Funeral for Bill France Jr. scheduled for Thursday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The funeral service for Bill France Jr., the visionary leader of the NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. for more than three decades, has been scheduled for Thursday at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach.

France died Monday afternoon at his home in Daytona Beach. He was 74.

Thursday's funeral service, set for 1-2 p.m. ET, is open to the public. The graveside service will be for family members only.

The funeral will be preceded by a visitation on from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET Wednesday at the Seabreeze United Church in Daytona Beach. The visitation also will be open to the public.

In lieu of flowers, the France family requests donations be made to the NASCAR Foundation; the Halifax Medical Center Foundation Inc./Betty Jane France Pediatric Center (also known as the "Speediatrics" children's unit); or another NASCAR-related charity of choice.

The performing arts center is located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., just off International Speedway Boulevard. in Daytona Beach, approximately two miles east of Daytona International Speedway.

For information on the center, go to www4.cookman.edu/mmbpac/home.shtml.

Seabreeze United Church is located at 501 N. Wild Olive Ave., on Daytona's "beachside," between Seabreeze and Oakridge boulevards. (www.seabreezeunitedchurch.org)

Donations can be made to the NASCAR Foundation online at www.nascar.com/foundation, via e-mail at foundation@nascarfoundation.com or via mail to the NASCAR Foundation, c/o Bill France Jr. Memorial Fund, 301 S. College St., Suite 3900, Charlotte, N.C. 28202. For information on donations to the NASCAR Foundation or other NASCAR-related charities call (704) 348-9680.

Donations to Speediatrics can be mailed to the Halifax Medical Center Foundation Speediatrics Fund/In Memory of Bill France, P.O. Box 9718, Daytona Beach, Fla. 32120. For information on Speediatrics donations call (386) 254-4111 or e-mail Carol Holton at carol.holton@halifax.org.