NASCAR: The Rise Of A Racing Empire

In 1947, the sport of stock car racing wasFrance Sr. began construction of a 2.5 mile,
becoming extremely popular and beginning tohigh-banked superspeedway located four miles
draw large crowds of spectators. More driversfrom the beach in Daytona. France fought to
began taking an interest due to the increasing fankeep racing affiliated with Daytona as others
popularity. Cohesiveness, however, did not existlooked to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to avoid
as rules differed from one racetrack to the next.the outgoing tides at Daytona Beach. Despite the
Several tracks were built to produce one bigdesire of the city of Daytona hold onto it's beach
show at a county fair, or similar event, in order toracing attraction, NASCAR quickly outgrew the
capitalize on the crowds of fans that werebeach. In 1949, NASCAR moved it's events to
beginning to form. Other tracks, however, werethe Daytona International Speedway. The first
built more toward handling the cars and not theDaytona 500 continued for 3 days due to a
crowds. Some tracks could accommodate bothdispute over the actual winner, which was later
the fans and the cars, but did little to adhere toproven to be Lee Petty, after careful study of a
the rules governing the neighboring tracks.photograph of the finish.
In late 1947, on a December day in Florida, BillIn 1960, superspeedways opened just outside of
France Sr. organized a meeting at the StreamlineAtlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. In
Hotel in Daytona Beach. His focus for the meeting1961, ABC televised a race from Daytona. In
was to discuss the matters facing the future of1969, Alabama International Motor Speedway
stock car racing. From this meeting emerged,(now known as Talladega Superspeedway) was
what is now known as, NASCAR (The Nationalopened by Bill France Sr. In later years, Bill Sr.
Association of Stock Car Auto Racing). When thepassed the torch of leadership to his son, Bill Jr.
meeting adjourned, few people had faith in theand corporate sponsorships began to arise as
new organization or it's future. France, however,NASCAR went on to become the leader in
knew otherwise. In fact, he believed that aworldwide motorsports attendance. In 1979, the
sanctioning body was exactly what the sportDaytona 500 was telecast in it's entirety. By
needed, but even he could not have imagined1989, every race on the NASCAR schedule was
what he created on that December day.broadcast.
The sport of NASCAR began to take shapeSince the beginning of NASCAR, new additions
rather quickly. After two months, the inauguralhave been added to include the NASCAR
NASCAR-sanctioned race was held on Daytona'sCraftsman Truck and Busch Grand National series.
Beach Course. Red Byron, a stock car legend,New drivers emerge every year to take their
drove his Ford Modified to win the event onshot at stardom. For many, it's a lifelong dream to
February 15, 1948. It wasn't until the followingdrive NASCAR and compete for the glorious title
year that what we now know as NASCARof 'Champion.' At the end of the season, points
Nextel Cup Series began. The first ever NASCARare tallied to see who has ran the most
Grand National (now known as Nextel Cup) eventconsistently throughout the year and that person
was held at the Charlotte, North Carolinabecomes that year's NASCAR champion for their
fairgrounds. A huge crowd gathered to see Jimrespected series.
Roper of Kansas win this historic race.With the extreme growth of NASCAR through
The new series was an instant success and plansthe years, fans have demanded more
were ongoing to bring in larger crowds, moreopportunities to enjoy their favorite sport. The
drivers and faster races. In 1950, Darlingtonorganization heard their voices and decided to build
Raceway, the country's first asphaltNASCAR Thunder, a chain of officially-licensed
superspeedway, opened it's doors for the newapparel and souvenir stores, and the NASCAR
division. The first decade for NASCAR was oneCafé, which incorporates racing with dining for a
of tremendous growth and popularity. Driversfull racing experience for all NASCAR fans. After
became heroes and skeptics became race fans.58 years, the sport continues to grow with fans
Names like Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts and Buckwho travel across the country to see their
Baker were to racing as Willie Mays, Mickeyfavorite driver chase the checkered flag and,
Mantle and 'The Duke' were to baseball.ultimately, a NASCAR championship.
With the growing success of this new sport, Bill