CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Should Brian France face any difficult decisions in his role as NASCAR's new leader, advice won't be too far away.

Bill France Jr., NASCAR's chairman for 31 years until he handed over control this week to his only son, will still be right down the hall serving as co-vice chairman and an active member of the board of directors.

In making his son the new CEO, Bill France began the process Monday of swapping his luxurious suite in NASCAR's Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters for some smaller digs at the other end of the building.

But as long as Bill is still in the building -- and the 70-year-old intends to be for quite some time -- he's expected to still have an active voice in the family business.

"We're swapping some offices around to accommodate this and I'm going to be down in the other end of the building," France said Monday. "But my legs are in pretty good shape."

"So are his ears," Brian quickly added.

So far it's unclear just how much France will do every day and what his ultimate role will be.

"That hasn't quite been defined," France said. "But my first big assignment has been to stay out of the way."

But it's hard to imagine a NASCAR where France won't have some sort of say. He's ruled the sport since 1972, taking the reigns from his father, Bill, who founded the stock-car racing series.

Bill France Jr. took the keys and ran, transforming NASCAR into the nation's second-most popular professional sports league behind the NFL.

Brian is now inheriting a series that has grown into a multibillion dollar business with races coast-to-coast, including major markets, a national fan base and a $2.8 billion television contract.

Bill Jr. did it by pulling no punches, speaking his mind and often failing to mask his salty tongue. So to think that a change in title will all of a sudden silence him would be a mistake.

Asked Monday if he ever sees a day when he would be officially retired from NASCAR, France said no.

"You mean to where I walk out the door? I'm not planning on walking out," he said. "I might get carried out."

But just to prove that day isn't close, France, who has battled cancer, heart problems and other serious ailments the past few years, said his health is good right now.

"I get up every morning and I go to bed every night and I wait to see what's going to happen the next day," he said. "So far it's been pretty good. I expect to do that tomorrow and the next day, but who knows?"