Jim France steps down as NASCAR CEO in major leadership shift

Jim France steps down as NASCAR CEO in major leadership shift

Jim France has stepped down as NASCAR CEO but will continue as chairman and majority owner of the sanctioning body, according to the Sports Business Journal.

France, 81, assumed the CEO role from his nephew, Brian France, who held it on an interim basis in 2018. Jim France retained a 54 percent ownership stake in NASCAR. His niece, Lesa France Kennedy, owns the other 46 percent.

How Steve O'Donnell became first NASCAR CEO outside the France family

Current NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell, 57, will become the first person outside the France family to become CEO since NASCAR was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948. After starting out in the marketing department in 1996, O'Donnell has served in several executive roles with NASCAR.

He was named president of NASCAR in March 2025 after Steve Phelps was moved to a new role as commissioner. Phelps resigned before the start of the 2026 season in January, and the position went unfilled.

O'DONNELL SAYS NASCAR NEEDS NASHVILLE: What NASCAR's Steve O'Donnell said about sport returning to Nashville Fairgrounds

Bill France's great-grandson expected to be NASCAR chief operating officer

NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovations officer, Ben Kennedy, is expected to be promoted to chief operating officer. Kennedy is the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Lesa France Kennedy's son.

NASCAR leadership shift comes after Michael Jordan lawsuit settlement