| Nascar is the up and coming sport in America. It | | | | with the cars on the track they became avid |
| has supasses Hockey as the number 4 sport on | | | | consumers of the drivers products. The drivers |
| the national scene. It is quickly approaching the | | | | were the ultimate spokesmen of the cars |
| popularity level of The National Basketball | | | | reputation. If they could wind with them on the |
| Association if not already surpassing it in some | | | | track then clearly they were worth driving on the |
| arenas. The NASCAR fan base is a rabid | | | | streets. |
| consumer group that is courted every race | | | | As time proceeded safety modifications led to |
| Sunday by no less than 43 primary sponsors. | | | | speed modifications and the executives at |
| These fans are loyal to their favorite drivers | | | | NASCAR relaxed the run what you bought |
| primary sponsor. Rarely will you find a Tony | | | | mentality and the cars drifted from the original |
| Stewart fan in a Lowe's, likewise you won't find a | | | | designs of the manufacturers. Roll cages were |
| Jimmie Johnson fan browsing the local Home | | | | added necessitating the advent of tubular frames |
| Depot. So where did this rabid fan base originate. | | | | for the cars. The engines were removed from |
| Back on December 14, 1947, Bill France and | | | | the cars and heavily modified. The suspension was |
| several members from different organizations | | | | changed to accommodate the variation in frame |
| decided during meetings to officially form the | | | | design. All the while NASCAR maintained an |
| NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto | | | | external body design that the racing fan could |
| Racing). This decision was cemented corporately | | | | identify with in their driveway. This identification |
| on February 21, 1948. The Association was going | | | | bread over to the products that the drivers were |
| to stage races for the public. During the first | | | | advertising on their cars. |
| years 8 races were ran to determine a NASCAR | | | | The greatest link to advertising in the early years |
| champion. All the while the fan base was growing. | | | | of NASCAR was STP/Dodge/ and Richard Petty. |
| Unlike CART and other racing forms the premise | | | | This link is so strong that even today when you |
| for NASCAR was a run what you could buy at | | | | think of NASCAR racing the tall black haired |
| the dealership mentality. During the early years | | | | gentlemen with the blue and red car comes to |
| the fans could purchase the cars that they saw | | | | mind quickly. Legions of fans would drive their |
| running on the tracks. With little to no modication | | | | Dodge cars to the track placing STP products into |
| these cars could be lined up on the local streets | | | | their cars because that was what Richard would |
| and raced. With great regularity this occurred. As | | | | do. |
| the fans saw the races and developed an identity | | | | |