What Defines a Stock Car?

By definition, a stock car is one that has its parts unchanged from how it left the Automotive factory. As far as NASCAR goes, that definition is true in a very vague sense. Car manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, etc., work individually with racing teams to help create cars that will adhere to NASCAR guidelines, yet produce the most speed and power. In fact, the only parts of modern NASCAR cars that are factory stock are the hood, trunk lid, the roof, front grille and the bumper panels. So, yes, it is called stock-car racing, but the odds of Joe Sixpack being able to zip down to the corner store at 200 mph in a car like Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s is fairly unlikely.

What is NASCAR?

Following World War II, stock car racing began a surge in popularity across the U.S. With drivers racing at tracks throughout the South, rules and track conditions tended to vary wildly from city to city. It was during these wild days that stock-car racing’s “outlaw” image arose, as drivers would bend, break or flat-out trample on rules to get a victory.

The brainchild of Bill France Sr., NASCAR stands for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing and officially was created in December of 1947, in order to help organize and sanction events. Racing legend Red Byron won the first race and the lion’s share of the race’s $5,000 purse. By 1949, there were eight official races held, and NASCAR had its place in society.

The Early Days of NASCAR

France’s early ambition helped push the series quickly into the limelight. By 1950, the first superspeedway – Darlington (S.C.) opened to big crowds. As races became more accessible and commonplace, drivers who had been cult heroes up until then, began to emerge as more mainstream. Drivers like Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, Buck Baker, Herb Thomas, Bill Rexford and Paul Goldsmith dominated the action as stock-car enthusiasts now had their own idols in place.

When France helped put together the Daytona International Speedway in 1959 in Daytona Beach, Fl., NASCAR had itself a home base and created its biggest event – the Daytona 500. Petty was the first Daytona 500 winner, inching out Johnny Beauchamp in a battle that took officials three days to decide.

The 1960s saw the NASCAR boom continue, as speedways opened throughout the South and Richard Petty – son of Lee – became the most dominant driver in the history of the sport – winning an unprecedented 200 races in his illustrious career, a record that remains standing today.

The 1970s saw corporate sponsorship for NASCAR go to the next level, as R.J. Reynolds became the prominent sponsor of the series, giving it the familiar “Winston Cup” moniker. Races began to be televised and over the next 30 years, NASCAR continued its evolution to where it stands today.

The Great Boom

Most view the mid-1990s as the time when NASCAR went from popular to national obsession. The series and its drivers began to pop up on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine and newspapers throughout the land. Attendance at races broke the 5-million mark overall, and television ratings soared.

The series also began to experience a new wave of younger drivers. Dale Earnhardt Sr., long the most popular driver in the series and the torch-carrier of the grizzled, old-school drivers of the past was faced with a new challenger – Jeff Gordon. In 1995, Gordon, with his clean-cut looks and image won the series championship at the age of 24 to become the series’ youngest champion. The rivalry between Earnhardt and Gordon was a figurative battle of Jack Daniels against milk, and NASCAR’s popularity exploded.

The Tragedy

On Feb 18, 2001, NASCAR saw its greatest tragedy. On the final lap of the Daytona 500, Earnhardt Sr. lost control of his car and went head-on into a retaining wall, instantly ending the life of one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers and personalities. Ironically, the race had appeared to be a triumph for Earnhardt’s racing team. Michael Waltrip, a long-time fan-favorite who had been winless in more than 400 Winston Cup races, took the checkered flag for the victory in his first race for Earnhardt’s DEI Racing Team. On victory lane, Waltrip said: “All this would be a dream if it wasn't for Dale Earnhardt. I think he might have been in a wreck. I don't even know. I hope he's OK." Earnhardt’s son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second in the race that will forever be viewed with sadness.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was 49 at the time of his death. Known as “The Intimidator” for his grizzled looks and win-at-all costs racing style, Earnhardt will forever be considered one of the most important drivers in the history of NASCAR and auto racing as a whole. The death of its most prominent drivers pushed NASCAR to make myriad safety changes that are in effect today and modified when possible.

What is a Racing Team?

When you see cars blast around the track either live or on television, one can often be amazed at the cost of producing a top-quality car. Having a competitive car takes millions of dollars. In the old days of NASCAR, a racing team meant a couple of mechanics. Now, a racing team is a vast organization. Teams like Hendricks, Roush, DEI and others help provide all the support for its cars and drivers, as well as negotiate lucrative sponsorships. Believe it or not, when you see an advertisement on the hood of a Nextel Cup car, it can run said sponsor upwards of $10 million.

The Growth of NASCAR

Currently, there are several different racing series under the NASCAR banner. In 2004, R.J. Reynolds withdrew sponsorship after its successful 30-plus year run, and Nextel became the official sponsor, with NASCAR’s main series was renamed the Nextel Cup. NASCAR also operates the Busch Series (basically a “minor leagues” for the Nextel Cup), the Craftsman Truck series, and a weekly touring series of developing drivers battling in regional events. All of the Series’ receive television coverage, normally with the Busch Series race televised on Saturday’s and the Nextel Cup race on Sunday.

NASCAR Today

While Earnhardt’s death cast a shadow on the sport for the short-term, NASCAR’s popularity managed to grow in the following years. Following Gordon’s lead, a new brand of driver emerged. “The Young Guns” as they were called, included drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Bush, Ryan Newman and others. The young drivers have had remarkable success in the series and helped push NASCAR even more to the mainstream.

How to be a Champion

The Nextel Series, which is a marathon of 36 races from February to November, underwent some changes in 2004, modifying its overall points structure. In layman’s terms, a driver receives points for each race based on his finish and laps led. These points are added up and with five races to go, the Top-10 drivers (plus drivers within 400 points of the overall leader) race in what is considered a “playoff.” While the races are held normally with the normal amount of drivers, only the final 10-plus are eligible for the series title.

The Future

As drivers like Gordon, Dale Earnhard Jr., Tony Stewart and others continue to reach large audiences and create followings akin to movie stars, the future of NASCAR looks as bright as its present. With automobile technology improving each year, NASCAR officials are endlessly tinkering with racing rules to provide the safest, most competive races and seasons as possible. Still, the success that is NASCAR seems based mostly on its ability to combine past with present. Older drivers like Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett still have huge fan bases that want to see their aging hero beat a young gun. Finally, with a nine-month season, the Nextel Cup is a novella of sorts. Fans follow their drivers both personally and professionally from town to town. With Nextel Cup races now the highest-rated sports events in the U.S. and fan accessible, one can only imagine great things to continue for America’s premier stock-car racing organization.