Reports: Jim France to step down as NASCAR's chief executive officer, Steve O'Donnell promoted

NASCAR France Auto Racing

FILE - Jim France, right, chairman and executive vice president of NASCAR, talks with sponsors in Victory Lance after the second of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File\_ (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NASCAR France Auto Racing

FILE - Steve O'Donnell, executive vice president of NASCAR, talks about the Next Gen Cup Cars that will be used in the 2022 season during the NASCAR media event in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NASCAR France Auto Racing

FILE - NASCAR CEO Jim France, right, along with the Executive Vice President of NASCAR Lesa France Kennedy announce the Landmark Award to Edsel Ford II at Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Charlotte, N.C. Jan. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NASCAR France Auto Racing

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2019, file photo, Jim France, executive vice president of NASCAR, stands on pit road as he watches auto racing at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla.. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR majority owner Jim France is stepping down as chief executive and will be replaced by president Steve O'Donnell, according to multiple reports. France will remain as NASCAR's chairman and his majority ownership stake will not change. O'Donnell will be the first person outside the France family to hold the CEO title of NASCAR. Bill France Sr. founded the United States' most popular racing series in 1948 and always had a family member in the top role prior to the changes expected to be announced at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama on Saturday. Ben Kennedy, France's great-nephew, will be promoted to chief operating officer. Jim France had been chairman and CEO of NASCAR since the 2019 resignation of his nephew, Brian. France took a hardline stance in negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement, triggering an anti-trust lawsuit by Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The sides reached a settlement in December that granted NASCAR teams the permanent charters they had sought. France was soft spoken, needed several questions repeated and struggled to remember several topics during his first day of testimony in the anti-trust trial before a stronger second day. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps resigned earlier this year after inflammatory texts he sent during contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed during the trial. \\\_ AP auto racing: