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Mrs. Anne B. France


There are quite a few women that have been associated with the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) during the fifty + years since it's conception. The most important, and the most memorable, is the co-founder of NASCAR, Mrs. Anne France.

Anne Bledsoe (France) was born in Nathan's Creek, North Carolina in 1904. She met and married Bill France in Washington, DC. They moved to Daytona Beach, Florida in 1934. Bill was in the Gas Station business, and was always racing, and promoting races. He was always known to pay the drivers after the events, but other promoters used to run off with the gate money leaving the drivers and crews high and dry. NASCAR was formed to sanction events, and insure the race participants of their pay day.

Just because she was married to Bill France Sr., founder of NASCAR, isn't the reason she is considered to be the co-founder. She wasn't one of these "name only" women, she was down in the trenches with Bill, planning and plotting the whole thing in 1947. Her greatest asset to the partnership (marriage) was her uncanny way with figures and finances. A skill that dreamer Bill didn't have.

Anne served as Secretary/Treasurer of NASCAR and held a tight rein on the finances. She fought tooth and nail with Bill when it came to realizing his dream of building Daytona International Speedway. Finally, in the early '60's when the finances were right, she allowed Bill to purchase the 400+ acres of land and begin building the speedway. NASCAR was a growing success then, thanks to her guidance and support.

Her support didn't stop there, she also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the speedway and also managed the ticket office. She later served the same capacity to International Speedway Corporation when the France's built and bought other speedways. The corporation now owns 11 speedways across the United States. She remained active in the family business until her passing in 1992.

A quote from NASCAR Online:

"My brother, Jim, and I can readily attest that Dad had his vision and dreams. But make no bones about it, Mom was his reality," said NASCAR President Bill France Jr. of his parents' partnership.

"While he was climbing to reach lofty goals, mom firmly held the ladder and provided him with a rock-solid foundation. Vision, dreams and reality. This is the true legacy they left."

Here is a link to more information on Mrs. Bill France Sr.
The copyright of the article Mrs. Anne B. France in NASCAR is owned by Thomas M. Sampson. Permission to republish Mrs. Anne B. France in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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