racing engines, and events there soon attracted daredevil drivers from all over the country. And France was right in the middle of it.
By 1947, France had formed what he called the National Stock Car Racing Circuit and advertised his events in motorsports publications. He promoted events at tracks in Greensboro, N.C.; North Wilkesboro, N.C.; Birmingham, Ala.; Greenville, S.C.; Columbia, S.C. and Trenton, N.J.
He was not the only entrepreneur navigating in those waters, however, and competing race promoters diluted both the product and the interest. And dishonest promoters were threatening the sport’s future by leaving drivers with empty hands at the end of races.
Sam Packard, a driver from New England who later became a NASCAR representative, said racing in the late 1940s was often a fruitless task.
“All the drivers more or less knew each other,” he said. “We had been running tracks together. We had been cheated so much. We were all after the same thing – to get a sanitary racing organization so that we knew when we got done we’d get paid.”
That – and his grand ambition – led France to call a series of meetings of promoters, drivers and other interested parties in Daytona Beach in December 1947. They met in the Ebony Bar atop the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach over a four-day span. At the end of the meetings, they had an organization – NASCAR, and a president – France. Although France associate Bill Tuthill ran the meetings, it was clear that France was in charge and that, when all was said and done, that he would be the leader moving forward.
“Stock car racing has got distinct possibilities for Sunday shows,” France told the meeting participants. “We do not know how big it can be if it’s handled properly. I believe stock car racing can become a nationally recognized sport having a national points standing which will embrace the majority of large stock car events.”
Two months later, on Feb. 21, 1948, the organization was officially incorporated as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. France wasted no time getting going, running his first event under the new organization six days before the incorporation.
From there, it was off to the races. France, with the financial and bookkeeping assistance of his wife, Annie, began building the inner workings of the organization. As soon as the birth was advertised, NASCAR membership applications started to arrive in the mail at France’s small office on Main Street in Daytona Beach.
“We used to cheer when the mail came in and we had a handful of memberships,” remembered Dorothy Beech, an early NASCAR employee. For $10, NASCAR members got a membership card, a car decal, a pin and NASCAR newsletters.
Beech said France would return to the office from a race trip for a day or so only to hit the road again.
“He was on the road most of the time,” she said. “He would pop in and then be gone again. He’d come in and share a joke or two with us. He was such a big man, but he was so warm and friendly. I had no idea what a great promoter he was.”
NASCAR grew quickly, and France soon brought in more employees to help him promote and run races. But there was little question that France was the central figure. He became an expert at balancing the often competing needs of race promoters and participants, and he was ruthless when circumstances called for it. He didn’t like to be crossed.
There were many challenges, of course, but France saw his core idea – racing the street sedans that Americans parked in their driveways – succeed wildly when his Strictly Stock series debuted in the summer of 1949.
The first race – a massive gamble for France – was held June 19 on a three-quarter-mile track near Charlotte, N.C. No one knew if the “showroom stock” race cars would last 150 miles, and no one know how many spectators would attend.
Questions about the attendance were answered quickly on race morning. Cars streamed into the track from points north, south, east and west. Estimates of the total attendance range from 10,000 to 23,000. The higher number is very unlikely, but, by any measurement, the crowd total was more than enough to convince France his idea was solid.
The race ended in controversy, setting a template of sorts for NASCAR’s future. Glenn Dunnaway was flagged the winner, but his car was disqualified because it was equipped with rear spring lifters, and second-place Jim Roper was named the winner.
France and NASCAR were on the way.
NASCAR Hall Of Fame: The France Family - Through The Years
WEDNESDAY: France Attacks Problems
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.
When stock car racing resumed after World War II, Bill France Sr. was sitting in prime position. He had experience driving race cars and promoting racing events, and the general population, tired of long years of war and ready to celebrate and have fun, looked to the automobile as a recreational source. Soon, spectators were returning to race tracks, new speedways were being built and thousands of shade-tree mechanics and street-rod owners began gravitating toward “legal” racing competition.
NASCAR Hall Of Fame: The France Family - Through The Years
Daytona Beach, having already established itself as a major motorsports area prior to the war years, quickly became alive again with the sound of racing engines, and events there soon attracted daredevil drivers from all over the country. And France was right in the middle of it.
By 1947, France had formed what he called the National Stock Car Racing Circuit and advertised his events in motorsports publications. He promoted events at tracks in Greensboro, N.C.; North Wilkesboro, N.C.; Birmingham, Ala.; Greenville, S.C.; Columbia, S.C. and Trenton, N.J.
He was not the only entrepreneur navigating in those waters, however, and competing race promoters diluted both the product and the interest. And dishonest promoters were threatening the sport’s future by leaving drivers with empty hands at the end of races.
Sam Packard, a driver from New England who later became a NASCAR representative, said racing in the late 1940s was often a fruitless task.
“All the drivers more or less knew each other,” he said. “We had been running tracks together. We had been cheated so much. We were all after the same thing – to get a sanitary racing organization so that we knew when we got done we’d get paid.”
That – and his grand ambition – led France to call a series of meetings of promoters, drivers and other interested parties in Daytona Beach in December 1947. They met in the Ebony Bar atop the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach over a four-day span. At the end of the meetings, they had an organization – NASCAR, and a president – France. Although France associate Bill Tuthill ran the meetings, it was clear that France was in charge and that, when all was said and done, that he would be the leader moving forward.
“Stock car racing has got distinct possibilities for Sunday shows,” France told the meeting participants. “We do not know how big it can be if it’s handled properly. I believe stock car racing can become a nationally recognized sport having a national points standing which will embrace the majority of large stock car events.”
Two months later, on Feb. 21, 1948, the organization was officially incorporated as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. France wasted no time getting going, running his first event under the new organization six days before the incorporation.
From there, it was off to the races. France, with the financial and bookkeeping assistance of his wife, Annie, began building the inner workings of the organization. As soon as the birth was advertised, NASCAR membership applications started to arrive in the mail at France’s small office on Main Street in Daytona Beach.
“We used to cheer when the mail came in and we had a handful of memberships,” remembered Dorothy Beech, an early NASCAR employee. For $10, NASCAR members got a membership card, a car decal, a pin and NASCAR newsletters.
Beech said France would return to the office from a race trip for a day or so only to hit the road again.
“He was on the road most of the time,” she said. “He would pop in and then be gone again. He’d come in and share a joke or two with us. He was such a big man, but he was so warm and friendly. I had no idea what a great promoter he was.”
NASCAR grew quickly, and France soon brought in more employees to help him promote and run races. But there was little question that France was the central figure. He became an expert at balancing the often competing needs of race promoters and participants, and he was ruthless when circumstances called for it. He didn’t like to be crossed.
There were many challenges, of course, but France saw his core idea – racing the street sedans that Americans parked in their driveways – succeed wildly when his Strictly Stock series debuted in the summer of 1949.
The first race – a massive gamble for France – was held June 19 on a three-quarter-mile track near Charlotte, N.C. No one knew if the “showroom stock” race cars would last 150 miles, and no one know how many spectators would attend.
Questions about the attendance were answered quickly on race morning. Cars streamed into the track from points north, south, east and west. Estimates of the total attendance range from 10,000 to 23,000. The higher number is very unlikely, but, by any measurement, the crowd total was more than enough to convince France his idea was solid.
The race ended in controversy, setting a template of sorts for NASCAR’s future. Glenn Dunnaway was flagged the winner, but his car was disqualified because it was equipped with rear spring lifters, and second-place Jim Roper was named the winner.
France and NASCAR were on the way.
NASCAR Hall Of Fame: The France Family - Through The Years
WEDNESDAY: France Attacks Problems
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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