Brian France, NASCAR Chairman/CEO and least photogenic man alive, was arrested for driving under the influence and being in possession of Oxycodone over the weekend. If your illicit substances dictionary hasn’t been updated for a few volumes, Oxycodone is a powerful opioid with a few different brand names that lends itself heavily to addiction and dependence. Meanwhile, “under the influence” still just means drunk.
In charge of NASCAR since 2003, France’s family has been behind the wheel of the sport since its inception in 1948. While we absolutely don’t condone drinking and driving, there is something oddly fitting about the CEO of a sport founded by bootleggers getting slapped with a DUI.
Based on reporting from TMZ Sports, the 56-year-old NASCAR chairman’s Lexus was seen ignoring a stop sign in Sag Harbor, New York around 7:30 on Sunday evening. During the subsequent traffic stop, officers suspected France of being intoxicated and conducted a field sobriety test — which he promptly failed.
France’s blood alcohol level was allegedly twice the legal limit allowable for operating a motor vehicle, resulting in his arrest and booking for DUI and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree.
While available via a prescription for chronic pain, Oxycodone can also be taken recreationally as a pill, crushed up and snorted, or even injected if you’re okay with your life becoming a complete mess. It’s unclear whether or not France had a doctor’s note for the medication but, based upon the charges, that seems unlikely. Either way, it pairs extremely poorly with alcohol and would send your motor functions straight into the toilet — assuming you managed to stay conscious.
The CEO was released from police custody early Monday morning, following his his arraignment. NASCAR has said it is aware of the situation and will issue a statement after it has gathered the facts.
[Image: NASCAR]
Was he driving the #40 (mg) Purdue Pharma car?
The way he’s run NA$CAR, I *knew* he had to be on drugs.
/off a cliff
This. I gave up on NASCAR a couple of years ago after watching for nearly 15 years. It certainly is not his fault the greats like Mark Martin are gone, but the yearly rework and the stupid new format that just sucks is most certainly his fault. Even my wife, who got me into racing and who had watched with her late father for over 30 years, gave it up. She admitted that part of the reason for her was the association with all those pro Trumpers…she cringed at some races when she heard the most backward of statements. Me, I was amazed that for most of the fans, the walk up the stands was the most exercise that they got since, well, the last race. I stood out like a sore thumb even with the driver-correct attire. My biggest take-away from my last Martinsville race was not that those red hot dogs suck – they do – but that America is going to be facing a diabetic medical epidemic that will make opioids look like a warm up lap.
Wait? The head of NASCAR drives a Lexus? I mean, sure…Toyota competes, but shouldn’t he be veering the wheel of a Chevy or Ford?
On a more serious note, I wonder how much damage this will do to him, given the demographics of the sport (and yeah, that’s probably a hugely bad stereotype on my part)?
I don’t know if his reputation could go any lower. France is so unpopular among NASCAR fans that he makes Gary Bettman look like organic avocados at a Millennial farmer’s market.
“…he makes Gary Bettman look like organic avocados at a Millennial farmer’s market.” Well said sir, quote of the week.
As a Tony Stewart fan and a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, I can attest to the absolute truth of this statement!
As a Tony Stewart fan and a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, I can attest to the absolute truth of this statement!
I think the real stereotype is where he got arrested. Apparently he spends every summer in the Hamptons, something he has in common with exactly ZERO NASCAR fans. In the interest of maintaining appearances for the rabble, he should’ve summered on the Redneck Riviera instead.
Oh, don’t start on this. I was on the beach in Rhode Island where all illegal immigration supporters go to. But there was no one non-white family there. Eh. They should join community pools to be closer to the people they fighting for.
As a resident of the outskirts of the RR, we don’t want him!
A few weeks ago he said the France family was “locked and loaded” in their commitment to NASCAR…I guess he meant “locked up and loaded”…
I’m not surprised the man running NASCAR is addicted to narcotics. It shows in the way the series is being run.
I have never understood why monied people will not hire a driver. Baby or otherwise. Too bad they can’t buy the law, or the laws of physics.
There really is no excuse these days with ride hailing services so common.
re Heino’s comment:
Hubris. The attitude that I am such a big deal that I will do whatever I want, whenever I want. Only the peasants worry about consequences of breaking laws / being inconvenienced by the same.
Whoever pick this picture, give him/her a raise. Sometimes a picture really is worth 10,000 words. Dude looks higher than Desus and Mero talking about weed at Vice.
A driver caught up in these circumstances is generally suspended…wonder if he will suspend himself…
This would be akin to MLB’s Rob Manfred getting busted with PED’s.
Awkward!
Short memory.
“I want your commander now. I am a France. Do you know what that means? We own this city.”
Read more: https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/j-c-france-member-nascars-royal-family-charged-dui-cocaine-possession#ixzz5NQaQv96z
these goofballs you link to claim it was a street race in Florida. it was in the Hamptons. joke.
Odd how NASCAR’s product began its decline around the time this moron took over.
Warning: Alcohol may intensify this effect.
I thought this is Lindsey Graham on drugs
This is america. We also have brain-dead congress-people ruling this country…. for decades.
I imagine the accompanying photo is on his way to jail and not leaving it as he looks completely $hitfaced.
He sure looks bad in that picture, but at least his daughter looks sober.
HA!
“Either way, it pairs extremely poorly with alcohol and would send your motor functions straight into the toilet — assuming you managed to stay conscious.”
Then WHY do they put those little “winking eye” and “alcohol suggested” stickers on the pill bottles? Sheesh.
Good reference
There’s nothing fitting about it. It’s just stupid. One might consider it a little ironic but it’s still stupid – as in stupid behavior on his part.
“Paging NASCAR Road to Recovery”. He’s now on an indefinite leave of absence.
No wonder some of the top drivers were hoping NASCAR would be sold.
Hopefully this accelerates either the sale of or complete revamp of NASCAR’s structure. Literally every factor you can blame on the decline of NASCAR happened either because of Brian France or on his watch.
“NASCAR Chairman/CEO and least photogenic man alive…”
Um, nope. Google search Raiders owner Mark Davis. Way worse than this guy.