Lesa France Kennedy, daughter of former NASCAR CEO Bill France Jr., is being celebrated for the indelible mark she has left on the sport.
Growing up surrounded by the racing world, she began working alongside her grandmother Anne B. France early in her career, quickly rising through the executive ranks of International Speedway Corporation.
Pioneering Projects
Her vision brought the Kansas Speedway to life and reimagined Daytona International Speedway as the world’s first motorsports stadium, a venue that blends racing with a broader entertainment experience.
In 2023 she expanded that concept with ONE DAYTONA, a mixed‑use destination that now houses retail, dining and entertainment options for fans and locals alike.
Her contributions have not gone unnoticed; she has been featured by Forbes, Adweek, Sports Business Journal and the National Women’s History Museum, and she will be honored with the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Landmark Award in 2027.
Beyond the track, Kennedy has faced personal tragedy, losing her father to cancer and her husband in a 2007 plane crash, yet she has continued to drive the sport forward.
Today she serves as NASCAR’s executive vice chair, a role in which she steers strategy while preferring to keep the spotlight off herself, allowing the sport’s narrative to shine.
Her legacy is often described as that of one of the most influential women in sports, a testament to quiet leadership and relentless innovation.