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NASCAR head says he won't step down

NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. denied a report that he is about to retire and turn over control of the racing circuit to son Brian, but said he will cut back further on his daily activities.

"I'm still going to work and have an office, but it's time for me to get out of the way a little bit," France told the Associated Press by telephone Friday night from his home in Daytona Beach.

He was responding to a report from ESPN.com that he would relinquish all control.

France, 70, assumed day-to-day management from his father, NASCAR founder Bill Sr., in 1972. He conceded his son would be the logical replacement should he retire, and said some organizational changes have been decided on. He would not reveal what they were, but said president Mike Helton would continue to head daily operations.

"All that will be cleared up on Monday," France said.

France has battled health problems the past few years, recovering from cancer and heart surgery. Brian France, 37, is president of NASCAR's broadcasting and digital entertainment division in Los Angeles.

LOUDON, N.H. - Ryan Newman broke his track record to earn the pole at New Hampshire International Speedway for Sunday's Sylvania 300. It is his 14th pole in just 71 Winston Cup starts.

Newman turned a fast lap of 133.357 mph on the 1.058-mile oval, breaking his year-old mark of 132.241. Terry Labonte (132.780) starts second in the 43-car field.

DRIVER CHARGED: The man whose truck hit a limousine Wednesday, killing three sisters, including the wife of a crew chief, was held in Guilford County (N.C.) jail on $800,000 bond after his first court appearance. Jeffrey Niles McFayden of Greensboro, N.C., was charged with driving while impaired and three counts of second-degree murder. Tara Howell Parker, 29, was married to Shawn Parker, crew chief for Dale Jarrett's team. Also killed were Megan Elizabeth Howell, 16, and Mysti Howell Poplin, 24.

NEW HAMPSHIRE 200: Jimmy Spencer earned the pole for today's Craftsman Truck race at NHIS at 127.346 mph.

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX: Juan Pablo Montoya led Formula One prequalifying for Sunday's race at Monza with a lap of 1:20.656.