Speedway Corp. CEO steps down

Jim France will quit his role as chief executive officer of International Speedway Corp. on June 1, he told ISC employees Tuesday.

France, the son of NASCAR founder Bill France , will stay on as the chairman of the board of directors for the racetrack company that promotes 19 of the 36 races on the Sprint Cup Series schedule.

Lesa France , the daughter of former NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr ., will take over her uncle's role with ISC. She currently is the president of the family-operated company.

In stepping down, Jim France won't be involved in the day-to-day decisions affecting the company's racetrack, but he will remain involved in ISC's long-range plans.

OFF THE SCHEDULE: The antitrust lawsuit between the former owners of Kentucky Speedway against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. probably will keep the track from being considered for a Sprint Cup Series race.

NASCAR chairman Brian France has said for months Ken-tucky is off the calendar until the suit is settled, and a decision isn't expected until mid-summer. The sanctioning body usually has its schedule for the next season set by early summer.

Former track owner Jerry Carroll filed the suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals in nearby Cin-cinnati, claiming NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. conspired to keep Kentucky Speedway off the schedule. NASCAR and ISC are owned and operated by the same family.

Carroll sold the track to Speedway Motorsports Inc. last year.

The deal was finalized in December and the new owners immediately started a renovation program.

PIT STOPS: Morgan-McClure Motorsports will attempt a return to the Sprint Cup Series at next week's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. The team, which won the Daytona 500 twice with Sterling Marlin , withdrew from the sport this year after it couldn't find sponsorship. Eric McClure will be driver. ... A final retrial hearing is scheduled for Friday and a trial is expected to start next Monday to settle several lawsuits resulting from the Oct. 24, 2004, plane crash that killed 10 people on the way to a race for Hendrick Motorsports. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the accident was the result of pilot error. Among the dead were car owner Rick Hendrick 's son, Ricky , his brother, John , and two nieces.