DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The stars turned out Thursday afternoon to pay their final respects to their leader.
Bill France, Jr., Chairman of International Speedway Corporation and Vice-Chairman of NASCAR, was laid to rest in a private ceremony Thursday afternoon, following a public funeral service at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center here. France, 74, died June 4.
More than 2,000 friends and fans attended the ceremony, which was officiated by Reverand Donald Epps of the Seabreeze United Church. Epps took a stage which was lined with elaborate flowers and wreaths, while France’s casket, which was covered in white flowers, sat at center stage.
Epps told mourners France was “in a better place,” while attendees were able to watch the service from three giant television screens.
Brief eulogies were delivered by France’s wife, Betty Jane, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick and Daytona Mayor Glenn Ritchey.
“I would like to thank all of you for your kindness, your love, your support; your phone calls and cards have meant so much to all of us,” Betty Jane France said. “Bill France loved Daytona Beach, and today we feel the love returning to him.”
Hendrick lightened the mood with an anecdote relating to his first meeting with France when he entered the sport, but also spoke seriously about the man that many remembered as a visionary.
“He was our mentor,” Hendrick said. “He was our leader. He was a great friend, and we’re all going to miss him. He was a bear of a man, but he really had a teddy bear of a heart.”
The number of NASCAR celebrities and dignitaries on hand was tool large to mention, but among them were Michael Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Donnie Allison, Kyle Petty, Carl Edwards, Robby Gordon, Bruton Smith, Humpy Wheeler, Roger Penske, Ray Evernham, Jack Roush and Edsel Ford.