France Jr. named winner of annual NMPA Spirit Award

Former NASCAR chairman William C. France was named the recipient of the NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award. France became NASCAR's president in January 1972, replacing his father and becoming only the second president of the world's largest auto racing sanctioning body. He remained president until November 2000, when Mike Helton took over the position.

At that time, France announced the formation of a NASCAR board of directors on which he served as chairman. France served as NASCAR's chairman and CEO until October 2003 when his son, Brian Z. France, replaced him.

France Jr.

France grew up in the formative years of stock-car racing and during his career, he flagged events, scored, conducted, promoted, served as a steward and even raced himself a few times in the 1950s.

In addition to his NASCAR duties, France was Chairman of the Board of International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and a director of the National Motorsports Council of ACCUS-FIA.

In his later years, France helped reshape the structure of the Cup Series schedule as it became more national in scope, oversaw the creation of the group's $10 million Research and Development Center, and helped broker deals that brought Sprint in as the premier series' sponsor as well as the return of network television.

France died June 4, 2007, at his home in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was 74.

"He blazed so many trails for our sport," Helton said. "He was determined to follow the vision of his father while also expanding on that vision. Over nearly four decades, he did a masterful job."

The NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award, which has been presented annually since 1992, recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity, as well as sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Four quarterly winners are selected, with one overall Spirit award winner chosen by a vote of the NMPA membership at year's end. The award will be presented during the group's annual dinner and awards ceremony in January, 2008.

James Hylton was named the first-quarter winner of the award while Ray Cooper was the recipient of the award for the second quarter and Al Pearce the fourth-quarter winner.

• NASCAR.COM: Tribute to Bill France Jr.