Origins & Early Life

William Henry Getty France (September 26, 1909 – June 7, 1992) was an American businessman and racing driver. He was also known as Bill France Sr. or Big Bill. He is best known for founding and managing NASCAR, a sanctioning body of American-based stock car racing.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

France was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Emma Graham, an immigrant from Ireland, and William Henry France. His older brother James died at the age of 11. Big Bill skipped school as a teenager to make laps in the family Model T Ford at the high-banked 1.5-mile (2.4 km) board track near Laurel, Maryland. He ran laps until there was just enough time to beat his father home. France worked at several jobs before owning and operating his own service station.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He built his customer base by waking before dawn and crank-starting customers' cars in the middle of winter. France was familiar with Daytona Beach's land speed record history when he moved his family from Washington, D.C. to Daytona in the spring of 1935 to escape the Great Depression. He had less than $100 in his pocket when they left D.C. He began painting houses, then worked at a local car dealership. He set up a car repair shop in Daytona at 316...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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