Why Jim France's Sonoma entry getting shot down by NASCAR industry is a blessing in disguise

While the deal for France to finance a Spire Motorsports Chevrolet that would've been driven by Jack Aitken — who drives for France's IMSA team, Action Express Racing — eventually fell through, it's still a story worth noting, especially given recent events in both NASCAR and IndyCar. 

NASCAR is in the midst of an anti-trust lawsuit that dates back to October 2024, in which the sanctioning body was called out as a monopoly. Meanwhile, IndyCar, which is owned by Roger Penske, is coming off of a controversy-filled week at Indianapolis after a rules violation was found on two of Penske's Indianapolis 500 entries prior to qualifying. 

Penske, who owns IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fired three IndyCar executives after the scandal, which came a year after a push-to-pass scandal rocked Penske's IndyCar program in 2024. 

The American motorsports climate is in a rocky position when it comes to executives being involved in any project with the slightest whiff of corruption or scandal. 

France simply putting up funding for a single Cup Series entry doesn't have any glaring issues on its own, but it's understandable why, as Bianchi explained, the garage area was swift to shoot down the idea. 

According to Bianchi, many individuals in the industry noted the obvious conflict of interest with NASCAR's CEO funding a car entered into a NASCAR race, which led to France ultimately deciding to nix the idea. 

According to Bianchi, Cup Series races at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval could still be on the table for Aitken to drive in a France-funded entry. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see the industry once again wrinkle its nose at the idea — and given the current climate around executives in American auto racing leagues at the moment, that may be a blessing in disguise for France.