International Speedway Corporation
A former American motorsports company that owned and operated major racing facilities and related event businesses.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
International Speedway Corporation (ISC) was an American motorsports infrastructure and venue-management company whose principal business was owning, developing, and operating automobile-racing facilities. It was established in 1953 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., initially as Bill France Racing, to develop Daytona International Speedway in Florida. The Daytona project helped create the modern superspeedway model: a large, purpose-built oval capable of accommodating major stock-car races and substantial spectator, hospitality, and commercial operations. After Daytona opened, ISC expanded its portfolio with Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, another landmark high-speed oval that became one of NASCAR's most prominent venues. The company adopted the International Speedway Corporation name in 1968 as its ambitions broadened beyond Daytona. In 1970 it created Motor Racing Network, a radio network that provided live play-by-play coverage of NASCAR events and became an important part of the sport's media infrastructure. As NASCAR grew commercially during the 1980s, ISC pursued an acquisition and development strategy designed to increase the number of modern facilities in its portfolio and extend stock-car racing into larger or strategically important markets. It acquired Darlington Raceway and Tucson Raceway Park in 1982, and partnered with Corning Glass Works to purchase Watkins Glen International in 1983. ISC also established Americrown, a food-service and concessions business serving its venues. A major turning point came in 1999, when ISC merged with Penske Motorsports. The transaction added Michigan International Speedway, North Carolina Speedway, Nazareth Speedway, and the newly developed California Speedway, now known as Auto Club Speedway, to ISC's holdings. ISC also obtained a controlling interest in Homestead-Miami Speedway and later acquired the remaining stake. Through the Motorsports Alliance, formed with the owners of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ISC participated in the development of Chicagoland Speedway and the acquisition of Route 66 Raceway; ISC bought out its partners in 2007. The company subsequently developed Kansas Speedway, which opened in 2001, reinforcing its strategy of placing modern venues near major population centers. ISC's business extended beyond track ownership. Its facilities hosted NASCAR and other stock-car events, as well as races sanctioned by IndyCar, IMSA-related sports-car organizations, SCCA, ARCA, motorcycle-racing bodies, and karting organizations. The company also held interests in broadcasting, concessions, venue sponsorship, hospitality, and motorsports merchandising. In 2005, ISC and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. formed Motorsports Authentics to market and distribute NASCAR-related licensed merchandise and collectibles. The company was closely linked to NASCAR through common ownership and overlapping France-family leadership. That relationship supported coordination between sanctioning, scheduling, and venue development, but also generated criticism from competitors that argued the structure limited competition for premier NASCAR race dates. ISC and NASCAR faced antitrust litigation, including disputes brought by Speedway Motorsports interests and Kentucky Speedway. The company also encountered opposition to proposed new tracks in the Pacific Northwest, the New York City area, and Colorado. By the late 2010s, ISC owned or operated 13 active tracks that collectively hosted a substantial share of NASCAR Cup Series events. It also undertook venue-modernization measures, including the removal of approximately 78,000 seats across several facilities reported in its 2018 annual report. On May 20, 2019, NASCAR announced an agreement to acquire ISC for approximately $2 billion. The transaction closed in October 2019, after which ISC was taken private and dissolved into NASCAR. Its former tracks and related operations became part of NASCAR's integrated corporate structure.
History
International Speedway Corporation began in 1953 as Bill France Racing, an entity created by Bill France Sr. to develop Daytona International Speedway. The project required a large, purpose-built facility capable of hosting major stock-car events and became a defining development in the expansion of NASCAR. In 1957, the company signed an agreement for land on which the speedway would be constructed. Daytona International Speedway subsequently became one of the sport's most important venues and the home of the Daytona 500. France later pursued a second major superspeedway near Talladega, Alabama. Built on a large site and opened in the late 1960s, Talladega Superspeedway became known for its exceptional speed and long straightaways. In 1968, the company changed its name to International Speedway Corporation, reflecting a broader business plan focused on developing and managing multiple racing facilities. In 1970, ISC established Motor Racing Network, extending its role from venue ownership into live motorsports broadcasting. It later created Americrown to manage food service and concessions at its tracks. During NASCAR's commercial expansion in the 1980s, ISC began purchasing established facilities. Darlington Raceway and Tucson Raceway Park were acquired in 1982, followed by Watkins Glen International through a partnership with Corning Glass Works in 1983. These transactions gave ISC a mix of traditional venues, road-course racing, and facilities outside its original Florida and Alabama concentration. ISC's largest strategic expansion occurred in 1999, when it merged with Penske Motorsports. The combination brought Michigan International Speedway, North Carolina Speedway, Nazareth Speedway, and California Speedway into the organization. It also led to ISC's control of Homestead-Miami Speedway, whose remaining minority interest was later acquired. The company sought to place modern facilities near major metropolitan areas that had historically lacked nearby NASCAR venues. In 1999, ISC joined with Indianapolis Motor Speedway interests to establish the Motorsports Alliance. That alliance developed Chicagoland Speedway and acquired Route 66 Raceway; ISC later bought out the alliance partners in 2007. Kansas Speedway, another major market-oriented development, opened in 2001. The company's growth was accompanied by changes in leadership. Jim France succeeded Bill France Sr. as company president in the late 1980s. Lesa France Kennedy became president in 2003, and John R. Saunders became president in 2009, the first ISC president without the France surname. Despite professional management changes, the France family retained substantial control and the company remained closely connected to NASCAR. ISC's track portfolio hosted a wide range of competitions, including NASCAR's national series, IndyCar, sports-car series, ARCA, motorcycle racing, karting, and SCCA events. Its other businesses included Motor Racing Network, Americrown, venue sponsorship and hospitality operations, and Motorsports Authentics, a merchandising joint venture formed with Speedway Motorsports in 2005. The common France-family connections between ISC and NASCAR became the basis for repeated criticism and litigation. Competitors alleged that NASCAR and ISC could influence the allocation of premier race dates in ways that disadvantaged independent track operators. The Ferko litigation resulted in a settlement that moved a Cup Series date to Texas Motor Speedway and led to ISC's sale of North Carolina Speedway. Kentucky Speedway later pursued related antitrust claims concerning access to a Cup Series event; the case was dismissed in 2008. ISC also attempted to develop new venues in markets including the Pacific Northwest, New York City, and Colorado. The proposed Washington projects faced financing, legislative, and community obstacles. The Staten Island proposal encountered strong local opposition and was abandoned in 2006. The company did not complete these projects. In its final years, ISC focused on managing its established facilities and adjusting capacity to attendance patterns. Its 2018 annual report disclosed the removal of approximately 78,000 seats at six tracks. On May 20, 2019, NASCAR announced an agreement to purchase ISC for approximately $2 billion. The acquisition closed in October 2019, after which ISC became privately held and was dissolved into NASCAR.
- 2019
NASCAR announces acquisition
[1]NASCAR agreed to acquire ISC for approximately $2 billion.
- 2019
ISC is taken private and dissolved
[1]The acquisition closed in October, ending ISC's separate corporate existence.
- 2009
John R. Saunders becomes president
[1]Saunders became the first ISC president who did not have the France surname.
- 2007
Takes control of Chicagoland and Route 66 Raceway
[1]ISC bought out its partners in Motorsports Alliance, gaining full control of the two Illinois facilities.
- 2003
Lesa France Kennedy becomes president
[1]Lesa France Kennedy succeeded Jim France as president of ISC.
- 2001
Kansas Speedway opens
[1]ISC opened a new superspeedway near Kansas City as part of its market-expansion strategy.
- 1999
Merges with Penske Motorsports
[1]The merger substantially expanded ISC's track portfolio and its presence in major American markets.
- 1989
Americrown is incorporated
[1]ISC formalized its track food-service and concessions business through Americrown.
- 1983
Adds Watkins Glen International
[1]ISC and Corning Glass Works partnered to acquire the New York road course.
- 1982
Acquires Darlington Raceway and Tucson Raceway Park
[1]ISC expanded through the purchase of an established South Carolina speedway and an Arizona oval.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated American motorsports venue operator closely aligned with NASCAR, combining track ownership, event promotion, broadcasting, concessions, and related commercial services.
Motorsports venue · 1959
Daytona International Speedway
ISC's foundational facility and one of NASCAR's most prominent venues. The Florida superspeedway hosts the Daytona 500 and other major racing events, while also supporting hospitality, concessions, sponsorship, and spectator operations.
Motorsports venue · 1969
Talladega Superspeedway
A large Alabama superspeedway developed by ISC in the 1960s. It became known for exceptionally high speeds and developed into a signature NASCAR facility with a national fan base.
Sports broadcasting · 1970
Motor Racing Network
A radio network established by ISC in 1970 to provide live coverage of NASCAR races. It broadened ISC's role beyond physical venues and became a recognized part of NASCAR's media ecosystem.
Venue food service · 1989
Americrown
ISC's food-service and concessions business, operating stands and related hospitality services at the company's racing facilities.
Motorsports venue · 2001
Kansas Speedway
A modern speedway near Kansas City developed by ISC to reach a major metropolitan market and support NASCAR's geographic expansion.
Licensed merchandise · 2005
Motorsports Authentics
A joint venture formed by ISC and Speedway Motorsports in 2005 to market and distribute NASCAR-related souvenirs and collectibles.
Controversies
2005
Kentucky Speedway antitrust lawsuit
Kentucky Speedway challenged NASCAR and ISC over the absence of a premier Cup Series date, citing the close relationship among NASCAR, ISC, and the France family. The case was dismissed in 2008.
2002
Ferko antitrust litigation
A Speedway Motorsports shareholder sued NASCAR and ISC, alleging antitrust violations and breach of contract connected with the allocation of a second premier stock-car race to Texas Motor Speedway. The dispute was settled in 2004, with a race date moved to Texas and North Carolina Speedway sold by ISC.
Brand decisions
2019
Sell the company to NASCARM&ABackground
ISC and NASCAR were separately incorporated but controlled by related France-family interests, and ISC owned a large share of the NASCAR Cup Series venue network.
Action taken
NASCAR agreed to acquire all outstanding ISC shares for approximately $2 billion and completed the transaction in October 2019.
Aftermath
ISC became privately held and was dissolved into NASCAR, ending its existence as an independent public company.
Approximate acquisition value. Approximately US$2 billion (2019)
2007
Abandon Bremerton track proposalStrategyBackground
ISC sought to build a Washington State facility using a proposed public-private financing structure.
Action taken
The company abandoned the Bremerton proposal after failing to secure legislative progress and sufficient local support.
Aftermath
ISC's Pacific Northwest expansion plans were not completed.
2006
Abandon Staten Island speedway proposalStrategyBackground
ISC had proposed a short track on Staten Island to serve the New York City market, but the project faced strong community opposition.
Action taken
ISC ended its pursuit of the proposed New York City-area facility.
Aftermath
The company did not establish a NASCAR superspeedway in the New York City market.
2004
Settle Ferko litigation and sell North Carolina SpeedwayOtherBackground
The antitrust dispute concerned the allocation of a second premier NASCAR race date to Texas Motor Speedway.
Action taken
The settlement moved a Cup Series date to Texas and required or facilitated the sale of North Carolina Speedway to Speedway Motorsports for $100 million.
Aftermath
The NASCAR schedule was realigned and North Carolina Speedway lost its former Cup Series position.
Sale price of North Carolina Speedway. US$100 million (2004)
1999
Merge with Penske MotorsportsM&ABackground
ISC wanted to expand beyond its traditional Southern and rural concentration and gain facilities serving larger regional markets.
Action taken
ISC merged with Penske Motorsports while retaining the ISC name and adding several major speedways to its portfolio.
Aftermath
The transaction made ISC one of North America's largest motorsports companies and gave it interests in venues including Michigan, North Carolina, Nazareth, and California.
Sources1 sources
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