Despite Team Backlash, NASCAR Ownership Could Still Enter Their Own Race Later This Season

What’s Happening?

Thursday morning, a shocking report revealed that NASCAR owner Jim France almost entered a car for the upcoming Cup Series race at Sonoma. However, backlash from other team owners prevented the partnership from happening.

• The report from Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic claims that Jim France, in collaboration with Spire Motorsports, almost entered a car for the upcoming July 13 race at Sonoma Raceway. While Spire covered the technical side, France would have supplied the driver and financial support, including a sponsor.
• There were frequent rumors this past silly season that France was interested in entering a car in races this season. These rumors raged forward after reports that the new Charter Agreement would allow a member of the France family to own a charter. Furthermore, prior to this season, Spire Motorsports registered the No. 07 for Cup Series Competition.
• The report claims that France was initially interested in entering this car with Hendrick Motorsports. However, due to rules restricting teams to four entries, France opted for Spire, which shares a technical alliance with HMS.
• For their driver, France would have opted for 29-year-old IMSA regular Jack Aitken to pilot this entry. Aitken, a former IMSA winner, currently races for Action Express Racing, a team owned by Jim France, in a racing series also owned by the France family.
• Deeming this entry a clear conflict of interest, the garage area was “uncomfortable” and resisted this now-shuttered idea. However, this report does state that “it still could come together for another Cup race later in the season.” It lists two dates, the races at Watkins Glen and the ‘home’ race at the Roval, as dates that do not conflict with Aitken’s schedule.

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