DIED: Bill France Jr., the man who guided stock-car racing from a Southern sport to national prominence, died Monday following a long illness. France, the son of NASCAR founder William H.G. France, was 74 years old. France was president of NASCAR from January 1972 through November 2000.
SALE PENDING: HD Partners, a group headed by entrepreneur Eddy Hartenstein has entered into an agreement with the National Hot Rod Association to purchase the assets of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, forming NHRA Pro Racing. The $121 million transaction, which could take months to finalize, will include the professional racing series, four race tracks owned by NHRA and other associated assets.
HALL OF FAMERS: Shane Carson, Jerry Daniels, Kenny Jacobs, Hal Minyard, Earl Gaerte, Ken Coles, Emmett Hahn, Bayliss Levrett, Joe Jagersberger, Glen Niebel, Rajo Jack and Bill White were inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
COURTSHIP: A new track, Pacific Northwest Motorsports Park in Boardman, Oregon, is hoping to attract the International Speedway Corporation, which previously investigated building a track in Washington state, to build Oregon International Speedway on its site.
SUSPENDED: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Tyler Walker has been suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR's substance-abuse policy.
STILL NO. 1: Donny Schatz remained atop the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings after third, fifth, and sixth-place finishes in three World of Outlaws sprint-car races. NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point-leader Jeff Gordon is second.
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