| Make no doubt about it, NASCAR is a business and is | | | | traded on the NASDAQ under stock symbol ISCA. |
| run like any other major corporation. It's a | | | | ISC owns as well as operates 11 motor speedways |
| family-owned business with Brian France as the | | | | plus is a major promoter of motor sports. Bill France's |
| third-generation CEO. Brian France is the son of Bill | | | | sister Lesa France Kennedy and his uncle Jim France |
| France, Jr., who passed away at the age of 74 in | | | | is the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of |
| June of 2007. | | | | the Board/CEO respectively. Although not an |
| The current President of NASCAR is Mike Helton. | | | | organizational structure per se, it's structure is built |
| What is interesting about Mike Helton's appointment | | | | around three main events which could be thought of |
| as President in the organization structure is that he is | | | | as three main lines of business: 1) The Nextel Cup |
| not a member of the France family. He was named | | | | Series, 2) The Busch Series, and 3) The Craftsman |
| as President of the organization in 1999. That was a | | | | Truck Series. |
| year that would see much change in terms of safety | | | | And a fundamental part of the organization's |
| because of the sudden death of Dale Earnhardt on | | | | structure is the promoters. Promoter sponsorship has |
| the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 and it was | | | | drawn some criticism from the fan base because |
| because of this incident that it would begin to head | | | | more and more it seems that it's more about |
| numerous initiatives for the safety of drivers and | | | | commercials than it is about racing. However, in order |
| fans. | | | | for it to stay alive as an organization it needs the |
| The very nature of a family-controlled organization | | | | sponsors. Ticket sales alone will probably not bring in |
| means that the family will control most of the | | | | the revenue needed to stay healthy in business. The |
| proceeds. This has been a criticism by some who | | | | Nextel Cup Series is the most prestigious of them all. |
| think that it should be a joint owner-player type of | | | | This series starts with the Daytona 500 at the |
| profit sharing model. Other critics have made | | | | beginning and consists of 36 races in 19 states and |
| assertions that the organization could do more for | | | | on 22 different tracks. |
| driver safety. And there have been accusations that | | | | The second premier event in the series is the |
| they are monopolistic in its policies. But millions enjoy | | | | Craftsman Truck Series. This event started in 1996 |
| the sport promoted by this business and advertisers | | | | and was previously known as the SuperTruck Series. |
| love the exposure they get. Plus, the championship | | | | Its roots come from a display of a Racing-style |
| prizes seem to be attractive to many drivers. | | | | pickup truck at the 1994 Daytona 500. And the last |
| NASCAR is not publicly-traded on the stock | | | | premier event in the series is the Busch Series which |
| exchange however its major sanctioning body is | | | | is considered to be like the minor leagues of |
| International Speedway Corporation which is publicly | | | | NASCAR. |