NASCAR stars paid respects to former chairman Bill France Jr. on Thursday in a short, simple funeral service that was far more fuss than he would have wanted. About 2,000 people filled the Performing Arts Center at Bethune-Cookman University to say goodbye to France in a send-off for a man who loved hot dogs, fishing and, more than anything else, NASCAR. “He was our mentor,” NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick said. “He was our leader. He was a great friend, and we’re all going to miss him. He was a bear of a man, but he really had a teddy bear of a heart.” Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Ned Jarrett, and Bobby and Donnie Allison were among the retired drivers on hand, while active stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip and Kurt Busch joined the gathering. Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Bill Elliott, who all raced late into Wednesday night in a charity event in Ohio, trickled in right before the start. See full AP story ESPN.com.(6-7-2007)
