NASCAR co-owner Jim France looked to fund a Cup Series entry in the upcoming race at Sonoma on July 13 – a move that was met with a huge backlash leading to him withdrawing from the plan
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spoken out after news leaked that NASCAR co-owner Jim France was considering funding a Cup Series entry for the upcoming Sonoma race on July 13.
NASCAR CEO Jim France, who is involved in a legal tussle involving 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports, faced intense criticism when it was revealed he intended to support a Spire Motorsports entry for Jack Aitken, who drives for the IMSA sports car team France owns, Action Express Racing.
The Athletic reported that the controversy surrounding the potential conflict of interest prompted France, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., to perform a U-turn and withdraw from the deal.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his perspective on his podcast, the Dale Jr. Download, remarking: “At this point, it just doesn’t seem like it’s very productive to do it now, and Jim doesn’t need to do it.
“It’s not like a viable business proposition or opportunity that I think that’s necessary for him as a businessman to do it, right?”
“It’s kind of one of them fun things that you kind of want to do with your buddies, but it’s not necessary because dude owns a sport.
“Jim’s not out here trying to fool anybody…Thought it’d be cool, but he probably doesn’t need to be in the same conversation around ownership of an actual physical car on the racetrack as the owner of NASCAR.
“I think that would probably be my preference. I’m not upset about it because I do it on the CARS Tour.”
In his podcast, ‘Actions Detrimental,’ Denny Hamlin admits he fought vehemently against a contentious decision, being 23XI Racing’s co-owner.
“I can tell you as a car owner, I fought very, very hard and opposed the fact that the France family could own charters. I think that’s just wildly conflict of interest,” Hamlin commented.