Don’t be surprised if Lesa France-Kennedy steps in to take over NASCAR from her brother, Brian France, the current CEO of NASCAR.
At present, France-Kennedy is the president of International Speedway Corp., which operates 12 of the Nextel Cup tracks. ISC is a subsidiary of NASCAR.
It was France-Kennedy’s husband, Dr. Bruce Kennedy, who was killed in a plane crash, just outside Orlando, Fla., on July 10.
To get over the loss, France-Kennedy, who also lost her dad, Bill France, Jr., a couple of weeks prior to the that plane crash, France-Kennedy will have to step up to the top.
And, believe me folks, she’s more than capable of doing the job.
And she’ll do it like William H.G. “Big Bill” France, Sr., her grandfather and the founder of NASCAR.
Lesa France-Kennedy was born in a boardroom. She’s as tough as they come.
She learned how to use four-letter words from two of the best in the business and she can hold her own. She doesn’t flinch.
Her late husband, a behind-the-scenes type character, taught her that. He was not a titled NASCAR official, but he knew a lot and was a steadying influence on his wife, supporting her all the way.
And the grace period is over for France-Kennedy’s brother.
When her younger brother, Brian, was named NASCAR’s CEO, replacing her father, there was something of an agreement between France-Kennedy and Jimmy France, her dad’s brother, that neither of them would attempt a takeover, giving Brian five years to prove his worth, out of respect for France-Kennedy’s and Brian’s mother, Betty Jane France.
Well, as long as his dad was alive, Brian was doing a decent job.
That was because he had his dad as a sounding board.
Without his dad around, Brian is weak and NASCAR will suffer.
Those television numbers will continue to dwindle.
And Brian already has admitted he was not a lifelong NASCAR person, more than likely one day going back to the Los Angeles area to pursue a National Football League franchise for that city.
Put Lesa France-Kennedy in charge and all hell will break loose. She’ll shake things up, good fashion.
It’ll be like days of old for NASCAR with France-Kennedy in charge.
She’ll be so much like her grandfather, you’ll think you’re seeing double.
She’ll get down in that garage area and go out amongst them and take time to talk to the car owners, drivers and crewmen, finding out what’s going on and exactly what NASCAR needs to do to improve.
No one’s done that since her dad and grandfather.
Brian has tried to do it a couple of times, but nobody knows him and he went unrecognized and unnoticed.
And while you’re at it, Lesa France-Kennedy, take a hard look around.
Qualifying procedures for Cup need to go back like they were — the 41 fastest cars qualify and you can use a couple of provisionals, in case they’re needed.
And some of these darn races are just to long and need to be shortened up, either in number of laps or timed events. That’s why they’re so damn boring and losing television appeal. People look at the first 50 laps, go do their Sunday shopping and come back and watch the last 50 laps and don’t miss a thing.
And you’ve got to stop all his bending the rules mess. Forget about the crew chiefs, hell most people can’t name three or four crew chiefs and don’t care who they are anyhow. So start suspending the drivers, that’ll get their attention and put a stop to the mess.
Lesa France-Kennedy, if you step up and take over, like I know you have a burning desire to do so, heck, I think I’ll come out of retirement to watch what happens.
It’ll certainly be worth the price of admission.