NASCAR Cup Series

Report: NASCAR chairman sues ex-wife

Published Apr. 15, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France filed a lawsuit Friday against his ex-wife, claiming she has taped phone conversations without his consent to attempt to extort money from him.

Brian France, 48, claims that Megan France, to whom he has twice married and divorced, has not only been taping their phone conversations but has threatened to distribute their contents, the Charlotte Observer reported.

He has asked the US District court in Charlotte, N.C., to issue an injunction preventing further recordings and their distribution.

The pair, whose last divorce was finalized in April 2008, have two young children and continue to communicate regarding financial issues and custodial arrangements.

"Throughout this time ... defendant has engaged in a pattern and practice of illegally tape recording conversations with plaintiff, without his knowledge or consent, for the purpose of extorting money and other concessions from plaintiff," the lawsuit claims.

"Defendant has threatened to disclose these illegal recordings to third parties and thereby damage Mr. France in his personal capacity as well as in his professional capacity as Chairman and CEO of NASCAR."

The lawsuit claims that Megan France told her ex-husband she would not distribute the recordings if he paid her "substantial sums of money."

According to previous court documents, Megan France was awarded $9 million following her divorce, along with $32,500 a month in alimony for 10 years and $10,000 a month in child support.

The Observer was unable to contact Megan France or her lawyers for comment.