NASCAR - The Backwoods Roots

NASCAR stands for the National Stock Car Autowas born. Bootleggers were those who would run
Racing Association. The organization itself is a conduitillegal spirits (also known as moonshine) to secret
for many companies to market their products whilemarkets in high-speed cars under cover of darkness.
giving fans of auto racing a thrilling experience. TheThe activity was characterized by Federal agents
roots of NASCAR go back to the very thing thatchasing and hunting them down. It was risky business
spawned the American Revolution: a disdain forand sometimes even mortal.
excessive taxation. Yes, NASCAR roots actually beginBootlegging began to create competition among the
around the year 1794 and at the heart of thedrivers of the moonshine cars and it was sport to
Whiskey Rebellion.see who had the fastest car. Over time, they would
The Whiskey Rebellion was spawned because theeven collectively get together and have races on
new United States Federal Government imposed aSunday afternoons. All the local people would come
tax on farmers who distilled their extra grain so as toout and spend a Sunday afternoon watching the
bring it to market as well. Back in those days, thereraces and that night, the drivers would turn their
were not sophisticated highways and rail systems tosport into work and run the illegal moonshine to
get grain to market and farmers did the best theysecret buyers.
could to deliver it. Any grain left over would beIn 1938, Daytona Beach Florida would become the
distilled into spirits rather than let it go bad. The spiritsplace of the first NASCAR race. Daytona Beach was
of course would be imported to the markets anda good place for racing because the beach sands
sold in that form. It was this that Alexander Hamiltonwere firm and the beach area was wide. The prizes
wanted to tax. Of course the farmers rebelledfor the winners were simple and could be things like a
because this was part of their very livelihood.case of motor oil, a bottle of spirits, or a box of
Some farmers secretly distilled the spirits andcigars. The organizer and promoter of this event was
transported the end product in secret and undera man named Bill France. Bill France would go on to
cover of darkness to their end markets. Thus thebuild the organization we known as NASCAR today.
seeds of NASCAR were planted although at this timeIn the 1950s, the business model of NASCAR began
there was no such thing as cars. Thus the spirit ofto form and it continues today. Many promoters of
NASCAR came to pass.products will pay drivers and car teams to carry their
In the 1920s and early 1930s, the Federallogo on their car and on driver suits. If the team is a
government would again try to control thewinner it is a great position for a promoter to be in.
production and transportation of spirits through anPlus, many companies enjoy having the NASCAR logo
amendment to the U.S. Constitution known asassociated with their businesses and products.
Prohibition. It was one thing that the farmers wouldAnd for the fans of NASCAR, it is great fun and
manufacture the spirits in secret for personal use butexcitement.
that of course was unprofitable. So the "bootlegger"