The NASCAR community will gather in Daytona Beach Thursday, not for a race, but to say farewell to former chairman and CEO Bill France Jr., who died Monday.
He was 74.
The funeral will be held at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.
Reigning champion Jimmie Johnson, who's scheduled to appear Thursday morning on "Live with Regis & Kelly," will make the appearance in New York and then head south for the ceremony.
He's not alone.
The service is open to the public and considering the tributes that have been made already - and France's contribution to the sporting world - there's no doubt the lines will be long to honor him.
"I loved that old man, he meant a lot to me," Darrell Waltrip said, teary-eyed, during Monday's race telecast on Fox. "I don't know what I'm going to do without him."
The somber mood set in place when word broke Monday that France had died will no doubt carry over into this weekend's event at the Pocono Raceway.
Flags at the speedway will remain at half-mast until the end of Sunday's race. And cars in all NASCAR touring series this weekend will carry a special decal honoring France this weekend.
"We have been associated since 1967," Pocono CEO Dr. Joseph Mattioli said in a statement. "Our families have been friends all that time and had it not been for Bill France, Pocono Raceway would not be here today. Many times over the years he has helped us through some difficult times and Bill France was very important to the success of Pocono Raceway."
It was a relationship that was more than just being business associates.Labels: baseball, basketball, news |
