NASCAR: Brian France makes headlines at Champions Banquet

The NASCAR Champions Banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas on Thursday night honored Martin Truex Jr., but it was Brian France that was stealing the headlines.

After an exciting week in Sin City to celebrate the end of the NASCAR season, stock car racing’s best get all dressed up and head to the Wynn Las Vegas for the Champions Banquet. On Thursday night, the sport gave a final farewell to Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., while also honoring their new champion Martin Truex Jr.

However, it wasn’t a driver that stole all the headlines heading into the depths of the NASCAR offseason, but the sport’s chairman and chief executive officer.

Social media has been abuzz since the ceremony ended on Thursday night about Brian France’s awkward to borderline insulting handoff of the championship ring to Martin Truex Jr. Handing the 2017 Cup Series winner the box, France quickly turned and headed offstage, not even stopping to shake the new champ’s hand.

To call the move by France to Truex puzzling or confusing may be an understatement. Some felt it like a scoff to Martin Truex Jr. and the entire championship-winning #78 team, as France would be expected to be one of the executives praising them the most.

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Furniture Row Racing is the feel-good story of the year and perhaps the decade in NASCAR, with the #78 Toyota going from the little team that could to the champions of the sport. Who couldn’t get behind that storyline?

Of course, this isn’t the first time that fans, drivers, and other observers have questioned the actions of the man in charge of the stock car racing world. His endorsement of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential campaign disturbed many in the sport, blurring the lines between racing and politics. He also strung along a number of drivers, including the Elliott family, not realizing the perception on their part of potentially endorsing Trump by being present at one of his rallies.

As expected, social media was quick to call out France for his speedy handoff on stage on Thursday night:

https://twitter.com/BrandonKPruitt/status/936619129133584384

https://twitter.com/WildAngel6/status/936673435903815680

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What did you think of the NASCAR Champions Banquet? Was Brian France being rude to the new champion Martin Truex Jr., or is it just part of how his persona operates?