NASCAR history
History of NASCAR in a few lines...
The starting point.
At the end of the World War II, the request for new cars in the USA made a considerable jump with the return of the soldiers. The industry which had produced weaponry for 5 years applied at once their designs to the new cars. The result was the arrival on the market of fast, powerful and robust cars which were enjoyed by the young people of the time. Those started to organize more or less legal races, and soon trends started to form.
The American West was impassioned for the "sports" cars, the Midwest for those with uncovered wheels, whereas South-east chose the stock cars. A lot of these
were modified to carry out the illegal alcohol traffic and used in the "races".
This passion for auto racing did not escape the promoters who quickly made an "official" sport out of it, creating many organizations, each with their own rules. Some of them were the NCSCC (National Championship Stock Car Circuit), NSCRA (National Stock Car Racing Association), etc....
Unfortunately, this prevented auto racing from reaching the national level. Moreover, no guarantee of payment was offered to the pilots: if there was money remaining in the pot after the race, so much better, if not...
The birth.
On December 14, 1947, Bill France, who was himself part of the NSCRA, decided to meet with thirty five of the leaders of all associations in place to draw the
lines of what was going to become the American national automobile sport.
It took four days for the group to staighten all the rules, to choose the name of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and the Association
was finally officially created on February 21, 1948.
The first races.
They were run the same year with modified pre-war cars, which later became the "modified" series. The championship comprised 52 races, and the first winner was
Red Byron, who pocketed $1250.
As soon as 1949, Bill France put his very first idea into practice: a "strictly stock" series - no modification accepted. This brought a controversy which one can
describe as historical at the end of the first race at Charlotte. Glenn Dunnaway won the race with his 1947 Ford, but was declared illegal because of a modification
of the rear springs (Dunnaway used his car to carry moonshine). Jim Roper pocketed the $5000 with his Mercury 1949.
The championship of only eight races, was once again won by Red Byron.
Main events.
Main events.
1950:
- "Strictly stock" series takes the name of Grand National, which it will keep until 1985.
- the first Super-speedway is born at Darlington.
- the first 500 miles race takes place at... Darlington, of course!
1953:
- NASCAR applies the rules by the book and withdraws points to several pilots who had not filled in the inscription form in time.
1959:
- First Daytona 500 on the new track at Daytona International Speedway. The previous layout used the beach at low tide and a portion of highway 10 which is
running along the shore.
1960:
- First television report by CBS at Daytona.
1964:
- The first deaths of pilots are found, with the death of Fireball Roberts, Joe Weatherly and Jimmy Pardue. This introduced the concept of security, which began with
the arrival of the roll cage (roll cage), introduced by Banjo Matthews, a famous manufacturer.
- Introduction of the bladder rubber in the fuel tank, and of the inner tire layer.
1967:
- First use of the " templates". Those were introduced to counteract the efforts of the manufacturers (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) to turn the rules by using
more aerodynamic limited versions of the official stock models during the races. This caused the pre-race inspections to become extremely controversial.
To simplify the inspection process before the race, NASCAR used templates, which exactly reproduce the body of the stock model.
Nowadays, only the external appearance remains stock because of all the additions carried out for security purposes. Practically all the other parts are specially
manufactured, but they have to comply with very strict rules on the technology to be used.
1970:
- Buddy Baker passes the barrier of 200 mph (322 km/h) at Talladega, driving a Dodge Daytona equipped with a rear wing. This type of car was prohibited later,
always to conform to the "strictly stock" rule.
1972:
- Bill France's son succeeds his father at the direction of NASCAR.
- the first significant " sponsors " appear, like STP with "King" Richard Petty's team and Coca-Cola with that of Bobby Allison.
- Modification of the point system,
- Arrival of Darell Waltrip, who began his fantastic career with a 27th place at Talladega.
- the NASCAR Grand National becomes the Winston Cup Grand National.
1976:
- Historical finish in the Daytona 500, when the two drivers of the moment, King Richard Petty and David Pearson clung during a fight baited in the 20 last turns.
Petty's car remained immobilized on the side of the track, whereas Pearson finished the race at a jolty 20 mph.
1981:
- Reduction of the wheelbase from 115"(2.92m) to 110" (2.79m).
1984:
Richard Petty signs his 200th and last victory at Daytona before President Reagan. It is the first NASCAR race a president assists to.
1986:
- The Winston Cup Grand National becomes the Winston Cup.
1987-1997:
- NASCAR keeps growing in popularity.
1997:
- Construction of two super speedways in Texas and in California, for $110 millions....
1998:
- first race in Las Vegas, numerous new tracks are being put of the drafting table.
1999:
- Opening of this site :-)))
....... to be continued ......
The legends and their years of fame.
1948-1949: Red Byron,...
1950-1960: Curtis Turner, Lee Petty, Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, Tim Flock,...
1960-1975: Richard Petty "Le King", Fireball Roberts, David Pearson,...
1975-1985: Darell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker,...
1985-1997: Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace,...
1998-....: The young wolves: Jeff Gordon, John Andretti, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonté, Jeff Burton......
Note: This list is VERY uncomplete and the dates are an average of the drivers' years of fame.
Textes: © Jean Bizouard, 1999-2000.
Photos: The Official Nascar Handbook (ONH), The Thunder of America(TOA), Stock Car Racing Magazine(SCR).
