FanHouse BrianFrance

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- I went to the race track Thursday and an economic forum broke out. NASCAR Chairman Brian France addressed reporters during the annual season-opening Media Day at Daytona International Speedway and reiterated his concern that his sport be "sensitive'' to the tough economic times.

Drivers were talking about testing restrictions, marketing cutbacks, team layoffs and the future of Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and Toyota – before getting to the usual nuts and bolts of championship favorites and drafting Daytona -- site of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 15.

If NASCAR's effort to be more diverse needed a boost, well, it just got 225 million more reasons to switch into high gear.

As I'm sure you've seen everywhere -- heck, this made front page on nearly every news web site -- NASCAR is being sued by a former official claiming discrimination, sexual harassment, and other things. The official, who is black, worked for NASCAR in the Nationwide Series side of things for a couple of years before being terminated in 2007.

In the lawsuit, she claims many things with direct accusations of actions or words said by named series officials while heading to race tracks and while working in the garage and pit area. Nationwide Series director Joe Balash was even named in the documents.

NASCAR responded Wednesday with CEO Brian France saying that Mauricia Grant -- the official -- never reported the claims to the appropriate avenues in NASCAR management.

I'd say at this point NASCAR's reputation has taken a nice blow in the past few days. Of course, that's the way the American legal system works: the plaintiff makes the first sensational arguments in the media and then the defense is left to defend itself via a public relations statement.

Check out all of the NASCAR Fanhouse Daytona Speedweeks Coverage.
On Sunday, stop by for the live blog of the 50th Daytona 500 at 3:00pm/ET.

NASCAR CEO Brian France made a rare media appearance on ESPN2's pre-race coverage prior to Saturday afternoon's Camping World 300 for the Nationwide Series.

He had some interesting things to say in the brief interview, and tried to echo many of his comments from the pre-season media tour about limiting change in NASCAR for 2008 and trying to go "back to basics" -- the three word description of nearly everything NASCAR is doing for this season.

Rusty Wallace, Brad Daughtery, Dale Jarrett, and Allen Bestwick shared the set and asked France a few questions. Here's some of his answers:

On whether or not the next-generation car will be used in the Nationwide Series in 2009

Brian France: "I'm not sure. This is the right time for limited change on anything we're going to do. We've got a good rules package in the Nationwide Series."

On the identity of the Nationwide Series

BF: "My view, it's much like college football is to the NFL. The longer you stay, the more prepared you are. You're better prepared when you move to the Sprint Cup."

On looking at limited participation of Sprint Cup drivers in the Nationwide Series

NASCAR Chairman Brian France really loves the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

And because of that, don't expect any major amends to the format, or a complete reversal back to the standard point system -- regardless if many fans and at least one top driver questions how it affects the sport's future integrity.

France cited the increased point amounts for winning a race as a major reason why the Chase is working so well.

Example 1-A? Jimmie Johnson last week at Texas Motor Speedway.

"I actually called Jimmie Johnson on the phone and told him that [afterward]," France said. "By going after that win, he risked a lot -- because he knew how close it was and he knew that those bonus points were maybe going to be necessary to win it all. I think in the old days, a couple years ago, somebody might have settled for second."

Sure, you can't argue with the fact that adding 10 points to the winner's prize for a race was a good move. In fact, that number should be 20 to 30 points higher.

But are winning championships in the 10-race Chase playoff comparable to the "old" point system? Jeff Gordon doesn't see it that way.

(This will be the first part of a two-part series airing here on the Fanhouse. It will break down the final two races of the season for the two drivers, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who still have a manageable shot of winning the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup. Watch for the next one just before Homestead next week.)

Heading to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend for the 9th of 10 events in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, Jimmie Johnson leads teammate Jeff Gordon by 30 points. Here's a breakdown of their past success at Phoenix and what type of possibilities exist with the point standings.

PIR Stats: Jeff Gordon comes to PIR knowing that he was the last winner in April at the track, and that he is the only driver to win there in the next-generation NASCAR race car. Johnson, though, holds the average finish margin by one full position - 7.2 to Gordon's 8.2.

Gordon has 17 career Cup starts at PIR to Johnson's 8. In that time, Gordon has racked up 8 top-5s and 14 top-10s to Johnson's 3 top-5s and 6 top-10s.

Chase Stats: After gaining the 30 point Chase lead last week at Texas, things are looking brighter for Johnson. However, that could change very quickly, as well. If Gordon wins and leads the most laps, he will tie Johnson if the No. 48 finishes 3rd without a led lap or fourth with one. A 43rd-place finish for Johnson at that point would give Gordon a 131-point lead heading to Homestead.

Likewise, if Johnson found victory lane and led the most laps, he could clinch the championship if Gordon finishes 34th or worse by simply starting at Homestead.

Naturally, Johnson can control his own destiny by winning the last two events, but Gordon can as well. If he wins at PIR and Homestead leads the most laps in both events, Gordon would take the title. If he doesn't lead the most laps and Johnson finishes 2nd in each event and leads a lap, the season would end in a tie, with the title going Johnson based on wins.

It shall be interesting, wouldn't you say?

So that Thursday announcement didn't pan out.

But the the Friday one certainly will. (At 12:30pm EST, actually!)

That announcement also won't likely carry any new news along for Lowe's Motor Speedway vs. Concord City Council, either, as Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith is expected to announce a purchase of Bob Bahre's independently owned track in New England -- New Hampshire International Speedway.

On Friday, Smith is expected to announce only the purchase of the track in Loudon, N.H., and not speculate on any plans to move either of its two Nextel Cup Series race dates, multiple sources said.

Smith has previously stated his desire to add a second Cup date to his track in Las Vegas. He also has expressed interest in an earlier date for his second Texas race to avoid a conflict with the opening of white-tail deer hunting season.

Yes, you read that correctly -- to avoid a conflict in Texas with not an open wheel race, a Cowboys game, or a rodeo but rather white-tail deer hunting season.

Think that just threw out every stereotype that the NASCAR bigwigs in Daytona have been trying so hard to abandon? You can bet Brian France is cringing to hear that a track owner is trying to help the fans that don't drink martinis or Perrier -- but rather is making them us a priority.

And to think, just Tuesday, I was questioning Bruton's commitment to the fans. (And well, I probably still would if he moves LMS, but as for now, he's got some points in my book.)

But the real announcement on this issue, apparently, isn't being made Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Speed Channel's open wheel racing reporter Robin Miller, known to many NASCAR fans only as a frequent guest on "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain," reported a rumor Saturday that Brian France will step down as Chief Executive Officer of NASCAR.

The rumor claims that Brian would be replaced by his uncle Jim, brother of the late Bill Jr. and current CEO of NASCAR's International Speedway Corporation. That move would presumably open the door for current ISC President Lesa France Kennedy, Brian's sister, to move up.

Ok ... so that sounds unlikely, but plausible. Until you get to the part about where the rumor has Brian headed: to the non-NASCAR related Grand Am Road Racing Association.

No way. I think we can assume that if they younger France were to step down, it wouldn't be by choice. But even if the family forced him to step aside from the big role, I don't see them pushing him completely out the door. And unless NASCAR is somehow acquiring Grand Am (they're not ... right?), I really don't see France leaving the family business to go there--or any place else, for that matter.

Then again, we've all seen how the dynamics of a NASCAR family business can change after a principle member of the family passes on. Still, I say this is a highly doubtful scenario.

Brian France seems a little ticked.

After all, he's got Kentucky hating him, crew chiefs showing up at race tracks when they're suspended, and whether or not NASCAR has any business in China.

Now, France is threatening to suspend drivers if they don't show some r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

"We'd like not to get to (suspending drivers)," chairman Brian France said during a conference call Tuesday. "We'd like to make the deterrent, a portion of the penalty, significant enough that that isn't necessary for us to do.

"But are we willing to go there? Of course we would. We have in the past and we will in the future. We're not hoping to do that. That's sort of a death penalty."

Cough, cough, Kurt Busch, anyone?

The season's biggest question has been answered. Here's the early industry reaction.

Brian France, Chairman/CEO of NASCAR: "Today's announcement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s move to Hendrick Motorsports is indeed an important announcement for this season and beyond, and it should be noted that high-profile partnerships have always been a part of NASCAR's competitive history. There have been so many great partnerships involving people of great character and ability. We're proud of what they have brought to our sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always said that first and foremost, he wants to win a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship. We wish him the best of luck."

Rusty Wallace, ESPN Analyst, Former NASCAR Champion: "I can't think of anything at all that's bigger. He hit a home run and hit it out of the ballpark. His father always loved Rick Hendrick and had a great admiration for him. With Junior finding that he can be in a car with points, he's assured that he's in all the races next year. You'll never risk any problems whether it rains or you have a blown engine that can keep you out of a race. I think he could have done well at Richard Childress next season, but there was one problem – he wouldn't have had points headed into the 2008 season. "Rick Hendrick has amazing integrity and is a wonderful human being. Rick stepped in and helped me out to win my championship in 1989. He always jokes that he has six and a half championships because he funded half of Rusty's team. His personal office is inside the race shop. Motorsports is his love."

Larry Mac, Fox Sports Analyst, Former Crew Chief: As much as some would think this move was a no-brainer, I'm sure that it was a very tough decision on for Hendrick because he's a very loyal individual. But from a business and financial perspective, there was just no way he was going to blow an opportunity to field a car for Dale Jr.

Tom Jensen, SpeedTV: For Earnhardt, there's not much question that it's the right choice. Note to Kyle Busch: Call Brian Vickers to see how well getting off the Hendrick gravytrain has worked out for him.

Tom Bowles, SI:
The rest of NASCAR better watch out.

Indeed.

NASCAR really loves other countries. Like really, really. And apparently, China loves them, too.

At least kinda really.

Chairman Brian France is heading to China this week with a four-person entourage to discuss the NASCAR product with several prominent leaders in the country. I'll let the article tell the rest.

NASCAR has no plans to race its Nextel Cup series in China. The trip is likely to involve discussions about lower-level NASCAR-type events or series at Chinese racetracks and business relationships that might include NASCAR and Chinese interests. It was not known if any contracts or agreements might be signed on the trip.

Can you imagine the uneasiness felt in the garage area over this one? If NASCAR isn't planning on sending Cup teams, then imagine how the lesser-funded folks in the Busch and Truck garages are feeling. A trip to China is not like driving to the airport and getting on a plane. Remember, teams will need two cars, all their tools, all their equipment -- and then somehow find a way to make the profitable.

Granted, it's highly likely that before NASCAR ever gets to a point where a date is scheduled in the far-east, Brian France will roasted like a marshmallow. I will, throw in, however, that NASCAR did race three exhibition races in Japan in late 90's, and that was such a roaring success that the plan died out after three years.

I guess I just don't understand where France thinks this NASCAR ship is heading. TV ratings have generally been going down, races aren't selling out in the homeland, but yet, it's time to keep expanding away from their target audience? I understand that you have to grow your product, but their direction seems misaligned.

Hopefully this trip is about nothing more than sponsorship deals and some fine Chinese cuisine.