By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France was bestowed one of the sport’s most prestigious awards Wednesday in Las Vegas.
At the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Awards luncheon, France was announced as the 2018 winner of the Myers Brothers Award.
The Myers Brothers Award is determined by a vote of the NMPA membership. The award recognizes individuals and/or groups who have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing and has been presented annually since 1958.
Since 1959 at the age of 14, France began working under his father NASCAR co-founder William H.G France at International Speedway Corporation selling race programs, tickets and concessions at Daytona International Speedway.
In the following years, France served in various roles at International Speedway Corporation facilities. In 1987, he was named the president of ISC.
When his father died in June 1992, France inherited control of both ISC and NASCAR alongside his brother, Bill Jr. He has served as secretary of the board of directors of NASCAR and an adviser to his brother.
In 1999, France founded the Grand American Road Racing Association, a sanctioning body for the Rolex Sports Car Series. He also oversaw the Koni Challenge Series and the SunTrust Moto-ST Series.
In 2012, France unified Grand-Am Road Racing with the American Le Mans Series under the IMSA banner.
France assumed the role of chairman and chief executive of NASCAR in August 2018 when his nephew, Brian France, took an indefinite leave of absence following his arrest in Sag Harbor, New York.
France was shocked that he was named the 2018 recipient of the Myers Brothers Award.
“Thank you to the NMPA,” France said. “In the summer between 1950 and 1951, I grew up in the pits at Bowman Gray Stadium with Billy and Bobby racing there every weekend. At 11 years old, Billy Myers was my favorite driver and he carried the No. 4 on the sides of his race car so that became my favorite number. To receive this honor in their names is very special.
“I’ve had the opportunity the last part of this season to spend a lot of time again in the garage area and the pits of our racing series. To pass on an observation, from the 1950s pits at Bowman Gray Stadium to the Monster Energy Series pits of 2018, the NASCAR spirit and the competitive spirit of the drivers and teams is alive and well and I’m proud to be a part of it.”