NASCAR Chairman Arrested for DUI, Drug Possession
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]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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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.