NASCAR History
By Brenda Williams
NASCAR officially dates back to 1938, when Bill France Sr. held the very first NASCAR race. Back then, the prizes weren't much - a can of motor oil, or a pack of cigarettes. Still, it was a big deal to even have a prize! Previously, the races that would become NASCAR were held by bootleggers who had souped-up their automobiles to outrun Federal agents. The prize for outrunning one of those agents was not going to jail...or losing your life.
Even after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Southerners still loved racing their fast cars. The early races were not well-organized, but there was a lot of demand from fans to see these cars race. Bill France Sr., a gas station owner, drove a stock car on weekends and recognized their popularity. He became manager of the Daytona Beach Race Course, and organized and promoted a series of popular races. His plans were put on hold when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Dec.1941, and France stopped his races for the duration of World War II.
After the war, France had the idea to create a highly-organized way of creating races that would guarantee that the drivers and crew were properly compensated. This organization was officially founded in 1947 and became known as the National Association for Stock Car Racing, or NASCAR.
The first officially-sanctioned NASCAR race was held in February 1948 in Daytona Beach. The following year, NASCAR began what would become the Winston Cup Series, known at the time as "Strictly Stock," with a $5,000 purse.
In 1950, NASCAR came to the new Darlington International Speedway in Darlington, South Carolina, which became known as the "first superspeedway." The track was built by local businessman Harold Brasington, who saw the potential in France's vision. Brasington's efforts were widely mocked as "Harold's Folley," but his plan paid off when the first race, on Labor Day 1950, was attended by 25,000 fans - more than twice the number Brasington had anticipated.
Plans for an official NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach were announced in 1954, and the final speedway was completed in 1959. NASCAR continued to thrive over the next several decades, continuing its expansion with such new speedways as the Talladega Superspeedway, which opened in 1969. In 1973, Bill France Sr. retired, leaving the company to his son, Bill Jr. As president of NASCAR, Bill France Jr. continued to expand the company, leading to many Fortune 500 companies coming in as sponsors for driving teams and events in the 1980s.
NASCAR has exploded in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming one of the most popular spectator sports in the U.S. Winston Cup Events topped 6 million attendees in 1998, the same year that NASCAR-licensed products topped $950 million in sales. The 21st century has brought about many changes, including increased television coverage of the races, and many variations in the track and point systems. Bill France Jr. retired in 2003, turning NASCAR over to his son Brian.
Over three generations, NASCAR has grown from a small gathering of cars to a multibillion-dollar industry. With its popularity continuing to soar, it promises to maintain its enormous popularity for many years to come.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
NASCAR Charities
NASCAR Charities - The Giving Spirit of Racing Men
By Tuck Robinson
Most non-racing fans don't associate the rowdy men of NASCAR with the giving spirit that it takes to be involved with charities. Real racing fans know the truth that NASCAR is one of the most giving of all professional sports. The NASCAR Foundation was started in 2006 as a link between the sport and all of the charitable causes supported by its different elements. They support over 30 assorted charities and foundations many of which are run by the drivers, their wives, teams and team owners. Two of the many charities that benefit from its largess are the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speediatrics.
Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in memory of their son, Adam Petty, who was killed in an accident during practice at New Hampshire International Speedway. The idea for the camp was Adam's and it's purpose is to provide a place for terminally ill, and chronically ill children to have a camp experience that otherwise wouldn't be an option due to their illness. The camp has received support from many NASCAR drivers, teams, and sponsors, including Tony Stewart, one of the rowdiest drivers in NASCAR. Tony Stewart has donated well over 2 million dollars to the camp.
Speediatrics was founded by Betty Jane France, wife of the late co-founder, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, Bill France. Speediatrics is a pediatric unit located at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, FL and Homestead Hospital in Miami, FL. Its cheerful decor is designed to make children feel as comfortable as possible during a hospital stay. The goal of the unit is to allow children to heal in a place that is fun and inviting. The unit's waiting room, nurse's station, walls, patient rooms and playroom are decorated with a NASCAR theme that includes race cars, checkered flags, and cartoon characters named Traxx, Curves, Six-Speed, and Clutch.
The NASCAR Foundation raises money in many different ways and virtually every one of the people associated with the sport contribute. There is an online auction conducted routinely, last year a motorcycle was auctioned off, this year Dodge has donated a 2008 Dodge Challenger painted Petty blue. NASCAR Day is another huge moneymaker, donate $5, you get a pin and participating employers allow you to wear your NASCAR gear to work. There are many more fundraisers including track walks, races, motorcycle rides and sporting events. Beginning in 2008, NASCAR has taken it one step further in an unprecedented move. All drivers fines will go to The NASCAR Foundation, where before the fines went into NASCAR's pocket. Some may say this will encourage drivers to behave badly, but at least someone worthy will benefit.
NASCAR owners, drivers and teams are making a bundle of money nowadays. The NASCAR Foundation, driver foundations and individual NASCAR charities are a way for them to give back to the communities and help out those in need.
Written by the Webmaster of Racing Men, the site for all your NASCAR drivers news, NASCAR tickets and NASCAR cars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tuck_Robinson
By Tuck Robinson
Most non-racing fans don't associate the rowdy men of NASCAR with the giving spirit that it takes to be involved with charities. Real racing fans know the truth that NASCAR is one of the most giving of all professional sports. The NASCAR Foundation was started in 2006 as a link between the sport and all of the charitable causes supported by its different elements. They support over 30 assorted charities and foundations many of which are run by the drivers, their wives, teams and team owners. Two of the many charities that benefit from its largess are the Victory Junction Gang Camp and Speediatrics.
Victory Junction Gang Camp was founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in memory of their son, Adam Petty, who was killed in an accident during practice at New Hampshire International Speedway. The idea for the camp was Adam's and it's purpose is to provide a place for terminally ill, and chronically ill children to have a camp experience that otherwise wouldn't be an option due to their illness. The camp has received support from many NASCAR drivers, teams, and sponsors, including Tony Stewart, one of the rowdiest drivers in NASCAR. Tony Stewart has donated well over 2 million dollars to the camp.
Speediatrics was founded by Betty Jane France, wife of the late co-founder, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, Bill France. Speediatrics is a pediatric unit located at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, FL and Homestead Hospital in Miami, FL. Its cheerful decor is designed to make children feel as comfortable as possible during a hospital stay. The goal of the unit is to allow children to heal in a place that is fun and inviting. The unit's waiting room, nurse's station, walls, patient rooms and playroom are decorated with a NASCAR theme that includes race cars, checkered flags, and cartoon characters named Traxx, Curves, Six-Speed, and Clutch.
The NASCAR Foundation raises money in many different ways and virtually every one of the people associated with the sport contribute. There is an online auction conducted routinely, last year a motorcycle was auctioned off, this year Dodge has donated a 2008 Dodge Challenger painted Petty blue. NASCAR Day is another huge moneymaker, donate $5, you get a pin and participating employers allow you to wear your NASCAR gear to work. There are many more fundraisers including track walks, races, motorcycle rides and sporting events. Beginning in 2008, NASCAR has taken it one step further in an unprecedented move. All drivers fines will go to The NASCAR Foundation, where before the fines went into NASCAR's pocket. Some may say this will encourage drivers to behave badly, but at least someone worthy will benefit.
NASCAR owners, drivers and teams are making a bundle of money nowadays. The NASCAR Foundation, driver foundations and individual NASCAR charities are a way for them to give back to the communities and help out those in need.
Written by the Webmaster of Racing Men, the site for all your NASCAR drivers news, NASCAR tickets and NASCAR cars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tuck_Robinson
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