NASCAR says goodbye to France in simple ceremony

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Members of the NASCAR community turned out in force Thursday to say goodbye to William C. France, the man credited with making the sport of stock car racing the national phenomenon it is today.

France, 74, died Monday at his home on the Halifax River in the same city where his father, William H.G. France, conceived NASCAR in 1947.

The elder France, known as "Big Bill," handed the reins of the sanctioning body to "Bill Jr." in 1972, and over the next 30 years France guided NASCAR to unprecedented growth before giving way to his son, Brian Z. France, in 2003.

The 2,500-seat Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University was nearly filled for the memorial service. City officials, law enforcement officers, dignitaries and local residents joined the NASCAR community for the 55-minute service that featured moments of reflection, humor and a performance by singer/songwriter Edwin McCain.

A video montage shown twice during the ceremony -- at the opening and a second time as McCain performed his song I'll Be -- captured both France's softer side and the rewards of his work.

There were scenes of France as a young man helping with the construction of Daytona International Speedway, and standing at the finish line at an old beach race. He was shown entertaining at the track with Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and toasting Dale Earnhardt after one of his championships.

And there were photos of him as a frail, older man -- a heart attack in 1997 and a battle with cancer in 1999 had ravaged his body and often made it difficult for him to breathe -- smiling as he stepped aside and handed control of the company to his son, Brian, in 2003.

Team owner Felix Sabates, a close friend and an honorary pallbearer, said France's true legacy was in supporting his son through Brian's wild early years.

"When Brian was a young man, Brian was Brian and a lot of people would have given up on him,'' Sabates said. "Bill never did.''

Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Ned Jarrett, and Bobby and Donnie Allison were among the retired drivers on hand, while active stars Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip and Kurt Busch joined the gathering.

Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Bill Elliott, who all raced late into Wednesday night at a charity event in Ohio, trickled in right before the start.

"Sitting there during the service, I thought about all those people who get to [race NASCAR], and it's because of him,'' said Edwards, who was passing out business cards and placing ads in trade magazines just five years ago in his bid to break into the sport.

France was recalled as more than a leader in the sport of auto racing. He was a man of vision and a man of great compassion, mourners said.

With U.S. flags draped in the background and dozens of flower arrangements lined along the front of the center's main stage, France's widow, Betty Jane, spoke briefly on behalf of the family, which includes son Brian and daughter Lesa France Kennedy, as well as younger brother Jim France.

"Bill France loved Daytona Beach, and today we can feel the love returned to him," she said before reciting a portion of Sermons We See, a favorite sonnet of France's written by Edgar Guest.

Daytona Beach mayor Glenn Ritchey said his longtime friend "didn't just live here, he was involved in the community."

"And there is no one," Ritchey said, "that hasn't benefited directly or indirectly from Bill France's [involvement]."

Car owner Rick Hendrick, also a featured speaker, recalled when he began his career in the sport. "I was fortunate," Hendrick said. "Harry Hyde, one of the old senior statesmen, was my crew chief, and he gave me some good advice.

"He said, 'Now I want to tell you something about the France family.

You're the new guy, you're going to go into racing and my advice to you is to keep your mouth shut and your head down. If they want to talk to you, they'll call you.'"

And, when the occasion called for it, Hendrick said, they did.

Hendrick said he will remember France "as one of the best friends I've had. He was our mentor, he was our leader and he was a great friend. And we're all going to miss him."

A graveside service for the family followed at Daytona Memorial Park.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.