Betty Jane France, mother of NASCAR CEO, dies

Betty Jane France, the mother of NASCAR CEO Brian France and International Speedway Corp. CEO Lesa France Kennedy, died on Monday according to the sanctioning body. She was 78.

France was married to Bill France Jr., who succeeded his father as the chairman of NASCAR. Bill France Jr. died in 2007. She was considered by many to be “The First Lady of NASCAR” and NASCAR’s humanitarian award, given annually to a deserving recipient who does exceptional charity work, is named in her honor.

“Last night, the NASCAR family lost a mother, a grandmother, a friend and the light that guided the sport’s charitable arm,” Brian France said in a statement. “My mother taught us incredible values, that of love, patience, compassion and joy. She embraced life every day, and nothing fueled her passion more than children. Her unmatched efforts in building The NASCAR Foundation improved the lives of millions of children throughout this country. And because of that, her legacy will live forever.”

Betty Jane was the chairwoman emeritus of the NASCAR Foundation, the charitable arm of the sanctioning body. The Betty Jane France Award was created in 2011 and is presented at the NASCAR Banquet at the end of the season. She also helped establish children’s health care units at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Florida, and also at a hospital in Homestead, Florida.

Her grandson, Ben Kennedy, became the first member of the France family to win a NASCAR national series race earlier this month. Kennedy won at Bristol in the Camping World Truck Series on Aug. 17.

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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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