[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 91 (Thursday, June 7, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S7389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SENATE RESOLUTION 229--HONORING WILLIAM CLIFTON FRANCE

  Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. Martinez) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 229

       Whereas William Clifton France, NASCAR patriarch and 
     visionary, was born on April 4, 1933, in Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas Mr. France grew up in the formative years of stock 
     car racing, living and learning every detail of the sport 
     from his own experiences and those of his father, William 
     Henry Getty France, known as ``Big Bill'' because of his 6-
     foot-5 stature, who was the founder and first president of 
     NASCAR;
       Whereas, in 1972, William Clifton France replaced his 
     father and became the second president of the world's largest 
     auto-racing sanctioning body;
       Whereas, during the 28-year tenure of Mr. France as 
     president, and later chairman and chief executive officer, of 
     NASCAR, NASCAR grew from a sport with regional appeal to draw 
     more than 75,000,000 fans yearly and become the second-most 
     popular sport on television in the United States;
       Whereas Mr. France worked in every role in stock car 
     racing, from flagging events to scoring, promoting, serving 
     as a steward, and even racing a few times in the 1950s;
       Whereas, before being named president of NASCAR, Mr. France 
     served for 6 years as vice president of the organization;
       Whereas, in addition to his NASCAR duties, Mr. France 
     served as chairman of the board of International Speedway 
     Corporation, which oversees Daytona International Speedway, 
     Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, and other racing 
     facilities around the country, and served as a director of 
     the National Motorsports Council of ACCUS-FIA; and
       Whereas Mr. France was a visionary and served the 
     motorsports industry with great distinction: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate extends its condolences to Mrs. 
     Betty Jane France, Lesa France Kennedy, Brian France, and the 
     entire France Family.

                          ____________________