Quick Facts: NASCAR
| Controlling Owner | France Family (Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy, Brian France) |
| Chairman | Jim France |
| Ownership Type | Private (family-controlled) |
| Founded | 1948 (by Bill France Sr., Daytona Beach, Florida) |
| Headquarters | Daytona Beach, Florida, USA |
| Commissioner/President | Steve Phelps |
| Signature Event | Daytona 500 |
| Publicly Traded | No |
Who Owns NASCAR?
NASCAR (the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is owned and controlled by the France family, the founding dynasty of American stock car racing. The organization was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. in Daytona Beach, Florida, and has remained under France family control ever since — making it one of the longest-running family-controlled sports properties in American history. Jim France, the brother of the late Bill France Jr., serves as NASCAR’s Chairman. Steve Phelps serves as NASCAR’s President. In 2018, Jim France assumed the Chairman role after his nephew Brian France (Bill France Jr.’s son) stepped down following a personal legal matter. The organization is entirely privately held and the France family has never taken NASCAR public.
About the France Family
Bill France Sr. (1909–1992) was the visionary founder who unified southern stock car racing into a single sanctioning body — NASCAR — in 1948 and built it into America’s preeminent motorsports organization. His son Bill France Jr. (1933–2007) grew NASCAR into a national broadcast phenomenon during the 1970s–2000s, negotiating landmark television deals that transformed the sport. The family’s leadership tree includes Jim France (current Chairman), Lesa France Kennedy (Jim’s daughter and significant stakeholder), and other family members who hold interests in affiliated entities such as International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which owns most of NASCAR’s major tracks. ISC was taken private and merged into NASCAR in 2019, consolidating the France family’s control over both the sanctioning body and its racetrack portfolio.
Key Ownership Highlights
- NASCAR was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. in Daytona Beach, Florida, and has remained under France family private ownership for over 75 years.
- Jim France, the brother of the late Bill France Jr., serves as NASCAR Chairman. Steve Phelps is President.
- In 2019, NASCAR merged with International Speedway Corporation (ISC), the France family’s track-ownership company, giving the France family consolidated control over NASCAR racing and most of its major venues.
- NASCAR is privately held — no shares are publicly traded and no outside institutional investors hold ownership stakes in the sanctioning body.
- The France family’s portfolio includes ownership control of Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and numerous other NASCAR tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns NASCAR?
NASCAR is owned and controlled by the France family, the founding dynasty of American stock car racing. Jim France serves as Chairman. NASCAR was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948 and has remained family-controlled ever since.
Is NASCAR publicly traded?
No. NASCAR is a privately held organization controlled by the France family. It is not listed on any stock exchange.
Who is the current head of NASCAR?
Jim France is Chairman of NASCAR. Steve Phelps serves as President. Jim France assumed the Chairman role in 2018 after his nephew Brian France stepped down.
Does the France family own the racetracks too?
Yes. In 2019, NASCAR merged with International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which the France family had also controlled. This consolidated ownership of the NASCAR sanctioning body and most of its major racetracks — including Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway — under the France family umbrella.