Brian France, the CEO of NASCAR since 2003, was arrested for drunk driving and criminal possession of prescription drugs in New York’s exclusive residential area The Hamptons.
TMZ Sports broke the news, reporting that France was pulled over at around 7 o’clock the evening, after a traffic violation, and arrested after he failed the field sobriety test. According to the media outlet, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. That would be 0.08 for New York, and France had 0.18 blood-alcohol content.
The police report notes that he was slurring his words and could barely stand when he got out of his car. He was taken to a nearby police station and he spent the night in custody. The next day, hours after his release, France announced in a statement that he was stepping down as the organization’s CEO.
“I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions last night,” France said. “Effective immediately, I will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from my position to focus on my personal affairs.”
Prior to this, NASCAR had also issued a statement, to say they were looking into the arrest but were refraining from all action until they had all the facts. While France is on his leave of absence, his uncle, Jim France, will serve as “interim chairman and chief executive officer.”
France has been charged with driving under the influence and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. His next court date is scheduled for September 14.
The France family founded NASCAR, with Brian being 3rd generation CEO, after his grandfather and father. Though his recent arrest is shocking, he was showing signs of trouble as far back as 2006, when he crashed his Lexus into a tree in a parking lot, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
At the time, France told the cops that he got momentarily distracted and “bumped” into the tree, but an eyewitness revealed that he was stumbling when he stepped out of the car to assess the damage. The same eyewitness said he had been driving at high speeds before he smashed into the tree.
The police report notes that he was slurring his words and could barely stand when he got out of his car. He was taken to a nearby police station and he spent the night in custody. The next day, hours after his release, France announced in a statement that he was stepping down as the organization’s CEO.
“I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions last night,” France said. “Effective immediately, I will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from my position to focus on my personal affairs.”
Prior to this, NASCAR had also issued a statement, to say they were looking into the arrest but were refraining from all action until they had all the facts. While France is on his leave of absence, his uncle, Jim France, will serve as “interim chairman and chief executive officer.”
France has been charged with driving under the influence and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree. His next court date is scheduled for September 14.
The France family founded NASCAR, with Brian being 3rd generation CEO, after his grandfather and father. Though his recent arrest is shocking, he was showing signs of trouble as far back as 2006, when he crashed his Lexus into a tree in a parking lot, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
At the time, France told the cops that he got momentarily distracted and “bumped” into the tree, but an eyewitness revealed that he was stumbling when he stepped out of the car to assess the damage. The same eyewitness said he had been driving at high speeds before he smashed into the tree.