Discover the thrills of car racing


NASCAR: The Rise Of A Racing Empire

In 1947, the sport of stock car racingWith the growing success of this new
was becoming extremely popular andsport, Bill France Sr. began
beginning to draw large crowds ofconstruction of a 2.5 mile, high-banked
spectators. More drivers began taking ansuperspeedway located four miles from
interest due to the increasing fanthe beach in Daytona. France fought to
popularity. Cohesiveness, however, didkeep racing affiliated with Daytona as
not exist as rules differed from oneothers looked to the Bonneville Salt
racetrack to the next. Several tracksFlats in Utah to avoid the outgoing
were built to produce one big show at atides at Daytona Beach. Despite the
county fair, or similar event, in orderdesire of the city of Daytona hold onto
to capitalize on the crowds of fans thatit's beach racing attraction, NASCAR
were beginning to form. Other tracks,quickly outgrew the beach. In 1949,
however, were built more toward handlingNASCAR moved it's events to the Daytona
the cars and not the crowds. Some tracksInternational Speedway. The first
could accommodate both the fans and theDaytona 500 continued for 3 days due to
cars, but did little to adhere to thea 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 incareful study of a photograph of the
Florida, Bill France Sr. organized afinish.
meeting at the Streamline Hotel inIn 1960, superspeedways opened just
Daytona Beach. His focus for the meetingoutside of Atlanta, Georgia and
was to discuss the matters facing theCharlotte, North Carolina. In 1961, ABC
future of stock car racing. From thistelevised 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 meetingwas opened by Bill France Sr. In later
adjourned, few people had faith in theyears, 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, hecorporate sponsorships began to arise as
believed that a sanctioning body wasNASCAR went on to become the leader in
exactly what the sport needed, but evenworldwide motorsports attendance. In
he could not have imagined what he1979, 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 shapethe NASCAR schedule was broadcast.
rather quickly. After two months, theSince the beginning of NASCAR, new
inaugural NASCAR-sanctioned race wasadditions have been added to include the
held on Daytona's Beach Course. RedNASCAR Craftsman Truck and Busch Grand
Byron, a stock car legend, drove hisNational series. New drivers emerge
Ford Modified to win the event onevery year to take their shot at
February 15, 1948. It wasn't until thestardom. For many, it's a lifelong dream
following year that what we now know asto drive NASCAR and compete for the
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began. Theglorious title of 'Champion.' At the end
first ever NASCAR Grand National (nowof the season, points are tallied to see
known as Nextel Cup) event was held atwho has ran the most consistently
the Charlotte, North Carolinathroughout the year and that person
fairgrounds. A huge crowd gathered tobecomes that year's NASCAR champion for
see Jim Roper of Kansas win thistheir respected series.
historic race.With the extreme growth of NASCAR
The new series was an instant successthrough the years, fans have demanded
and plans were ongoing to bring inmore opportunities to enjoy their
larger crowds, more drivers and fasterfavorite sport. The organization heard
races. In 1950, Darlington Raceway, thetheir 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 ofNASCAR Café, which incorporates racing
tremendous growth and popularity.with dining for a full racing experience
Drivers became heroes and skepticsfor 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 totravel across the country to see their
racing as Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle andfavorite driver chase the checkered flag
'The Duke' were to baseball.and, ultimately, a NASCAR championship.



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