Jim France has stepped down as NASCAR CEO but will continue as chairman and majority owner of the sanctioning body, according to the Sports Business Journal.
France, 81, assumed the CEO role from his nephew, Brian France, who held it on an interim basis in 2018. Jim France retained a 54 percent ownership stake in NASCAR. His niece, Lesa France Kennedy, owns the other 46 percent.
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How Steve O’Donnell became first NASCAR CEO outside the France family
Current NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell, 57, will become the first person outside the France family to become CEO since NASCAR was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948. After starting out in the marketing department in 1996, O’Donnell has served in several executive roles with NASCAR.
He was named president of NASCAR in March 2025 after Steve Phelps was moved to a new role as commissioner. Phelps resigned before the start of the 2026 season in January, and the position went unfilled.
O’DONNELL SAYS NASCAR NEEDS NASHVILLE: What NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell said about sport returning to Nashville Fairgrounds
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Bill France’s great-grandson expected to be NASCAR chief operating officer
NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer, Ben Kennedy, is expected to be promoted to chief operating officer. Kennedy is the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Lesa France Kennedy’s son.
NASCAR leadership shift comes after Michael Jordan lawsuit settlement
The NASCAR shift in leadership comes four months after an antitrust lawsuit brought by two race teams, including 23XI Racing, co-owned by basketball great Michael Jordan and Cup driver Denny Hamlin, reached a settlement. The settlement guaranteed permanent charters for race teams.
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The official announcement of these moves is expected to take place on April 25-26, while the Cup Series race is at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
NASCAR owns and operates 12 major racetracks, including Talladega and Daytona International Speedway.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jim France steps down as NASCAR CEO, remains as chairman
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