DAYTONA BEACH， Fla. (AP) Before a new landlord shuttered the iconic Brickyard Lounge and Grill last month， you could walk into the tiny， race-themed restaurant located two miles from Daytona International Speedway ， skip the menu and ask them to bring you what NASCAR chairman Jim France orders.

A 1-pound cheeseburger burger and basket of crispy fries appeared.

At 70-year-old Marios Restaurant in nearby Ormond Beach， the hostess says with first-hand knowledge that the late Bill France Sr. ordered the grouper francaise whenever the family popped in.

NASCARs founding family members are regulars at nearly every restaurant dive or upscale as well as the local shops and businesses that comprise the citys roughly 75，000 people living along 23 miles of central Floridas coastline.

The Frances are wonderful people who come in for lunch， said Annette Allan， owner of the Brickyard. They treat the employees very well and are some of our favorite customers.

Four generations have set roots in the city since France Sr. fled Washington， D.C.， in the mid-1930s to escape the Great Depression. He was an aspiring racer and landed in Daytona Beach， where men like him were already running hot rods on the famed beach.

By 1940， he was considered the best stock-car driver in the country and was fed up with unsavory race promoters running chaotic events in which participants were shorted their share of the purse. He bandied a group together for a meeting at the Streamline Hotel ， where they created the framework for what is now NASCAR.

The family never relinquished control and instead built NASCAR into a billion-dollar company that stands as the top motorsports series in the United States. The family also never left Daytona Beach.

It is pretty remarkable that family， multiple generations， has chosen to stay here when they could literally live anywhere in the United States， said Lori Campbell Baker， a resident since 1991 and executive director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

They have put Daytona Beach on the map for millions of people， and they invest in this community. That name recognition has given the city several Super Bowls without ever having to bid on them. Daytona Beach is known as a place to compete， and we could never have afforded， never had the budget， that the advertising the France family and the speedway gives us for free.

France Sr. began construction in 1957 for Daytona International Speedway， where a 78th season of NASCAR begins Sunday with the Daytona 500 ， and the facility anchors the city. It already has held one world-class event this year， last months Rolex 24 at Daytona， the most prestigious endurance race in North America.

The track is open nearly daily for various racing events， and the grounds are used for everything from 5K runs to Welcome to Rockville， a four-day music festival that recently signed a 10-year extension with the track.

But the speedways impact is felt throughout the city， where the civic center has a robust calendar of conventions， expos and competitions. At the same time as the Rolex last month， thousands of cheerleaders flocked to the city for an annual competition. Gymnastics champions are crowned in Daytona， volleyball tournaments and archery competitions are won， and even the Florida Truck Driving Championship is held.

Instead of saying， Were going to compete for the championship， people say， Were going to Daytona Beach， Campbell Baker said. We get so many ancillary events because people think， If Daytona Beach is the big place， we need to compete there， too.

One of the most important France contributions to the city has been One Daytona ， a 300，000-square-foot mixed-use lifestyle and entertainment center directly across from the speedway. It was the vision of Lesa France Kennedy， executive vice chair of NASCAR and France Sr.'s granddaughter.

Opened in late 2017 and developed by a France-owned company， it is a year-round dining， shopping and entertainment destination that complements the World Center of Racing.

Without the facility， Daytona Beach has no Costco， no Bass Pro Shops， no P.F. Changs or the race-themed high-end hotel that is part of Marriotts Autograph Collection. Gallery500， an art gallery in the complex， is owned by France Kennedy and some of her own creations line the walls.

My sister really has a developer mindset and a process to bringing people together. She has a lot of passion and vision， and she drives these projects and doesnt really get enough credit for that， said Brian France， who spent 15 years as NASCAR chairman. Our family isnt looking for credit， but they recognize that from a support standpoint， a municipality and a local government， in every market， has to come together to make events as successful as possible.

France Kennedy hosted the Art of Speed ， a luxury car show and art event that benefits the NASCAR Foundation ， the night before the Rolex last month. As she walked The Associated Press around the grounds， people stopped her to say hello， told her how much they enjoyed the event and asked about her family.

She got a hug from a restaurant owner who told her shed just missed her husband by mere minutes. France Kennedy then took the AP to the space next door to Tianos Cucina Italiana and explained how the owner was building it into a market as an extension of the eatery.

Why was One Daytona so important to France Kennedy?

We now have this fabulous entertainment facility directly across from the track that our fans can enjoy， she told the AP. Plus， I like fun things to do， too.

Art of Speed last month set a record by raising more than $50，000 that goes to the NASCAR Foundation， a childrens needs-focused nonprofit that has donated more than $50 million to various causes over the last 20 years.

The family also runs the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award in honor of Bill France Jr.'s late wife， and that award gives annual grants to organizations across the country that support childrens causes.

The Frances have a tower named for them at Halifax Health Center near the speedway and created Speediatrics ， a pediatric emergency department that is NASCAR themed.

Theres also a large commitment from the France family to arts and culture in Daytona Beach as a significant donor to the Museum of Arts and Sciences， where the CiCi and Hyatt Brown Museum hosts the largest collection of Florida-based art in the world.

France Kennedy also was instrumental in bringing the Boston Pops and other renowned artists to the Daytona Beach Peabody Auditorium.

Why did they stay in Daytona Beach?

For France Kennedy， it is simple: She grew up on the water and returning to Daytona Beach after graduating from Duke to join the family business was an idea planted in her by her late grandmother， Annie B.

She enjoys leaving her office across from the speedway， being home in 10 minutes， changing into comfy clothes and taking in her water view. Her son， Ben Kennedy， returned to Daytona Beach after graduating from Florida. Now 34 and married， he has chosen the city as his home as he climbs the ranks toward someday taking over NASCAR.

Jim France lives along the Halifax River， his three children remain local and the family quietly blends in with everyone from the longtime residents to the snowbirds. If you dont know them， you would have no idea you are seated next to a billionaire at Corleones Famous New York Pizza and Gyros.

They remain committed to the area， and if possible， many in NASCARs top leadership would get the Brickyard Lounge moved into One Daytona to retain access to their beloved cheeseburgers. They remain abreast of the ongoing renovations at Billys Tap Room， another racing-themed area institution that has been shuttered for nearly two years， and do their best to bring Florida-based businesses into One Daytona.

I think its home. Why does Warren Buffett live in Omaha， Nebraska? Brian France said. Daytona Beach is our home and， of course， we happen to have the biggest event， the Daytona 500， in our hometown. Its a community that our family remains committed to and rather quite passionate about.

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AP auto racing:

好意思联社佛罗里达州代托纳比奇电——在上个月新业主关闭秀丽性的砖场酒廊烧烤店之前，你不错走进这家距离代托纳外洋赛谈两英里的微型赛车主题餐厅，无须看菜单，径直点纳斯卡主席吉姆·弗朗斯（Jim France）常点的菜品。

一份1磅重的芝士汉堡和一篮酥脆的薯条出现了。

在奥蒙德海滩左右有70年历史的马里奥餐厅，女工作员凭据切身履历暗示，已故的老比尔·弗朗斯每次和家东谈主光顾时齐会点步伐石斑鱼。

NASCAR首创家眷的成员们是佛罗里达州中部海岸线沿线23英里范围内险些扫数餐厅——不管是平价小馆已经高级餐厅——以及当地商铺的常客，这座约有7.5万东谈主口的城市因他们而盼望盎然。

“弗朗西斯一家是很棒的宾客，常常来店里用午餐，”砖厂餐厅雇主安妮特·阿伦说谈，“他们对待职工格外友善，是咱们最深爱的顾主之一。”

自老弗朗斯（France Sr.）于20世纪30年代中期为逃离大荒僻离开华盛顿特区以来，这个家眷已有四代东谈主在此城扎根。他曾是怀揣赛车假想的追风者，最终落脚代托纳比奇——彼时像他这么的热血后生们，早已在这片著名海滩上驾驶改装赛车奔驰。

到1940年时，他已被公觉得全好意思最优秀的改装赛车手，但对那些驾驭参差赛事、剥削车手奖金的下流赛事推论者深感厌倦。为此，他在流线旅舍召集了一批志同谈合者举行会议，共同创立了如今如雷灌耳的NASCAR赛事框架体系。

这个家眷遥远未尝破除截止权，反而将NASCAR打形成价值数十亿好意思元的顶尖赛车赛事品牌，稳居好意思国赛车观念榜首。他们于今仍扎根于代托纳比奇。

“这个家眷几代东谈主采纳留在这里，而他们本不错在好意思国任何场合生存，这格外了不得，”洛丽·坎贝尔·贝克说谈。她自1991年起便居住于此，现任代托纳比奇地区会议与旅游局实施董事。

他们让代托纳海滩为数百万东谈主所熟知，并合手续投资于这座城市。这种知名度让该市无需竞标就屡次取得超等碗主理权。代托纳海滩以竞技胜地著名，而弗朗斯家眷和赛谈为咱们提供的免费宣传，其价值远超咱们所能职守的预算。

老弗朗斯于1957年运转建造代托纳外洋赛谈，第78届NASCAR赛季将于本周日以代托纳500大赛在此拉开帷幕，该智力已成为这座城市的秀丽性建筑。本年这里已举办过一场宇宙级赛事——上个月的"劳力士24小时耐力赛"，这是北好意思最负有名的耐力赛。

这条赛谈险些每天齐会举办种种赛车赛事，步地用途等闲，从5公里跑步行径到为期四天的“接待来到洛克维尔”音乐节不一而足。该音乐节近期还与赛谈签署了为期十年的脱期契约。

相关词，这座赛车场的影响力精深整座城市——市民中心长年排满种种会议、展览和赛事。就在上个月举办劳力士赛事时分，数千名啦啦队员也涌入该市参加年度比赛。代托纳不仅出生过体操冠军，还举办过排球联赛、射箭比赛，致使佛罗里达卡车驾驶锦标赛也在此举行。

坎贝尔·贝克说：“东谈主们不再说‘咱们要去争夺冠军’，而是说‘咱们要去代托纳海滩’。咱们因此取得了好多附进行径，因为东谈主们觉得‘如果代托纳海滩是个蹙迫场合，咱们也需要去哪里一较落魄。’”

法国度眷对该市最蹙迫的孝敬之一是"One Daytona"名堂——这座占地30万平素英尺（约2.8万平素米）的概括型生存文娱中心正对赛车场而建。这个构想出自纳斯卡赛车协会实施副主席、老弗朗斯的孙女莱萨·弗朗斯·肯尼迪之手。

该名堂由一家法国公司斥地，于2017年底开业，是一个全年无休的餐饮、购物和文娱胜地，与“宇宙赛车中心”短长分明。

若莫得这座智力，代托纳海滩就不会有开市客（Costco）、巴斯普罗商店（Bass Pro Shops）、华馆餐厅（P.F. Chang's），也不会有万豪旗下傲途格精选系列（Autograph Collection）的赛车主题高端旅舍。概括体内的Gallery500艺术画廊由弗朗斯·肯尼迪（France Kennedy）扫数，墙上胪列着她的部分原创作品。

布莱恩·弗朗斯（Brian France）曾担任纳斯卡（NASCAR）主席长达15年，抢庄牛牛官网他暗示：“我妹妹如实具备斥地者的想维样式，并有一套凝华东谈主心的进程。她充满祥和与远见，鼓动着这些名堂标发展，却未得到应有的认同。咱们家眷并不追求颂扬，但他们明显，从复旧的角度来看，每个市集的市政当局和场合政府必须通力相助，才能确保行径取得最大捷利。”

上个月劳力士赛事先夕，弗朗斯·肯尼迪（France Kennedy）主合手了"速率艺术"行径——一场为纳斯卡基金会筹款的豪车展与艺术盛事。当她指导好意思联社记者参不雅步地时，东谈主们纷繁驻足致意，抒发对行径的深爱，并参议她的家庭现状。

一位餐厅雇主拥抱了她，并告诉她只差几分钟就能见到丈夫。随后，弗朗丝·肯尼迪（France Kennedy）带着好意思联社记者来到蒂亚诺意大利餐厅（Tiano’s Cucina Italiana）近邻的旷地，评释注解店主如何将这里改形成市集，动作餐厅的蔓延部分。

为何戴托纳一号对弗朗斯·肯尼迪如斯蹙迫？

她向好意思联社暗示：“咱们当今在赛谈正对面建成了这座极佳的文娱智力，粉丝们不错尽情享受。况且，我我方也心爱找点乐子。”

上个月，“极速艺术”行径创下记载，为纳斯卡基金会筹集了跨越5万好意思元。该基金会是一家专注于儿童需求的非谋利组织，曩昔20年间已向种种奇迹捐赠逾5000万好意思元。

该家眷还成立了贝蒂·简·弗朗斯东谈主谈宗旨奖（Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award），以回想小比尔·弗朗斯（Bill France Jr.）已故的夫人。该奖项每年向全好意思复旧儿童奇迹的机构提供资助。

弗朗西斯夫妻在赛谈左右的哈利法克斯医疗中心领有一座以他们名字定名的塔楼，并创建了以纳斯卡赛车为主题的儿科急诊科室“极速儿科”（Speediatrics）。

动作戴通纳海滩艺术与科学博物馆的蹙迫捐助者，弗朗斯家眷对当地文化艺术奇迹作念出了纷乱孝敬。该博物馆旗下的茜茜与凯悦·布朗博物馆保藏了宇宙上领域最大的佛罗里达原土艺术藏品。

弗朗斯·肯尼迪（France Kennedy）在促成波士顿各人管弦乐团（Boston Pops）过甚他知名艺术家赴代托纳比奇皮博迪会堂（Daytona Beach Peabody Auditorium）上演方面推崇了重要作用。

他们为何采纳留在代托纳比奇？

对弗朗丝·肯尼迪（France Kennedy）而言，这一切很能够：她在水边长大，从杜克大学毕业后回到代托纳海滩（Daytona Beach）接办家眷贸易，这个想法是她已故的祖母安妮·B（Annie B）在她心中埋下的种子。

她心爱离开赛车场对面的办公室，十分钟内到家，换上惬意的穿着，抚玩窗外的水景。她的男儿本·肯尼迪（Ben Kennedy）从佛罗里达州毕业后回到了代托纳比奇。如今34岁的他已婚，并将这座城市选为安家之地，同期一步步进步，有朝一日有望接收纳斯卡赛车（NASCAR）。

吉姆·弗朗斯（Jim France）居住在哈利法克斯河滨，他的三个孩子也留在当地生存。这家东谈主低调地与周围东谈主浑然一体，不管是老住户已经季节性旅客。要是不签订他们，你压根不会料想在科莱昂著名纽约披萨卷饼店里，坐在身旁的竟是一位亿万财主。

他们仍悉力于该地区的发展，如果可能的话，纳斯卡（NASCAR）的好多高层指导但愿将Brickyard Lounge迁至One Daytona，以便陆续享用他们钟爱的芝士汉堡。他们密切关注着比利小馆（Billy’s Tap Room）的合手续变嫌工程——这家以赛车为主题的地区秀丽性场所已关闭近两年，并费力将佛罗里达州原土企业引入One Daytona。

“我觉得这便是家的道理。沃伦·巴菲特为什么住在内布拉斯加州的奥马哈？”布莱恩·弗朗斯说谈，“代托纳海滩是咱们的家，虽然，咱们很行运能在老家举办最汜博的赛事——代托纳500。这是一个咱们家眷遥远倾力参加并满怀热忱的社区。”

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