| NASCAR, or the National Association for Stock | | | | not award winning to the drivers. The first |
| Car Auto Racing, is known as the largest | | | | intent was to race Roadsters, Modified, and |
| motorsports sanctioning body in the United | | | | Stock cars. Only the Modified division raced |
| States. The three series under the auspices | | | | during the first year. The first season had |
| of NASCAR include the Craftsman Truck Series, | | | | 52 Modified dirt track races. By 1949, the |
| the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup. | | | | Strictly Stock division made its debut |
| Some local races such as the Whelen Modified | | | | |
| Tour and the All-American Series from Whelen | | | | Originally, the cars raced had to be |
| are overseen by NASCAR. Overall, 1500 races | | | | virtually factory models, but beginning in |
| at 100 tracks are considered NASCAR races. | | | | 1950 it was recognized that modifications for |
| | | | safety and performance were desirable and the |
| Originally, NASCAR was viewed as a regional | | | | Division was named 'Grand National'. By the |
| sport coming from the Southeastern United | | | | mid 1960s, the races were run with race cars |
| States, but today it ranks second only to | | | | and a stock body. |
| football in television rating in the U.S. In | | | | |
| addition to broadcasts in the United States, | | | | Only one of the original season race tracks |
| races by NASCAR drivers are shown in 150 | | | | is still on the circuit today-Martinsville |
| countries globally. Fans show support of the | | | | Speedway. The Darlington Raceway and the |
| sport by purchasing licensed products in the | | | | Indianapolis Motor Speedway are both |
| amount of $3 billion annually. Fortune 500 | | | | recognized world wide for their famous events |
| companies recognize the power of NASCAR fans | | | | in the world of NASCAR racing. Originally, |
| and sponsor the sports more than any other | | | | the race tracks were oval and measured 0.5 to |
| sponsorship role. | | | | 1 miles per lap. Darlington was 1.366 miles |
| | | | and known as a Superspeedway following its |
| The headquarters of NASCAR is at Daytona | | | | construction in 1950. The track was wider and |
| Beach, Florida. There are four local offices | | | | faster than other locales. In 1959 the |
| in North Carolina and regional offices in | | | | Daytona International Speedway at 2.5 miles |
| Arkansas, New York City and Los Angeles. | | | | became the sport icon. |
| Mexico City and Toronto Canada also have | | | | |
| NASCAR offices. Additionally, most NASCAR | | | | During the early 1970's new sponsorship was |
| teams consider North Carolina home. | | | | found for the sport in the RJ Reynolds |
| | | | Tobacco Company. The name of the series was |
| Originally, Daytona Beach was the location | | | | changed from Grand National to the Winston |
| where world land speed records were set with | | | | Cup. The series today is known as the Sprint |
| eight consecutive records between 1927 and | | | | Cup. Prizes were increased significantly and |
| 1935. The Daytona Beach road course was the | | | | a new points system was developed. The series |
| site of fifteen speed records before 1935. As | | | | dropped from 48 races during the season to 31 |
| the location for land speed records moved to | | | | races. Busch Beer took on the sponsorship of |
| Bonneville Salt Flats, Daytona Beach was | | | | the next competitive level of racers, known |
| already synonymous with fast cars both on the | | | | as the Late Model Sportsman. |
| beach and on the coastal highway A1A. | | | | |
| | | | ABC Sports began covering some of the Grand |
| The years of Prohibition followed by the | | | | National races but abandoned the effort as |
| repeal in 1933 made use of fast cars with | | | | not exciting enough for ratings. In 1979, the |
| modified capacity driven at high speeds | | | | Daytona 500 race was picked up from flag to |
| either to evade the police or later the | | | | flag by CBS. During the final lap, the two |
| revenuers. Much of this activity occurred | | | | leaders wrecked on the backstretch and the |
| near Wilkes County region of North Carolina, | | | | third place car driven by Richard Petty won |
| but also in other parts of the Southeastern | | | | the race. The two wrecked car drivers and a |
| United States. Races of the modified cars | | | | family member proceeded to add to the drama |
| increased in numbers and popularity during | | | | on national television by engaging in a |
| those years. | | | | fistfight. Fans that had been kept indoors by |
| | | | a major snowstorm on the U.S. eastern |
| Three people were primary in the creation of | | | | seaboard were introduced to the excitement |
| the NASCAR governing body in 1948: William | | | | and drama of the sport. |
| France, Sr., Erwin 'Cannonball' Baker, and | | | | |
| Bob 'Barky' Barkhimer. William France wanted | | | | Changes in the point structure awarded to |
| to protect the drivers from unscrupulous | | | | drivers and teams has also helped to maintain |
| promoters who collected gate receipts and did | | | | the excitement of the series ever since. |