Eighteen months after departing as the head of NASCAR amid controversy, Brian France is getting back in the game, speaking out for the first time on his tenure in the sport and revealing the launch of a private investment firm.
France, the former chairman and CEO of NASCAR, was at the helm of America’s top racing series for 15 years starting in 2003 and culminating in the summer of 2018 when he was removed following a DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, N.Y.
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Above all, France, 57, says he’s at peace with how things played out at NASCAR during his tenure. Though he said he misses the people and strategic decisions he was a part of at NASCAR, he’s supportive of the vision his uncle is implementing.
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There was also widespread speculation throughout 2018 that the France family was exploring a possible sale of NASCAR. It was working with Goldman Sachs to pursue possible suitors, but nothing became of that. NASCAR President Steve Phelps said earlier this month that NASCAR is not for sale.
France said it was around this time that he contemplated stepping down from his leadership role. He said he was actively talking to and identifying potential replacements before his ouster, but didn’t specify who. NASCAR declined comment on the topic, and it could not be determined through industry sources how serious these discussions were.
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For more details on the interview, read: Former NASCAR Chairman Brian France defends leadership style in interview at NBC Sports.