Ex-NASCAR CEO Brian France files lawsuit over parody Twitter account

Former NASCAR CEO Brian France has filed a lawsuit against the operator of the parody Twitter account "Drunken Brian France."

In the lawsuit, which was filed Feb. 28 in Connecticut, France alleges that Twitter user John Steele is impersonating, harassing, and targeting him, according to Matt Weaver of Autoweek.

"Steele's activity through @drunkbrianf is under the guise of (Brian France)," the lawsuit reads. "This includes the use of (France's) name in the account name, the account handle, and the use of a photograph of (France) as the account profile picture.

"Steele's tweets imply that (France) is the source of the content posted to the account. Steele's use of the account is intended to deceive other Twitter users - and anyone else accessing the account while online - to believe that the account belongs to (France)."

France also stated in the lawsuit that he's experienced "emotional distress" from the "highly offensive" tweets from the account. He's seeking a jury trial and damages in excess of $15,000.

The "Drunken Brian France" account was created in February 2014 and currently has more than 18,000 followers. The account's avatar is a photo of France's mugshot from an August 2018 arrest for DWI and drug possession.

France served as CEO of NASCAR from 2003 until 2018 when he took a leave of absence following his arrest. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor DWI in June 2019, but the charge can be reduced to a traffic violation if he completes 100 hours of community service, among other requirements.