Brian France ranks in Sports Biz Journal Top 50

NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France is ranked 16th on Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal's list of the 50 most influential people in sports business. He was 9th on the list in 2008. The article states, "Jim France, Brian's uncle, might technically own NASCAR, but Brian still runs it. The son of Bill France Jr., Brian oversees the day-to-day operations and the unit chiefs report directly to him. Brian is still the best-positioned France to dictate the direction of the sport, whether through instituting cost containment measures for teams, tweaking the Chase for the Sprint Cup format or setting the overall agenda. And if he decides to wield his influence on an issue, his voice will be heard above all others." Jim France, Chairman of International Speedway Corporation, returns to the list this year at 45th. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who wasn't ranked in 2008, is on the list in 36th. TV executives on the list include: #3 George Bodenheimer, President of ESPN/ABC Sports (who was first last year) and #8 David Hill, Chairman of Fox Sports. See the complete list at the Sports Business Journal