BETTY JANE FRANCE, "known fondly as the 'First Lady of NASCAR Racing,'" died yesterday at the age of 78, according to Godwin Kelly of the Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL. Her grandson, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver BEN KENNEDY, confirmed the passing when he "sent out a message on his Twitter account." France was Exec VP & Assistant Treasurer of NASCAR and Chair of the NASCAR Foundation. The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award "was created in her honor" in '11. France and her late husband, BILL FRANCE JR., met in her hometown of Winston-Salem. They "married and soon relocated to Daytona Beach." France's daughter, LESA FRANCE KENNEDY serves as ISC CEO (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 8/30).
SOCIAL OUTPOURING: NASCAR drivers, execs and media this morning shared their tributes and condolences on Twitter. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote, “Betty Jane France was an awesome lady. Always charitable. A true advisor over the years to Bill Jr. during major growth in our sport.” Michael Waltrip tweeted, “Betty Jane was a wonderful person. Her legacy of caring and giving will live on forever.” NASCAR Senior VP/Strategic Development Eric Nyquist wrote, “God speed Betty Jane. Class through and through. Sad day across the NASCAR nation.” NASCAR Senior VP/Racing Operations Jim Cassidy: “Very sad day. I will forever hold in high esteem Betty Jane France and all that she did for children, for the community and for our sport.” ESPN’s Ryan McGee wrote, “It was also something back in the day to watch Betty Jane France walk into those men-only #NASCAR rooms & instantly class them up."
