Prohibition, moonshine, and fast cars. That is one phrase that any NASCAR fan understands and knows about the founding of NASCAR. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR, has deep roots in bootlegging. Many drivers and teams got their start from upgrading and modifying their cars for speed and racing each other on the high-ways on their way to drop off illegal moonshine. NASCAR was then founded to make racing legal, and to bring drivers together to showcase their cars and talents on a larger stage. (NASCAR founded)
Bill France Sr. was just one of the people involved with creating this great sanctioning body. Mr. France brought together some of the greatest drivers in the world to compete together. He also saw that promoters could offer prize money to competitors to attract more drivers. With the help of Mr. France and many others, NASCAR was born in 1921.
Although it was created in 1948, NASCAR did not have its first sanctioned stock car race until 1949.This race was at Darlington Raceway in North Carolina. It was a 200 lap race and the winner would get two thousand dollars. Thirteen thousand fans showed up to watch the event, and even though Glenn Dunaway would win the race, he was disqualified because of illegal rear springs allowing Jim Roper to win the first NASCAR race. (Houston)
In 1959, Daytona Motor Speedway opened up and became the season opener for NASCAR. Lee Petty won the first race at Daytona and his son Richard won it seven times. In 1979, Richard Petty won the first televised NASCAR race by leading flag-to-flag. In 1972, William France Jr. took over the presidency of NASCAR and helped shape it to what it is today. He helped get billion dollar TV contracts, and has created many new series for NASCAR including: the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Trucks, and four regional series ranging from Canada to Mexico, and now even to Europe.
A historic racetrack today includes Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has hosted NASCAR there since 1994. Also Daytona International Speedway has become the biggest race next to the championship for NASCAR. The Camping World Truck Series has returned to the historic Rockingham Speedway last year and plans on staying for years to come. These are just a few of the historic racetracks that NASCAR runs at. (Wilson)
Today, NASCAR has grown into a sport that many people know and love. It brings friends and families together, and allows people to meet new people. The atmosphere of race tracks just puts a smile on anyone who goes to one. So, prohibition had one good outcome of it, and that was NASCAR.
