Brian France (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR)
According to multiple news reports, NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France was arrested Sunday evening in Sag Harbor Village, N.Y. for driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
ESPN cited a news release from the Sag Harbor Village police saying France was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and was held overnight. France was arraigned Monday Morning at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and was released on his own recognizance.
ESPN reported the news release from the Sag Harbor Village Police to read: “Mr. France was observed operating a 2017 Lexus northbound on Main Street failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign,” the news release said. “Upon traffic stop, it was determined that Mr. France was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition.
“Upon search of his person, due to a lawful arrest, Mr. France was in possession of oxycodone pills.”
TMZ first reported the arrest.
ESPN published this statement from NASCAR: “We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information. We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts.”
The 56-year old France is the grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and the son of Bill France Jr. He has been the chairman and CEO of NASCAR since 2003.
wow, was ONLY MATTER OF TIME THIS PIECE of dump had this happen, please sell or remove this guy TODAY AS CHAIRMAN
A 2017 LEXUS!??!!??!?!??! Not even a new car. Not an American car!!!! FOR SHAME!!!! And he’s buddies with Trump.
Looks like someone is going into Nascar’s road to recovery program. Perhaps this is good excuse to make a change in leadership, the way Nascar has been trending it may be better off.
So what program will he have to complete? What is good for the goose is good for the gander!
darealgoodfella lol haa haaa I’m not Trump supporter but you all are so backwards it’s hilarious… Before I bought my Toyota Corolla I looked at Chevy’s and Ford’s and guess what…… 70% of those cars parts are built in …………….WAIT FOR IT………………………………………………………………….. MEXICO!!!!!!! Yes Trumps favorite country, you know the country that’s paying for that wall……. ( crickets chirping)
BAAAHAAAAAA Toyota/Lexus is more American than any Ford Chevy or Dodge
Jonathan, it’s comical for sure listening to this clown. Before you know it he will spin a LFR bash in here too. Moron.
France..the head of NASCAR ? well well now. Will the self righteous high mighty that have boycotted
the Bowl and our own self loathing critic of everything stay away from Tour races like he does any race that Tommy Barrett is in? Whoa is us.
Jonathan, you need to look further than the location where something is assembled. Toyota is a foreign company and the money is leaving the USA. You aren’t expected to understand that. The content of American labor doing final assembly does not make it more or less American. It’s a foreign owned company and the money is leaving the country. Even beloved Harley Davidson has much of its parts sourced from overseas, and is then merely assembled in the USA. Honda has for years had the least foreign parts and labor content, so I guess you could call that brand the most American by your metrics. But the money still leaves the USA and goes to Japan. I love traveling down south seeing the MAGAheads acting so patriotic with confederate flags flying on their Honda and Toyota pickup trucks.
Trump has started his 2020 campaign and the Chinese factories have already started making his banners and other campaign materials.
I hope you are enjoying your Toyota Corolla, it is a fine automobile.
So will Brian be suspended until he successfully completes the Road To Recovery Program?
@darealgoodfella- How come you don’t complain that your boy Preece drives a Toyota in the Xfinity series? Because you are a HYPOCRYTE, that’s why.
Chris D., do drivers get to pick what they drive? No.
Geez, Harvick was pissed when he had to leave Chevy and drive Ford.
CNBC reported Brian France is taking an indefinite leave of absence. Jim France will be the interim CEO. So more of the same.
Oh and FYI Toyota is built in the US.. so I guess by your own metrics its American as well then huh!!!!
perhaps he and tommy barrett could do the program together?? LOL
He is an complete JERK. Look how he gave Martin TruexJ his ring at the banquet. His father and grandfather are doing 360s in the ground. He need to get OUT. Get someone who will turn the sport around, they have too many rules, too many penalties, races are too long, and it is BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The have a lot of empty seats at races. Next year a new car change. Loosing teams in all 3 series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He should have hired Brett Bodine as a driver…
As he was being arrested and processed, he was name dropping Trump. LOL! Let’s see how that works.
Maybe he runs pills on the side. NASCAR was born from running moonshine.
Just goes to show, no one is imune. But, could this all be a mistake? The DUI, how many times have you drank a beer or two, then drove. .08 is a 175# person consuming 1 beer then tested 1 he later. As for the oxycodone, might he have had loose pills on him, that we’re legally prescribed? I don’t like the current path NASCAR has taken, but Me France is not soley to blame. The top 3 divisions are guided by driver and owner council’s, who make suggestions to NASCAR, then a group of officials determine the path to be taken. NASCAR is like any other big corporation, Brian Frances power is actually quite limeted.If Brian does actually have an opiate addiction, i sincerely hope he gets the help he needs, maybe through the road to recovery program. We have lost way too many people to opiate addiction, it’s not a laughing matter.
I’ve seen reports that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘That Smell’ was blaring from his stereo. Can anyone confirm?