Betty Jane France, the second first lady and matriarch of NASCAR, passed away Monday afternoon. Betty is the mother of NASCAR Chairman and CEO, Brian France, and Lesa France Kennedy, International Speedway Corporation CEO.
Betty Jane France played a crucial role as her husband, Bill France Jr., who passed away in 2007, built upon what his father had started from 1948. Behind every man is a strong woman.
Betty Jane and Bill France Jr. fell madly in love in 1957. They met after a pageant at Bowman-Gray Stadium, where Betty was crowned Miss Bowman-Gray. After being crowned Miss Bowman-Gray, Betty was placed in the Miss NASCAR Competition, where Bill would personally put himself as her escort, according to her accounts. The reason behind this was that Betty Jane lived closest to him when his family lived in Winston-Salem during the summer. Betty did not win the Miss NASCAR competition, but Bill France Sr was quoted as saying, “she didn’t win Miss NASCAR, but she did win NASCAR.” Bill and Betty were married in September and moved to Daytona just three months later, where they would spend the rest of their lives.
“My father leaned on my mother throughout his life, relying on her wisdom and calming demeanor to help grow the sport of NASCAR. She was there, every step of the way. When we lost my father, her positive presence remained, as she used her immense skill to grow NASCAR’s heart and soul, The NASCAR Foundation. Our family thanks you for all of your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. My mother was a special woman, and an impressive person, and she will be dearly missed,” said Brian France.
Betty Jane France was the executive vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR, and the chairwoman emeritus of the NASCAR Foundation. France became the first chairwoman when it was incepted in 2004. The NASCAR Foundation’s goal is to be an entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving community.
The Betty Jane Humanitarian Award was created in 2011 in her honor. This award was created to award those who embody the ideals of charity and community that she championed throughout her life. Since 2011, over $875,000 had been donated to children charities across the United States, positively impacting over 200,000 children lives.
France was a longtime community leader in Daytona Beach, Florida, and best known as a steadfast champion of health care for children. She assisted in the establishment of “Speediatrics” children’s care unit at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach and at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Florida.
In 2003, France was presented the Halifax Medical Center Foundation’s Humanitarian Award in recognition of her advocacy, commitment, support and advancement of numerous area community service organizations including the Volusia/Flagler chapter of the American Red Cross.
She was a member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach serving on boards of numerous area community service organizations.
In July 2008, she was named as an honorary co-chairperson for the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, a project headed by longtime NASCAR team owner Richard Childress in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“Beyond her greatest community service, her starring role was that of mother to my brother Brian and me. She was an incredible role model, cherished friend, and someone who demonstrated limitless possibilities that helped so many people pursue their dreams.Her legacy will be treasured and she will forever be missed not only by her loving family and close friends, but by the many lives she touched along the way,” said France Kennedy.
Although Betty Jane has passed, her legacy and impact on NASCAR will continue to carry the sanctioning body into the future. Her class and dignity are what defined her within the NASCAR community. Without the impact of Betty Jane on her husband, NASCAR would not be where it is today!
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