NASCAR"s France Arrested

[cosworth151]

Just after midnight EDT this morning (9 Oct) J.C. France was arrested for street racing, DUI and possession of cocaine and hydrocodone.

J.C. France is the 43 year old son of Grand Am founder Jim France and nephew of the late NASCAR head Bill France, Jr.

France, a driver for the Brumos Porsche team, was racing across the Seabreeze Bridge, which crosses the Halifax river at the end of International Speedway Blvd. He was in a 2007 Lamborghini. He was racing Russell Van Richmond, who was in a 2003 Porsche Cayenne. Van Richmond is the son an ex-wife of Jim France. Van Richmond and J.C. France are housemates.

After his arrest, Van Richmond threatened the arresting officer, "I want your commander now. I am a France. Do you know what that means? We own this city."
 
Frace was to be an entrant in this week-end's Grand Am race at Homestead Speedway. He is scheduled to drive the Brumos Porsche-Riley with Joao Barbosa. NASCAR, however, has just suspended him indefinitely.

Frace was also expected to receive this year's Jim Truman Sportsman Award at Monday night's Grand Am awards banquet.

I compiled this from reports from AutoWeek, the Daytona News Journal and the AP,