What Happened to Bill France Jr.: How Did He Die?

Bill France Jr. was an American motorsports executive with a $2 billion net worth at the time of his death. From 1972 to 2000, Bill France was the CEO of NASCAR. He was the heir to his father, Bill Sr., and the forerunner to his son, Brian France.

Bill France was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame three years after his death, in 2010.

How did Bill France Jr. Die?

Bill France Jr. died of lung cancer on June 4, 2007, at about 1:00 p.m., in Daytona Beach, Florida. His death occurred during the rain-delayed Autism Speaks 400 Cup race, and his death was reported at lap 261 during the race’s live broadcast. During a restart on lap 279, NASCAR on Fox lead announcer Mike Joy held a “silence” period, and the track’s flag was lowered to half-staff.

Meanwhile, Bill France Jr. was born in Washington, DC on April 4, 1933, to Anne and Bill Sr. Jim is his younger brother. The brothers’ father was a businessman and racing driver who formed NASCAR, a governing body for stock car racing in the United States, in 1948. The family relocated to Daytona Beach, Florida, during the Great Depression.

France spent a lot of time on racing tracks as a kid, thanks to his f ather’s job, selling snacks and assisting in parking cars at the Daytona Beach Road Course. He also helped to build the Daytona International Speedway. France went to Seabreeze High School and the University of Florida for her education. He also served in the United States Navy for two years.

France pursued a racing career after leaving the Navy. In the 1960s, he began competing in enduros on off-road bikes. France entered the Baja 1000 motorcycle category and raced in motocross at Daytona in the early 2000s.

France was NASCAR’s vice president for six years before becoming the company’s new CEO after his father retired in early 1972. During his tenure, he would dramatically develop NASCAR, transforming it from a Southern localized sport to a national one. France did this in part by broadcasting the sport on television.

In 1979, he agreed to televise the Daytona 500 alongside CBS Sports president Neal Pilson, making it the first live NASCAR race aired from start to finish. The race, which was won by Richard Petty after leaders Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison collided on the final lap, received excellent ratings on television. The telecast’s success helped France land more broadcast contracts throughout the years, including with ESPN, TNN, and TBS. Among his other accomplishments as CEO, he was instrumental in the expansion of the Daytona 500 stock car race and the Daytona 200 motorcycle race at Daytona International Speedway.