Bill France [Photo: Darrell Ingham, Getty Images]

As president of NASCAR for three decades, Bill France Jr. transformed his family’s auto racing empire from a regional player into a worldwide phenomenon. He expanded the sport’s corporate sponsorships and eventually built multibillion-dollar TV contracts (Read “Driving Ambition,” October 2005).

France, who took over from his father, NASCAR founder “Big Bill” France, in 1972 was also chairman of International Speedway Corp. France Jr. expanded the number of ISC tracks from two to 12.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, and in 2003, he relinquished control of NASCAR to his son Brian. France died June 4 at his Daytona Beach home. He was 74.