NASCAR lawsuit documents reveal massive payday for France family in 2023, 2024

Just how much does the France family take home each year? We have a better understanding thanks to the NASCAR lawsuit. Documents, documents, and more documents. As the motorsports media world pours over the pages, more is released each day.

Jerry Jordan of Kickin’ the Tires found an interesting footnote in the Deposition of James (Jim) France. In the footnote, a document filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lists the “Member Distributions” for 2023 and 2024. Those distributions were paid out to the France Family Trust.

According to Jordan, the France Family Trust received $159.1 million in 2023 and $107.3 million in 2024. The France family is the sole owner of NASCAR and has owned the stock car racing series since its inception.

In other words, in 2023 and 2024, the France family pocketed about $263 million dollars in profits from NASCAR. So, what does this mean for the sport, the NASCAR lawsuit, and why does it matter?

This lawsuit is about antitrust. We are talking about a very specific labor market and the “competitiveness” of that market. Competition in this sense relates to the ability of the stakeholders and workers of that market, in this case, premier stock car racing, to be able to function in that market freely and without illegal penalties, pressures, or business practices from those running the business. So, money matters here.

As NASCAR has talked about cost-cutting and teams needing to cut back on spending, the France family is pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars each year. And this is at a time when the sport is not anywhere near the heyday it once had.

NASCAR lawsuit: Frances pull in big money, cut costs

Less practice, because of costs. Single-source suppliers, because of costs. Lower horsepower, because of costs. Top drivers now, like Kyle Larson, make half of what top drivers made in the previous generation when it was Jimmie Johnson and company.

There is going to be a lot of chatter about these numbers. The NASCAR lawsuit has already brought out the personal attacks within the sport. Now, we’re getting more into the financial data and hard numbers.

The France family owns NASCAR. As it is set up right now, they have every right to make a living off of the company that they run. But with viewership concerns, talk of cost-cutting each year for half a decade at least, and an ugly lawsuit that has already been lost in the court of public opinion, this is a bad look. It makes the entire France family appear greedy and out of touch to certain fans.

Look, I’m not sure what the right number is for the France family to take home. What I will say is that in a sport that is apparently dying for money and funds, maybe the France family could live off of $50 million instead of $150 million? At least, until the sport gets a solid foundation under it.

Jim France and Ben Kennedy aren’t driving those cars on Sunday, they aren’t on the pit crews jumping in front of cars and risking their health and lives to do it. They sit in the offices and direct the ship. You can take more than others, but if you start to take too much while the ship continues to deteriorate, you’re going to get a mutiny.