For the ones of you who may wonder what’s the jump there, let me clarify. You know I wrote about my favourite Chevrolet recently, well see, maybe some of you already know but let’s voice it for the rest – this is the car make that has won the most NASCAR races up to date. And that’s not a small achievement. And besides, in February this year, on the 21st to be exact, back in 1921, the National Association for Stock Car Racing (yep, NASCAR) was incorporated officially. So to celebrate the birthday I thought I will write up a post on the topic for my fellow car lovers.
Presently one of the most popular sports and a multi-billion-dollar industry worldwide, this started probably not the way you would imagine.

In Europe, Daytona Beach became known as the place to set world land speed records and the mecca for speed enthusiasts. In the States though, during roughly the same period, the Prohibition was forcing people to try figure out methods of delivering moonshine – a homemade type of whiskey. And as you can imagine, having a fast car that can beat anything the authorities can come up with was the way. The cars were quickly getting better and better, starting with (don’t laugh) engines from ambulances (that was the best the market had to offer!) and then building on and improving that until at some point the races between the performance enhanced cars became a source of pride, entertainment and yes, profit, themselves. Shortly after regulations and order was required as with any other activity for it to prosper and develop. A mechanic under the name of William “Bill” France Sr. (1909-1992) from Washington, D.C., who in the mid-1930s moved to Daytona, rose to the bait as he was getting tired of dishonest promoters and organisers. This is how the idea of NASCAR was born, with its official incorporation in February 1921. France was officially the first NASCAR’s president shaped and influenced the development of the sport over the next few decades. (I am pretty sure there was some betting going on as well, but I would need to look into this further…do people bet on car races nowadays? I’m curious now…another day, another post, let’s not digress).
The races quickly developed and evolved, in the 50s the first official tracks were opened in South Carolina and many more followed with thousands of happy races and sport enthusiasts and plenty of new records set.
In 1972, France’s son, William France Jr., took over the presidency of NASCAR as his father retired. To him we can safely give the credit for making NASCAR a global organisation, known and loved not just in certain areas of the USA but across the globe.
At present, as with everything it seems, races are even going digital – with the likes of iRacing – an online simulator for professional racers and driving enthusiasts. The platform partners with NASCAR and a number of other real-world racing organizations and series, creating a close to reality experience for players. Now this is something! Virtual reality is the next big thing with some of the latest devices being able to track and react to anything, down to your head movement and gaze! Sky is literally the limit here, so let’s all wait and see what’s on the line for us, moto fans, both on and offline!
Trust you had fun as always, see you soon!