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.
"I just hope that whoever is in that position takes it serious and does a good job with it, because there are so many people in this industry that want to see it succeed," said Kyle Larson, who drives the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet. "I hope this is a good step to have a good change for us and get some good momentum back for our series."
Brian is the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and replaced his father as head of NASCAR 15 years ago. Now it's Jim's turn to take the wheel.
People who know the Vietnam veteran well have expressed full confidence in his ability to lead during a potentially pivotal time for the organization.
He has worked for the family business since 1959, serving in a slew of roles. He founded Grand-AM Road Racing in 1999 and helped orchestrate a merger with the American Le Mans Series to form International Motor Sports Association in 2014. He was a key player in NASCAR's purchase of the Automobile Racing Club of America this spring.
"We've known Jim France since the 1970s, and he's given respect when he walks in a room," said Len Wood, co-owner of the Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford driven by Paul Menard. "He's earned respect. He's always been the quiet guy in the background that did way more than you knew. He's the kind of jeans-and-flannel guy who you can bounce ideas off of anytime.
"We have the utmost confidence in him."
Hendick Motorsports co-owner Rick Hendrick does, too.
"He's going to be awesome in that role," he said during an interview on Sirius. "I've watched what he's done with IMSA and how he's brought all these different manufactures to the table and how that sport has grown with the (24 Hours of Le Mans race) and everything else.
"A lot of people don't know Jim because he never has been out front a lot, but there is a great leader and a great racer, and NASCAR is in awesome hands."
Hendrick, meanwhile, hopes Brian gets the help he needs to come back.
"Brian France is a good friend, a great guy," Hendrick said. "I'm not sure we have a TV deal if it wasn't for him. I pray for him, and I want him to get better."
Hamlin wins pole again
Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch swept the front row in qualifying Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
Kevin Harvick, neck-and-neck with Busch all season, was right behind in third.
Hamlin went 202.794 mph to earn a pole position for the second consecutive week. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran is winless in Cup Series races this season, while teammate Busch has six victories and Erik Jones has one.
It's apparent the No. 11 team has hit on something recently, and Hamlin, a two-time winner at MIS, was fastest in all three rounds of qualifying and Friday's first practice. Now he wants to continue his streak of at least one victory every season since his rookie year (2006).
"It is a very important streak; I think about it," said Hamlin, who thought the good run was coming to an end in 2013, when he broke his back and missed a month but won the season finale.
"You look back at the really great drivers of NASCAR, and they had long streaks, 10 years and above, of winning in a row, and you want to keep that going for sure. It's important."
Busch made it an all-Toyota front row for Sunday's race with a lap at 202.731 mph. Harvick, in a Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, went 202.100. Harvick and Busch are tied for most Cup Series victories this season, while Martin Truex Jr., the final member of the so-called "Big 3," has four wins this year. He qualified seventh in his Toyota for Furniture Row Racing.
Jones qualified fourth to give JGR three of its four drivers in the front two rows. JGR's Daniel Suarez, also winless this season, did not record a qualifying speed because he scraped the outside retaining wall early in the first round.
Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman, in Chevrolets for Richard Childress Racing, will start fifth and sixth. Team Penske's Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano rounded out the top nine in a pair of Fords.
Kurt Busch's name jumped into the rumor bill in the middle of qualifying when Motorsport.com reported he would replace Jamie McMurray at Chip Ganassi Racing. After qualifying 12th, Busch, who drives for Stewart-Haas Racing, said he was talking to several teams but doesn't have a deal for 2019.
Ganassi said he doesn't have a deal with Busch and his only recent communication with the driver was a bet on a baseball game. As for McMurray's future with the team - has won the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona driving for CGR - the team owner said "I want Jamie McMurray back on my team."
McMurray qualified 15th, two spots ahead of teammate Larson, who is trying to repeat as the race's winner. Both CGR drivers are winless this season.
Clint Bowyer, winner of the first stop this season at MIS, qualified 16th for SHR.