Sports cars on road courses are looking to build up a strong following among American race fans.
Growing up in Daytona Beach, the home of NASCAR, J. C. France was exposed to motorsports from the time he was born. The son of Jim France, the executive vice president and secretary of NASCAR, and grandson of NASCAR’s founder, “Big” Bill France, J.C. was able to get up close and personal with the sport’s greats at an early age.
It stands to reason he would want to become a driver himself. What may seem odd to those who don’t know him is that France chose to step outside the world of NASCAR to make a name for himself in racing.
“Obviously, my family has a lot of NASCAR and Winston Cup history,” says France. “But you have to figure I grew up in Daytona, and Daytona has a lot of racing history outside of NASCAR. I’d watch two stock car races a year there, but sports cars came through three times a year, and that’s what really interested me.”
France and teammate Hurley Haywood have been leading the points in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, which will spend the remainder of the 2003 season traveling to the likes of New York, Virginia, Florida and Quebec. Last year France competed in the Grand-Am Cup Series but has thrived since moving up to Grand American’s premiere circuit. He and Haywood started out with a second place finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and they have won the last two events at Miami and Phoenix. France drives the Porsche FABCAR Daytona Prototype sponsored by Brumos Racing.
“When I was growing up, I idolized Hurley Haywood,” France says. “And now to be teammates with him is the thrill of a lifetime. My life-long goal was to race in the 24 Hours of Daytona, and now I’ve been able to do that. Hopefully, there’ll be better things to come.”
France, 38, began racing in junior high school, starting out with flat track motorcycles. He then moved on to motocross and eventually found a niche in karting. Last season he competed in the Skip Barber Racing Series Grand-Am Cup ST 1 Class, and he is now part of road racing’s big leagues.
Driver J.C. France, grandson of the founder of NASCAR, found sports cars more interesting than stock cars when he was growing up in Daytona Beach, Fla.
