BROOKLYN, Mich. – Jim France seems to be choosing to stay in the shadows, with NASCAR’s new interim chairman and CEO declining to let the public hear from him so far.
France is not expected to be available for interviews this weekend at Michigan International Speedway as NASCAR prepares to run its first Cup Series race since chairman Brian France took an indefinite leave from the company his family owns.
Brian was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone Sunday night in New York’s Hamptons. Jim, his uncle and the vice chairman and executive vice president of NASCAR, was picked the next day to take over on an interim basis.
It is neither the news nor the moves the series wanted as it struggles to cope with drops in attendance, TV ratings and major sponsorship deals.
The wait might be a long one if anyone hopes Jim, who is quiet even behind the scenes, will become the organization’s face and voice.