Jim France’s tenure as NASCAR’s CEO has come to a stunning end. Over the weekend, France announced that he will be stepping down as the sport’s CEO, effective immediately. The longtime NASCAR executive will keep his role as chairman and majority owner of the racing businesses.
France has been the chairman and CEO of NASCAR since 2018 after his nephew, Brian France, resigned from the role following his arrest. The 81-year-old is the brother of Bill France Jr., who led the sport from 1979 to 2000. France’s father founded the sport in 1948.
Advertisement
During the 2025 NASCAR offseason, France was under scrutiny following the sport’s antitrust lawsuit against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. It is unclear whether France’s decision to step down is related to the lawsuit’s findings, but NASCAR will move forward with a new CEO in 2026.
More: How to watch NASCAR live at Texas in May 2026, full schedule
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Jim France surprisingly steps down as NASCAR CEO in 2026
Read the full article here
