| In 1947, the sport of stock car racing | | | | With the growing success of this new |
| was becoming extremely popular and | | | | sport, Bill France Sr. began |
| beginning to draw large crowds of | | | | construction of a 2.5 mile, high-banked |
| spectators. More drivers began taking an | | | | superspeedway located four miles from |
| interest due to the increasing fan | | | | the beach in Daytona. France fought to |
| popularity. Cohesiveness, however, did | | | | keep racing affiliated with Daytona as |
| not exist as rules differed from one | | | | others looked to the Bonneville Salt |
| racetrack to the next. Several tracks | | | | Flats in Utah to avoid the outgoing |
| were built to produce one big show at a | | | | tides at Daytona Beach. Despite the |
| county fair, or similar event, in order | | | | desire of the city of Daytona hold onto |
| to capitalize on the crowds of fans that | | | | it's beach racing attraction, NASCAR |
| were beginning to form. Other tracks, | | | | quickly outgrew the beach. In 1949, |
| however, were built more toward handling | | | | NASCAR moved it's events to the Daytona |
| the cars and not the crowds. Some tracks | | | | International Speedway. The first |
| could accommodate both the fans and the | | | | Daytona 500 continued for 3 days due to |
| cars, but did little to adhere to the | | | | a dispute over the actual winner, which |
| rules governing the neighboring tracks. | | | | was later proven to be Lee Petty, after |
| In late 1947, on a December day in | | | | careful study of a photograph of the |
| Florida, Bill France Sr. organized a | | | | finish. |
| meeting at the Streamline Hotel in | | | | In 1960, superspeedways opened just |
| Daytona Beach. His focus for the meeting | | | | outside of Atlanta, Georgia and |
| was to discuss the matters facing the | | | | Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1961, ABC |
| future of stock car racing. From this | | | | televised a race from Daytona. In 1969, |
| meeting emerged, what is now known as, | | | | Alabama International Motor Speedway |
| NASCAR (The National Association of | | | | (now known as Talladega Superspeedway) |
| Stock Car Auto Racing). When the meeting | | | | was opened by Bill France Sr. In later |
| adjourned, few people had faith in the | | | | years, Bill Sr. passed the torch of |
| new organization or it's future. France, | | | | leadership to his son, Bill Jr. and |
| however, knew otherwise. In fact, he | | | | corporate sponsorships began to arise as |
| believed that a sanctioning body was | | | | NASCAR went on to become the leader in |
| exactly what the sport needed, but even | | | | worldwide motorsports attendance. In |
| he could not have imagined what he | | | | 1979, the Daytona 500 was telecast in |
| created on that December day. | | | | it's entirety. By 1989, every race on |
| The sport of NASCAR began to take shape | | | | the NASCAR schedule was broadcast. |
| rather quickly. After two months, the | | | | Since the beginning of NASCAR, new |
| inaugural NASCAR-sanctioned race was | | | | additions have been added to include the |
| held on Daytona's Beach Course. Red | | | | NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Busch Grand |
| Byron, a stock car legend, drove his | | | | National series. New drivers emerge |
| Ford Modified to win the event on | | | | every year to take their shot at |
| February 15, 1948. It wasn't until the | | | | stardom. For many, it's a lifelong dream |
| following year that what we now know as | | | | to drive NASCAR and compete for the |
| NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began. The | | | | glorious title of 'Champion.' At the end |
| first ever NASCAR Grand National (now | | | | of the season, points are tallied to see |
| known as Nextel Cup) event was held at | | | | who has ran the most consistently |
| the Charlotte, North Carolina | | | | throughout the year and that person |
| fairgrounds. A huge crowd gathered to | | | | becomes that year's NASCAR champion for |
| see Jim Roper of Kansas win this | | | | their respected series. |
| historic race. | | | | With the extreme growth of NASCAR |
| The new series was an instant success | | | | through the years, fans have demanded |
| and plans were ongoing to bring in | | | | more opportunities to enjoy their |
| larger crowds, more drivers and faster | | | | favorite sport. The organization heard |
| races. In 1950, Darlington Raceway, the | | | | their voices and decided to build NASCAR |
| country's first asphalt superspeedway, | | | | Thunder, a chain of officially-licensed |
| opened it's doors for the new division. | | | | apparel and souvenir stores, and the |
| The first decade for NASCAR was one of | | | | NASCAR Café, which incorporates racing |
| tremendous growth and popularity. | | | | with dining for a full racing experience |
| Drivers became heroes and skeptics | | | | for all NASCAR fans. After 58 years, the |
| became race fans. Names like Lee Petty, | | | | sport continues to grow with fans who |
| Fireball Roberts and Buck Baker were to | | | | travel across the country to see their |
| racing as Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and | | | | favorite driver chase the checkered flag |
| 'The Duke' were to baseball. | | | | and, ultimately, a NASCAR championship. |