NASCAR: Former chairman and CEO Brian France pleads guilty to DWI

Former NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (DWI) last August in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York.

Hours after Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott earned the first victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career by winning the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York on Sunday, August 5, 2018, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France was arrested in another part of the state of New York.

France was arrested on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York.

He was reportedly driving a 2017 Lexus on Sag Harbor Village’s Main Street at 7:08 p.m. ET on this evening when he ran a stop sign. Upon the traffic stop, police found that the 56-year-old Daytona Beach, Florida native was driving while intoxicated and in possession of oxycodone pills. Oxycodone is a popular painkiller.

NASCAR’s now former chairman and CEO has now pleaded guilty to DWI, Suffolk County (New York) District Attorney Timothy D. Sini announced yesterday.

Here is what District Attorney Sini had to say about the matter, according to NBC Sports.

"“This case is a reminder for both residents and anyone visiting Suffolk County this summer that it is all of our responsibility to keep our roads safe. It is not acceptable for anyone to be driving while drunk or on drugs in our community.”"

Here is what France had to say about the matter, according to NBC Sports.

"“I would like to thank the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court for their careful attention to this matter. I am grateful for the Court’s consideration of all the facts in this case and I will follow their direction and recommendations as we move forward.“While I made a mistake, this event has also given me the opportunity to reflect on my poor judgment that day, my family and my greater responsibilities to our community. I have learned valuable lessons and will be a better person because of this process.”"

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Upon Brian France’s arrest last August, Jim France, the son of William H.G. France and uncle of Brian, assumed Brian’s role of interim chairman and CEO of NASCAR. He is currently serving as the vice chairman of the board of directors, the CEO, the chairman and the executive vice president of NASCAR.

As a result of his plea agreement, Brian France must complete 100 hours of community service in addition to undergoing alcohol counseling before his sentencing date. Successfully complying with these requirements would mean that he will be able to withdraw his guilty plea and that his charge will be lessened to a traffic violation of Driving While Ability Impaired.

Not successfully doing so would mean that he will be sentenced on the misdemeanor conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced just under one year from now on Friday, June 5, 2020 in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court, exactly 52 weeks from when he pleaded guilty.