History of NASCAR

NASCAR has been more than just a professional sport for almost 60 years running in the United States of America. For auto enthusiasts it is a fest of car makes and models that will never be seen in the mainstream market, for speed junkies it is the ultimate platform for racing into the sunset, for business moguls it is an immense business venture reaping millions of dollars in profits, for business sponsors it is an opportunity to be seen on the biggest stage in the country, for broadcasting companies it is a multi billion dollar industry littered with huge viewing audiences, and for the idealists in all of us, the history of NASCAR represents something magical and so unique, that the possibility of it ever being emulated is next to nothing.

NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and it is the most watched, most widely followed, and most dearly loved auto racing series in the USA. Thousands of people flock to watch NASCAR races, and millions more watch from their homes, as the best drivers in the country go head to head in a blistering paced racing season that really sets your pulse racing. NASCAR sanctions and organizes a number of auto racing competitions across the country, and the economical value of this professional sport along with its popularity is unmatched. The history of NASCAR in itself is so unique and one of a kind, that simply hearing about it has the ability to get a sentimental flutter in the coldest hearts.

Stock Cars
Let us first see what stock cars mean exactly. Stock car racing is a sport that is carried out across the world, and NASCAR holds the undisputed crown as the governing body for stock car racing in the United States of America. Since the coinage of the term 'stock cars', it has been used to refer to cars that have not been modified in any manner. Auto racing requires cars to be modified in order to go faster, and in order to meet several safety standards, but stock cars revolutionized this concept. Cars fresh from the factories were used for racing purposes, and absolutely no modifications were permitted to be made on them. Race cars are a stark contrast to this, as they are specially designed and created in order to race. The history of NASCAR all began with the prominence of stock car racing.

Stock cars today however, are distant cousins of their original predecessors. They are specifically modified versions of factory produced vehicles that are designed for the sole purpose of racing. The ironic thing though is that these stock cars that are produced and modified for NASCAR are technically inferior to the same designs and models that are produced for the road.

NASCAR Origin and History
NASCAR is a family operated business that began its operation in 1948, and was founded by Bill France Sr, who was a hardcore racing enthusiast. The headquarters of NASCAR is located in Daytona Beach, Florida and the story behind its inception is a rather strange one. Starting from the early 1920s Daytona Beach became the most coveted area across the world to set world land speed records owing to its long picturesque roads and drives. Building up slowly, the area came to be known as the most likely place for fast cars as more and more people flocked there to participate in small time races or to view the cars on show there. The course that was most widely used there was a 4.1 mile long course that combined the thrill of long speedy stretches with sharp bending curves, along with a great scenic view of the ocean. Pretty soon the racing circuit in the region became more and more popular, and started gaining degrees of officialdom. The prize money on offer also started rising, and soon enough it was a hundred thousand dollar business, that held immense potential for profits. Read more about the history of Daytona Beach.

Stock car racing can also be traced back to the Prohibition period in the late 1920s. Illegal smugglers of moonshine and bootleg whiskey used to transport their goods in cars that were modified to evade the police. The love for fast cars was an integral part of the history of NASCAR, as these smugglers soon started organizing races to see who had the fastest car. The confluence of this factor with the popularity of the Daytona Beach course contributed to the birth of NASCAR, and it has slowly evolved into a nationwide multi million dollar industry today.

Bill France Sr. and The History of NASCAR
Here was the architect of NASCAR, and being a driver himself he organized a meet of the fastest and most reputable drivers from around the area. He soon started running the course in the area, after moving there from Washington DC in 1935 to escape the effects of the Great Depression. Seeing great potential for the establishment of a standardized and unified racing union in the area he set to work to build and promote a nationwide movement that would culminate in the best drivers competing in the races held at Daytona Beach. By 1948, the circuit had officially begun functioning, and the rest, as they say, is history.

This is just a brief look into the origins and the history of NASCAR, as it would be impossible to divulge the entire timeline of the sport here. Today there are primarily 3 racing series that are organized by NASCAR - The Nationwide Series, The Sprint Cup, and The Camping World Truck Series. Along with these there are numerous other races and events that are sanctioned that cover the entire span of the country, and take place at many other circuits. The history of NASCAR has enabled it to always appear appealing to auto enthusiasts and lovers of racing, and this is a corporation that only gets stronger with each passing year.