| Stock car racing is one of the most popular forms of | | | | of 187 mph. |
| racing in America today, as is evidenced by the | | | | Stock car racing originated with the moonshine |
| popularity of the Nascar Nextel Cup. The term "stock | | | | runners of the prohibition era. There was such a need |
| car" is derived from the fact that all of the cars used | | | | to outrun the law when running moonshine that the |
| must be original production cars. These cars may be | | | | runners soon began modifying their cars to make |
| modified for performance, but they cannot be | | | | them run faster and more efficiently. This soon |
| specially designed for racing. | | | | became a competition between the runners and the |
| An example of a popular modification is the rear | | | | early 1930s saw the sport of car auto racing start to |
| spoiler that is added to every stock automobile used | | | | become organized. Because the rules for racing were |
| in racing. This spoiler forces the air moving over the | | | | so varied, many wanted more uniformity. In 1948, |
| automobile to provide enough downward pressure to | | | | NASCAR became a reality. |
| stabilize the vehicle and provide some degree of | | | | There are many stock car racing circuits other than |
| protection from overturning during a stock car race. | | | | Nascar. Some examples of these include the IMCA, |
| In car racing sports, a stock car race is normally | | | | or International Motor Contest Association, the |
| played out on a track that is oval in design and can | | | | ARCA, or Automobile Racing Club of America, and |
| be made from dirt or asphalt. There is also the stock | | | | the CRA, or Championship Racing Association. These |
| car race that is run on roadways, but they are very | | | | are the "minor leagues" of stock automobile races. |
| rare. | | | | As well as these and the Nascar circuit, you will find |
| The tracks vary in length from the short track, which | | | | other clubs, such as the Craftsman Truck Series and |
| is approximately one quarter of a mile in length, to | | | | the Busch Series. As in baseball, drivers do not start |
| the super speedways which can be up to 2.66 miles | | | | out in Nascar. They must enter the sport at the |
| in length. Maximum speeds on the short tracks can | | | | bottom and work their way to the top. They must |
| range up to 220 mph; however, the speeds at the | | | | go out and prove themselves and then wait to be |
| super speedways are now restricted to a maximum | | | | invited to drive for a professional car racing team. |