NASCAR-CUP: Bill France Jr. statue unveiled at Daytona

A specially sculpted statue of long-time NASCAR leader Bill France Jr. was unveiled today in ceremonies at the Daytona International Speedway. Present for the unveiling were Betty Jane France, widow of Bill Jr. and chairwoman of The NASCAR Foundation; Jim France, chairman of International Speedway Corp. and CEO; Lesa France Kennedy, chief executive officer of ISC; Joie Chitwood III, president of DIS; sculptor John Lajba; Glenn Ritchie, mayor of Daytona Beach and an assortment of donors, NASCAR officials and dignitaries, including Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates and Rick Hendrick.

With the covered statue behind him, Chitwood opened the program with brief remarks before introducing Mrs. France, who discussed her late husband while describing a unique painting that hangs in her home, one that conveys the visionary traits of Bill France Jr. “It (the sculpture) is a great tribute to my late husband,” she said. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. France along with offspring Brian France and Lesa France Kennedy and Bill Jr.’s brother Jim France unveiled the impressive 9’ 6” bronze statue.

The new statue is located near the statues of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and his wife Anne and the legendary Dale Earnhardt. The new statue has been completed over the past year and has involved hundreds of hours of work by Lajba, who also sculpted the companion statues. “It has been a labor of love,” he said.

The statue is situated at an angle, so France is looking at the NASCAR headquarters building situated on the opposite side of International Speedway Boulevard.

Jim France, Betty Jane France, Brian France and Lesa France Kennedy

Photo by: Joe Jennings

Said Lajba about his work of art, “I worked on it daily for more than a year and toward the end I put in 12 to 16-hour days. On the other days, I would work on it for several hours and then go away for a while before coming back to have a fresh look at it. I wanted to see if it was really capturing his personality, and that was the most difficult but most enjoyable part for me. I really wanted it to be of him.”

Lajba had met France on several occasions while he was working on the statues of his parents, and remembrances of these meetings were used in preparing the 1,500 lb. sculpture. “Mr. France was always so kind to me and he had so much class,” he said. “He was such a visionary as he really understood the future, and that is what made him so neat.” Working from his Nebraska studio, the sculptor focused on making the color glow and come alive by day and night.

Of note, Lajba also prepares the Harley J. Earl winner’s trophy.

With the sculpture clearly visible outside DIS, race fans will have an opportunity this weekend to get a close view of the impressive bronze statue that will serve as a lasting tribute to Bill France, Jr., one of NASCAR’s most famous leaders.