NASCAR MATRIARCH, HUMANITARIAN FRANCE DIES
Betty Jane France, wife of the late Bill France Jr. and mother of racing executives Brian France and Lesa France Kennedy, died Monday night. Though her husband and children were involved in making NASCAR what it is today, France was perhaps best known for her charitable efforts. She founded the NASCAR Foundation in 2006 and was its chairwoman for many years, helping establish a children’s “Speediatrics” unit at two Florida hospitals. Her name is on the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented annually by NASCAR. France’s age was not known publicly.