Jim France Likely To Finish Season As Interim Chair & CEO

Jim France

The "soft-spoken" 73-year-old Jim France will "likely finish out this season in his interim role" as NASCAR Chair & CEO, according to Godwin Kelly of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL.

France's "primary focus" for the remainder of the '18 season will be to "stabilize the NASCAR ship and assure its many stakeholders (team owners, primary sponsors, media partners) that Brian France's personal troubles won't spill over into the family business."

The sanctioning body's "future leader — the face of NASCAR — will be decided" by Jim France, ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy and the BOD. Whoever "takes charge in the future will likely have 'must attend races' and 'interact with stakeholders' on a frequent basis in the job description."

Brian France is "famously known for not spending much time in the garage area, breaking from the long-held tradition established by his grandfather and father." Several competitors have said that NASCAR's top exec "should be accessible at the race track."

Kennedy's 26-year-old son, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series GM Ben Kennedy, is "likely the heir apparent within the next decade, but still gaining on-the-job experience." Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL

Jim France was at Michigan Int'l Speedway over the weekend and attended the driver's council meeting Friday night.

A handful of drivers in attendance at that meeting told the media that France made some comments, but only about the usual topics and without giving an address on the leadership at NASCAR.

NBCSPORTS.com's Nate Ryan noted Jim France, when approached by reporters Saturday, "politely declined" interviews. France said that he was "getting 'my feet on the ground' and needed 'time to get caught up to speed.'" He added he might comment when he has "something smart to say."

Ryan noted France is "expected to become a weekly fixture" at tracks, but in a manner "very different" from his late brother — former NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr. France Jr. often "sat in a director's chair outside the NASCAR hauler" and was "highly approachable to the media."

Jim France will be "avoiding cameras and microphones but likely will stay actively involved behind the scenes." NBCSPORTS.com