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