NASCAR memo: France family ‘dedicated’ to sport

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If NASCAR is for sale, the France family isn’t saying.

An attempt to calm employees about the future of the struggling, family owned racing series came Tuesday from NASCAR President Brent Dewar, but his memo said only that there would be no comment on “industry rumors.”

It’s long whispered that NASCAR could be on the selling block and Chairman Brian France has become dramatically less visible since the end of last season. Most public duties are now handled by Dewar, who addressed employees about a report a day earlier that Goldman Sachs had been retained to explore a potential sale for the France family.

The France family, which owns a majority stake in the nation’s top auto racing series, “remains dedicated to the long-term growth of our sport,” Dewar wrote in the memo obtained by The Associated Press from a person who shared it on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

The memo did not specifically address any possible deal by the France family. “For over 70 years, the France family has worked hard to invest in the sport of NASCAR, including our recent acquisitions of ARCA,” Dewar wrote, referring to the recent purchase of the Automobile Racing Series of America, a lower-tier stock car series that sometimes races in conjunction with NASCAR events.

NASCAR has seen ratings and attendance decline in recent seasons and several big-name sponsors have scaled back or pulled out. Lowe’s, the only sponsor seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson has had in his 18-year career, is leaving at the end of the season. Home Depot, Target, Subway, Dollar General and scores of other sponsors have already exited racing.

Title sponsor Monster Energy