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Nascar Chairman Arrested on D.W.I. Charge in Sag Harbor

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 06:36

Brian Z. France, the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, was arrested Sunday night in Sag Harbor Village on drunken driving and drug charges. 

Village police said an officer saw the 56-year-old behind the wheel of a 2017 Lexus when he failed to stop at a stop sign on Main Street at about 7:30 p.m. He was pulled over on Wharf Street, and, police said, he appeared intoxicated. 

Police said they found oxycodone pills during a search.

Mr. France, who lives in Ormond Beach, Fla., was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor levied when a defendant's blood alcohol level is .18 and above, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, also a misdemeanor.   

He was held overnight for a Monday morning arraignment in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court, where he was released on his own recognizance. 

A statement issued Monday by Nascar said,  "We are aware of an incident that occurred last night and are in the process of gathering information. We take this as a serious matter and will issue a statement after we have all of the facts.”

According to Bloomberg, Mr. France has been the C.E.O. at Nascar since October of 2003. Nascar's corporate headquarters are in Daytona Beach, Fla. 

This article has been updated since it was posted. 

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