NASCAR chief Brian France takes ‘indefinite leave’ after DUI & drug arrest

NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France is taking an indefinite leave of absence after being arrested in the upmarket Hamptons region of New York on charges of drunken driving and criminal possession of oxycodone.

France was arrested on Sunday evening while driving his Lexus in Sag Harbor after he was seen running a stop sign.  

According to police, he struggled to keep his balance during sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit for driving. 

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Police officers also found five oxycodone pills during a search, according to AP.  

A mugshot of France was tweeted by Aaron Katersky of ABC News. 

The 56-year-old was detained overnight and was released on Monday, when he also issued a statement announcing his decision to take leave.

“I apologize to our fans, our industry and my family for the impact of my actions last night,” France said.

NASCAR later issued a statement announcing that France had “taken an indefinite leave of absence” and that his role would be assumed by his uncle, vice chairman and executive vice president Jim France.

Brian France has been NASCAR chief since 2003, following in the footsteps of his late father, Bill France Jr., and grandfather, Bill France Sr., who founded the organization in 1948.

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Brian France was previously charged with reckless driving back in 2005, when he was fined and ordered to complete an aggressive-driver program.

He is due in court to face the current case on September 14.