Johnson wanted to wear Earnhardt’s fire suit: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Monday that Jimmie Johnson had asked him to borrow one of his father’s old uniforms to complete his retro look for this weekend’s NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Earnhardt Jr.’s remarks came on Monday’s edition of the “Dale Jr. Download,” a 70-minute episode that he co-hosted on his Dirty Mo Radio network. Earnhardt did not provide a health update on the concussion-related symptoms that have forced him to miss the last six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, but offered an anecdote about his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, who will be running a blue-and-yellow paint scheme on his #48 Chevy that pays tribute to Earnhardt’s father and the legendary David Pearson — both NASCAR Hall of Famers. “He’s texting me, he’s like, ‘You got one of your dad’s old uniforms and all that stuff?’ “ Earnhardt said of a recent exchange with Johnson. “He wanted to actually wear it to intros, and it would fit probably. It smells like ... every bit of 40 years old.” Earnhardt will be replaced by interim driver Jeff Gordon in this Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 as his recovery from concussion-related issues continues. Earnhardt said he was “real sad” he won’t be driving his own throwback paint scheme, a #88 Chevy that pays homage to Buddy Baker’s “Gray Ghost” look from the early 1980s.(NASCAR.com)(8-30-2016
******************What a Weasle, to even think he’s even close to being worthy of wearing Dale Sr’s fire suit !!!!*************************
Sad News - Betty Jane France: Betty Jane France, known fondly as the “First Lady of NASCAR Racing,” died Monday, according to various sources, including a tweet from a family member. A NASCAR representative would neither confirm nor deny France’s death, but a friend of the family late Monday night confirmed that she had died in the afternoon. Betty Jane’s grandson, driver Ben Kennedy, sent out a message on his Twitter account that read: “We all miss you grandma. Thank you for being you still can’t believe it. #neverforgotten” France was executive vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR and chairperson of the NASCAR Foundation. The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award was created in her honor in 2011. Through the NASCAR Foundation, this award recognizes outstanding charitable and volunteer efforts of NASCAR fans. For the last five years, France presented this award at the NASCAR Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, France, the former Betty Jane Zachary, met her husband, William C. France in her hometown. They married and soon relocated to Daytona Beach. Bill France Jr. rose through the ranks to become the chairman and CEO of NASCAR. He passed away in June 2007 at the age of 74. France’s children, Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corporation and Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, now lead the empire started by William H.G. France, along with Betty Jane’s brother-in-law, Jim France, who is vice chairman of NASCAR and chairman of ISC. Betty Jane France was a community leader and known as a champion of health care for children. She assisted in the establishment of the “Speediatrics” children’s care unit at Halifax Health Medical Center and helped develop a similar facility for children in Homestead, where International Speedway Corporation owns a racetrack. She was a member of the Junior League and has served on boards of numerous area community service organizations including the Volusia/Flagler chapter of the American Red Cross and the Garden Club of the Halifax Country.(Daytona Beach News-Journal)
AND Betty Jane France, a philanthropist in support of children’s health causes, passed away Monday evening. France is the mother of NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the former Betty Jane Zachary was the widow of the late NASCAR Chairman and CEO William C. France, who passed away in 2007. Betty Jane France was executive vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR and the chairwoman emeritus of the NASCAR Foundation.
“Last night, the NASCAR family lost a mother, a grandmother, a friend and the light that guided the sport’s charitable arm,” said Brian France. “My mother taught us incredible values, that of love, patience, compassion and joy. She embraced life every day, and nothing fueled her passion more than children. Her unmatched efforts in building The NASCAR Foundation improved the lives of millions of children throughout this country. And because of that, her legacy will live forever. My father leaned on my mother throughout his life, relying on her wisdom and calming demeanor to help grow the sport of NASCAR. She was there, every step of the way. When we lost my father, her positive presence remained, as she used her immense skill to grow NASCAR’s heart and soul, The NASCAR Foundation. Our family thanks you for all of your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. My mother was a special woman, and an impressive person, and she will be dearly missed.”
France became chairwoman of The NASCAR Foundation upon the foundation’s inception in 2004. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, the foundation is an entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide, recognizing outstanding charitable and volunteer efforts of NASCAR fans, was created in her honor in 2011. France was a longtime community leader in Daytona Beach, Florida, and best known as a steadfast champion of health care for children. She assisted in the establishment of “Speediatrics” children’s care unit at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach and at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Florida. In 2003, France was presented the Halifax Medical Center Foundation’s Humanitarian Award in recognition of her advocacy, commitment, support and advancement of numerous area community service organizations including the Volusia/Flagler chapter of the American Red Cross. She was a member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach serving on boards of numerous area community service organizations. In July 2008, she was named as an honorary co-chairperson for the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, a project headed by longtime NASCAR team owner Richard Childress in Winston-Salem, N.C. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.(NASCAR)(8-30-2016)