| NASCAR history is filled with influential | | | | which has been in existence since 1909, is |
| people. A few influential individuals, | | | | still being used. However, the most famous |
| including William France, Sr., have been | | | | race track of the NEXTEL Cup Series, the |
| responsible for creating the sport and taking | | | | Daytona International Speedway was built in |
| it to where it is today. The National | | | | 1959, with a length of 2.5 miles. The Later |
| Association for Stock Car Auto Racing | | | | Years In the early 1970s, the history of |
| (NASCAR) was founded by France on February | | | | NASCAR took a dramatic turn. It increased in |
| 21st, 1948. France, together with other | | | | popularity due in large part to an altered |
| drivers, designed a points system that would | | | | points system as well as new sponsorship |
| become the foundation of NASCAR racing. As | | | | including the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. |
| early as 1948, the schedule consisted of 52 | | | | In 1979, the Daytona 500 was shown on CBS, |
| modified races that were run on dirt tracks. | | | | making it the first NASCAR race to be shown |
| The first National Championship was won by | | | | from start to finish on television. Going |
| Red Byron. The Beginnings Named its first | | | | into the last lap, leaders Cale Yarborough |
| commissioner, Erwin "Cannonball" Baker had a | | | | and Donnie Allison got into a wreck, allowing |
| big impact on the history of NASCAR. An | | | | a third driver to pass them both for the win. |
| accomplished racer who set dozens of land | | | | Yarborough and Allison got into a fistfight, |
| speed records himself (hence his nickname), | | | | and the drama and emotion that was shown in |
| Baker allowed almost no changes to the cars | | | | that race might be the defining moment in the |
| that were raced. Glenn Dunnaway became the | | | | history of NASCAR. Its popularity has |
| first NASCAR driver to be disqualified after | | | | steadily increased since. NASCAR counts today |
| it was discovered that he had altered the | | | | amongst the most popular sports in the USA. |
| rear springs in his cars. However, over a | | | | It is hugely profitable for the participants |
| 10-15 year period, modifications were allowed | | | | as well, with at least million in prize money |
| for safety and performance periods, until by | | | | up for grabs at every race in the NEXTEL Cup |
| the mid-1960s almost all stock cars were | | | | Series. The NEXTEL Cup is run over 36 races. |
| built solely for the purpose of racing them. | | | | The sport is so popular that the successful |
| Most NASCAR race tracks were from half a mile | | | | drivers have millions of devoted fans that |
| to a mile long, and the action in a | | | | watch every single race and spend a lot of |
| relatively compact area added to the | | | | money on fan gear every year. In a way, the |
| excitement of the sport. Some of the earlier | | | | history of NASCAR is still in the writing. |
| tracks, such as the Martinsville Speedway and | | | | |
| the Darlington Raceway are still in use | | | | NASCAR Fan? At you can watch and relive the |
| today. Even the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, | | | | drama of NASCAR crashes. |