The History of NASCAR: Inspiring Motorsports Legacy

How did NASCAR start?

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — better known as NASCAR — was founded in 1948, though the roots of stock car racing actually date to the Prohibition era.

Daytona Beach, Florida, was a common location for setting land speed records, with drivers gathering to compete in events to see which cars were the fastest. Race competitor and businessman William “Bill” France Sr. saw there was a need to promote and sanction racing.

Since its formation, NASCAR has been a leader in producing and promoting races and has become the world’s largest governing body for stock car racing.

Keep reading to find out more about NASCAR history, as well as the specialized technician training program offered at NASCAR Technical Institute!

Key Summary Points

• NASCAR was founded in 1948, but the roots of stock car racing date back to the Prohibition era.
• Daytona Beach, Florida, was a popular location for land-speed records and racing events.
• Bill France Sr. saw the need to promote and sanction racing, leading to the formation of NASCAR in 1948.
• The first NASCAR race took place in 1948, and the first officially sanctioned stock car race was held in 1949.
• NASCAR has experienced many milestones and has become the world's largest governing body for stock car racing.

When Did NASCAR Start?

During the 1920s and ’30s, the preferred location for speed record competitions was Daytona Beach, where drivers raced on a 4.1-mile course that featured a 1.5- to 2-mile stretch of beach as a straightaway and a beachfront highway as another part of the course.

Stock car racing dates to the Prohibition era, which began in 1920. In the United States, small, fast vehicles were used to transport whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Cars that looked normal on the outside were modified for speed and handling, and many had floorboards and seats removed to store the bootlegged alcohol.

After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, stock car racing was still popular, and drivers continued transporting moonshine in the South. Cars got faster, which helped improve the racing scene in Daytona.

Bill France Sr. moved to the area in 1935 due to the Great Depression and entered the 1936 Daytona event, placing fifth. France began running the course in 1938. In 1947, he met with other promoters and racers to discuss forming a sanctioning body for the races.

This discussion led to the formation of NASCAR in 1948, which featured three different divisions: Modified, Roadster and Strictly Stock, though the Roadster division was quickly dropped due to a lack of interest from fans.

The First NASCAR Race

The first NASCAR event was held on Feb. 15, 1948, at the beach road course in Daytona, which was a Modified division race. While this was the first year that an event by the company took place, most people associate 1949 as the year that the racing world changed forever.

The first NASCAR Strictly Stock Series race — the first stock car race officially sanctioned by the company — took place on June 19, 1949, at Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina before a crowd of around 13,000. The race comprised of 200 laps that equated to 150 miles, and cars reached top speeds of around 68 mph.

Jim Roper, who entered in a 1949 Lincoln, was awarded first place after Glenn Dunaway was disqualified for having illegal rear springs installed on his 1947 Ford.

NASCAR Through the Years

What started as a relatively small organization has transformed into a popular and thriving sport. Today, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,500 races around the world.

The company has experienced many milestones. Some of the highlights include:

• Sept. 4, 1950: NASCAR hosts its first 500-mile race, the Southern 500, at Darlington Raceway.
• Feb. 22, 1959: The first Daytona 500 is hosted at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. More than 41,000 fans attend, and Lee Petty is crowned the winner.
• Dec. 1, 1963: Wendell Scott becomes the first African American to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series.
• Sept. 14, 1969: The Alabama International Speedway opens. It’s better known today as Talladega Superspeedway.
• March 24, 1970: Buddy Baker becomes the first driver to exceed 200 mph.
• Feb. 14, 1971: The Daytona 500 is broadcasted on Motor Racing Network (MRN) for the first time.
• Jan. 10, 1972: NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. hands leadership to his son, Bill France Jr.
• July 4, 1984: Richard Petty reaches a milestone of 200 wins at the Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
• Nov. 15, 1992: The 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway is touted as one of the most significant races in NASCAR history. Jeff Gordon races for the first time in a premier series competition, while Richard Petty races for the last time.
• Nov. 11, 1999: Fox, NBC and Turner Sports all become NASCAR partners.
• Feb. 18, 2001: Dale Earnhardt Sr. dies after a final-lap crash at the Daytona 500.
• January 2003: The NASCAR Research and Development Center is unveiled in Concord, North Carolina.
• May 23, 2010: The inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class is inducted, featuring Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Junior Johnson.
• Feb. 17, 2013: Danica Patrick wins the Busch Pole award at the Daytona 500, becoming the first woman to win a pole in Premier Series history.
• Nov. 20, 2016: Jimmie Johnson wins his seventh NASCAR premier series title and ties the records of Hall-of-Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
• April 27, 2018: NASCAR announces the acquisition of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA).
• Aug. 6, 2018: Leadership of the organization is transferred to Jim France, son of founder Bill France Sr. and brother of Bill France Jr.

NASCAR has gone from the humble beginnings of hosting races with cars driven off the street to showcasing the advanced racing machines of today. The tradition of watching races has been a pleasure shared by many Americans for decades, and the legacy continues.

Specialized Training at NASCAR Technical Institute

If you have a passion for the sport of NASCAR and could imagine yourself working in the world of motorsports, specialized training can help to better prepare you for a career!

The NASCAR specialized training program is offered at NASCAR Tech in Mooresville, North Carolina. Over the course of 15 weeks, students are trained on the fundamentals of motorsports, ranging from engines, aerodynamics, fabrication and pit crew essentials.⁸ Some select students even get the opportunity to build engines that compete in NASCAR-sanctioned races.²⁴

NASCAR Tech is the exclusive educational provider for NASCAR and the only campus in the country offering NASCAR-endorsed training.⁸⁵ Students train with state-of-the-industry technology and learn from instructors who bring a wide assortment of industry experience, from engine builders to crew chiefs.

To qualify for the NASCAR program, students must complete some form of core automotive program training. Find out more about Universal Technical Institute’s core auto program here.

NASCAR History FAQs

1. When and where was the first NASCAR event held?

The first NASCAR event was held on Feb. 15, 1948, at the beach road course in Daytona Beach, Florida. This event featured the Modified division and set the stage for future races.

2. Who won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race?

Jim Roper won the first NASCAR Strictly Stock Series race, held on June 19, 1949, at Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina. He was declared the winner after Glenn Dunaway was disqualified.

3. What was the purpose behind the creation of NASCAR?

NASCAR was created to promote and sanction stock car racing, providing a structured and official body to oversee the sport. Bill France Sr. had a major role in forming this sanctioning body to help organize and elevate racing events.

4. Who were the founders of NASCAR?

The primary founder of NASCAR was Bill France Sr., a race competitor and businessman who recognized the need for a governing body for stock car racing. He met with other promoters and racers in 1947 to establish the organization.

5. How has NASCAR evolved since its inception?

Since its inception, NASCAR has grown from a small organization into a major sporting entity, sanctioning over 1,500 races worldwide. It has achieved numerous milestones, such as hosting its first 500-mile race in 1950 and introducing advanced racing technologies over the years.

Train for a Career in Motorsports at UTI!

You can combine your passion for NASCAR with an exciting, hands-on career in the industry. Racing teams need skilled technicians to keep the cars on the tracks performing lap after lap.

Find out more information about NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville and the specialized training program by requesting more information here or by calling 1-800-834-7308!