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Sunday, October 11, 2009, 02:02 PM
It couldn’t have come at a worse time. The integrity of NASCAR’s infrastructure had already been brought into question with the Mayfield mess that still hasn’t been resolved and now this involving one of their own. On the surface, it appears to be one more example of privileged excess gone bad, someone with too much money and too much time on their hands to follow the path of the Plebeians who have to play by the rules the Patricians have made for them.It was reported in a police report that J. C. France, grandson of NASCAR’s founding father Bill France Sr., was arrested early Thursday morning for an alleged street race in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before he was released on a $4,500 bail, France was charged with DUI and possession of cocaine. His roommate and relative, Russ Van Richmond, the alleged driver of the other car involved, was also charged with DUI, possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance. It was said to be Lambo vs. Porsche … France vs. Van Richmond … but both were losers and I count myself and the rest of the NASCAR and the Grand-Am Series community as losers, too, if what was alleged turns out to be true.
It’s premature to condemn either individual at this point because the verdict hasn’t been reached but on the surface it looks pretty bad for an organization that prides itself upon squeaky clean images. There’s a mantra of leading, governing and living by example and everyone is expected to walk the line -- the drivers, the officials, the management staff and by way of extension, the family. Reputations that have taken years to establish can be destroyed in the blink of an eye and the damage rendered injures every one of us a little bit each and every time it happens because it matters to those involved in racing.
For those who are clueless, it's time they were given the big picture, the same one the rest of us have already seen.