What was NASCAR called before NASCAR?

From 1950-1970 the series was known as the Grand National Series before becoming the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1971-2003.

What was NASCAR first called?

The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, when the series began leasing its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, it was referred to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (1971–2003).

What was before NASCAR?

The legacy of the Prohibition runner went beyond casual backwoods racing in 1936, when the city of Daytona, Florida, held the first organized stock car race as a promotion.

What did NASCAR originally stand for?

The name originally chosen for the series was National Stock Car Racing Association; when it was pointed out that that name was already in use by a rival sanctioning body, "National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing", proposed by mechanic Red Vogt, was selected as the organization's name.

Was NASCAR started by moonshiners?

It wasn't gasoline—but moonshine—that fueled the growth of stock car racing in Appalachia and led to the rise of NASCAR. It wasn't gasoline—but moonshine—that fueled the growth of stock car racing in Appalachia and led to the rise of NASCAR.

The Day that Changed NASCAR forever

What were moonshine runners called?

Once the liquor was distilled, drivers called "runners" or "bootleggers" smuggled moonshine and "bootleg" (illegally imported) liquor across the region in cars specially modified for speed and load-carrying capacity.

How did moonshine bootlegging give rise to NASCAR?

The vehicles were outfitted with heavy-duty shocks and springs, safeguarding the jars containing the hooch from breaking on bumpy mountain roads. The seats in the back were usually removed so more booze could fit. And high-powered engines gave the cars extra speed to outrun any cops and tax agents along the route.

What were bootleggers cars called?

In hopes of improving their chances of outrunning prohibition cops, bootleggers modified their cars and trucks by enhancing the engines and suspensions to make their vehicles faster. These cars were called moonshine runners.

What was the first NASCAR car?

1939 Ford Coupe

-NASCAR's earliest races featured pre-World War II models due to a post-World War II shortage.

What are the origins of car racing?

Automobile racing began soon after the invention of the gasoline- (petrol-) fueled internal-combustion engine in the 1880s. The first organized automobile competition, a reliability test in 1894 from Paris to Rouen, France, a distance of about 80 km (50 mi), was won with an average speed of 16.4 kph (10.2 mph).

Who won the first NASCAR race in 1948?

FEBRUARY 15, 1948 – NASCAR runs its first race in Daytona Beach at the beach road course. Red Byron wins in a Ford.

Was moonshine used in cars?

Practically any car could run on high-potency hooch, though the level of performance would vary. The Ford Model A driven in the historical novel Lawless is based on would run pretty smoothly, though it would lose about 30 percent of its horse power.

What's the Nascar Cup called?

The new name of NASCAR's premier stock car racing tour became the "Winston Cup Grand National Series." During the Winston Cup Era, NASCAR experienced a significant rise in national prominence.

Why did Dodge leave NASCAR?

Despite designing a Gen-6 car, Dodge stepped away from the sport after Brad Keselowski's 2012 championship. The American automaker pulled its support, unable to find a flagship team to replace the departing Penske Racing.

What is the oldest NASCAR track?

Opening in 1950, Darlington Raceway is one of NASCAR's oldest tracks, and the oldest superspeedway on the circuit. Built on farmland, the idea for Darlington was a track and event that could rival the Indy 500, but in the south. The track features a unique design, with turns one and two that are wide and sweeping.

What is a whiskey car?

Unlike in NASCAR racing, where cars are ostensibly kept close to stock, whiskey cars were modified to give them every possible advantage over law enforcement. That includes some modifications that may not give the car more power or speed, but were sure to throw the cops off the trail.

Who ran alcohol during Prohibition?

In New York, gangster Frankie Yale also paid Italian-Americans $15 per day to run alky cookers in Brooklyn. These family moonshiners were among countless small- and big-time illegal alcohol producers during Prohibition. Some of these moms and pops bottled their own liquor at home.

Do they still run moonshine?

Moonshine production today comes in many forms. There are still plenty of backwoods blackpot stills throughout the South, the traditional home of illegal liquor production. But there are also high-tech, larger operations organized like modern businesses.

What happened 17 years ago in NASCAR?

NASCAR's Hendrick Motorsports Endured Nightmare 17 Years Ago Oct. 24 After a Pre-Race Plane Crash Killed All 10 Aboard. In the hours after news broke on Oct.

Who were the original NASCAR drivers?

Lee Petty, Curtis Turner, Buck Baker and other early NASCAR legends knew the fast way around dirt tracks. Lee Petty (car No. 42) won more premier series races on dirt than any other driver.

When did NASCAR stop using stock cars?

The Strictly Stock cars were used until 1966 when NASCAR ordered its first significant competition change to the Grand National Division.

Was Junior Johnson a moonshiner?

Johnson was the best-known bootlegger in Wilkes County, North Carolina, a hotbed of the moonshine industry.