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Evolution of Stockcar Racing
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Volstead Act Signed
Beginning of Prohibition after the Volstead Act was signed. Bootleggers drove souped up cars in order to out-run the police. After Prohibitin ended, the fast driving life style stuck and racing became a new hobby and livelihood for these moonshine runners. -
Formation of the NCSSC
Bill France Sr. saw the need to unite the racing series and create one strong organization. The National Championship Series of Stock Cars became the direct stepping stone to what NASCAR is today. -
Official Formation of NASCAR
Bill France, Sr. officially forms The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. France had a vision of what he saw as the future of racing in the country and felt that alter rules and regulations was neccessary to achieve that goal. -
First Official NASCAR Race
Jim Roper won the race driving a Lincoln Cosmopolitan at the Charlotte North Carolina fairgrounds. Also had the first crash ever in a race. Lee Petty crashed on Lap 107. -
Roll Bars Mandated by NASCAR
Roll Bars were mandated in NASCAR for the 1952 season. Prior to this season, roll bars were not required, and drivers used ropes and aircraft harnesses as seatbelts. -
Pure Oil Company Produces Tires for NASCAR
In 1952, the Pure Oil Company developed special tires for stock cars. Prior to 1952, street tires were the only tires used for cars. -
Two-Way Radios Used for the First Time in NASCAR
During a race at Daytona Beach in 1952, two-way radios were used for the first time in NASCAR. Two-way radios have continued to develop since, becoming an important aspect of racing. -
"Severe Usage" Kits Introduced to NASCAR
Beginning in the 1953 season, NASCAR introduced "severe usage" kits, These kits contained various parts which could be used to repair the cars. The introduction of severe usage kits came as a result of countless failures with spindles, axels, hubs, and other parts of the cars in previous seasons. -
Richard Petty's First Win
Richard Petty got his first NASCAR victory at the Charlotte Fairground in North Carolina. -
First African-American Winner
Wendell Scott wins the NASCAR Grand National Event in Jacksonville, Florida. Awin by a minority in a primarily white sport proved that NASCAR was now open to all types of people from coast to coast. -
RJ Tobacco Sponors the Grand National Racing Series
This was the beginning of the Winston Cup. The race was won by Richard Petty. This now gave the NASCAR series respectablity by association. It now showed other major companies that NASCAR could be a viable option for marketing. A change that led to Richard Petty's sponsorship by STP and also today's sponsorship by multiple Fortune 500 companies. -
First Female Driver Qualifies
Janet Guthrie qualifies for the World 600. She finished 15th, and also qualified for the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 in 1977. -
First Use of Live-Network Cameras
Live-networks cameras let viewers at home watch the races live instead of having a delay. NASCAR is now the second most watched sport only behind football. -
Death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. dies in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. This left fans, drivers and a sport in complete shock. The legend left his mark in the stats column but now left his mark on the future of NASCAR because saferty of the sport came into the spotlight and made NASCAR consider major alterations to cars and tracks. -
Jimmie Johnsons First Win at the Nappa Auto Parts 500
The win was in his 13th start, and it made him the fourth quickest driver in NASCAR history to score a Winston Cup win. It was done at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. -
First Testing of A Car For Tomorrow
Years of planning and designing finally came to fruition when the COT was first tested on a track. This ushered in a new era in which safety and a level playing field became major points of interests for NASCAR. -
First Race in COT
New car debuted to mixed reactions in a race won by Klye Busch. The car had mixed reviews inculding the winner being against the car. Other drivers felt that it gave new options in the race never viable before. -
Jimmie Johnson Wins 5th Consecutive NASCAR Sprint Series Title
Johnson clinched his 5th consecutive title, which has never been done before in the history of the sport. It was done at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This proved his dominace in multiple racing formats inculding the old points system and also the new "chase" format. Johnson has become in a sense NASCAR's Michael Jordan, giving it a household name nationwide to associate with titles. This era's Richard petty.
