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How Nascar Became a Major American "sport"

NASCAR, or the National Association forand did not award winning to the
Stock Car Auto Racing, is known as thedrivers. The first intent was to race
largest motorsports sanctioning body inRoadsters, Modified, and Stock cars.
the United States. The three seriesOnly the Modified division raced during
under the auspices of NASCAR include thethe first year. The first season had 52
Craftsman Truck Series, the NationwideModified dirt track races. By 1949, the
Series and the Sprint Cup. Some localStrictly Stock division made its debut
races such as the Whelen Modified TourOriginally, the cars raced had to be
and the All-American Series from Whelenvirtually factory models, but beginning
are overseen by NASCAR. Overall, 1500in 1950 it was recognized that
races at 100 tracks are consideredmodifications for safety and performance
NASCAR races.were desirable and the Division was
Originally, NASCAR was viewed as anamed 'Grand National'. By the mid
regional sport coming from the1960s, the races were run with race cars
Southeastern United States, but today itand a stock body.
ranks second only to football inOnly one of the original season race
television rating in the U.S. Intracks is still on the circuit
addition to broadcasts in the Unitedtoday-Martinsville Speedway. The
States, races by NASCAR drivers areDarlington Raceway and the Indianapolis
shown in 150 countries globally. FansMotor Speedway are both recognized world
show support of the sport by purchasingwide for their famous events in the
licensed products in the amount of $3world of NASCAR racing. Originally, the
billion annually. Fortune 500 companiesrace tracks were oval and measured 0.5
recognize the power of NASCAR fans andto 1 miles per lap. Darlington was 1.366
sponsor the sports more than any othermiles and known as a Superspeedway
sponsorship role.following its construction in 1950. The
The headquarters of NASCAR is at Daytonatrack was wider and faster than other
Beach, Florida. There are four locallocales. In 1959 the Daytona
offices in North Carolina and regionalInternational Speedway at 2.5 miles
offices in Arkansas, New York City andbecame the sport icon.
Los Angeles. Mexico City and TorontoDuring the early 1970's new sponsorship
Canada also have NASCAR offices.was found for the sport in the RJ
Additionally, most NASCAR teams considerReynolds Tobacco Company. The name of
North Carolina home.the series was changed from Grand
Originally, Daytona Beach was theNational to the Winston Cup. The series
location where world land speed recordstoday is known as the Sprint Cup. Prizes
were set with eight consecutive recordswere increased significantly and a new
between 1927 and 1935. The Daytona Beachpoints system was developed. The series
road course was the site of fifteendropped from 48 races during the season
speed records before 1935. As theto 31 races. Busch Beer took on the
location for land speed records moved tosponsorship of the next competitive
Bonneville Salt Flats, Daytona Beach waslevel of racers, known as the Late Model
already synonymous with fast cars bothSportsman.
on the beach and on the coastal highwayABC Sports began covering some of the
A1A.Grand National races but abandoned the
The years of Prohibition followed by theeffort as not exciting enough for
repeal in 1933 made use of fast carsratings. In 1979, the Daytona 500 race
with modified capacity driven at highwas picked up from flag to flag by CBS.
speeds either to evade the police orDuring the final lap, the two leaders
later the revenuers. Much of thiswrecked on the backstretch and the third
activity occurred near Wilkes Countyplace car driven by Richard Petty won
region of North Carolina, but also inthe race. The two wrecked car drivers
other parts of the Southeastern Unitedand a family member proceeded to add to
States. Races of the modified carsthe drama on national television by
increased in numbers and popularityengaging in a fistfight. Fans that had
during those years.been kept indoors by a major snowstorm
Three people were primary in theon the U.S. eastern seaboard were
creation of the NASCAR governing body inintroduced to the excitement and drama
1948: William France, Sr., Erwinof the sport.
'Cannonball' Baker, and Bob 'Barky'Changes in the point structure awarded
Barkhimer. William France wanted toto drivers and teams has also helped to
protect the drivers from unscrupulousmaintain the excitement of the series
promoters who collected gate receiptsever since.



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