What Is NASCAR Racing?

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is one of the most popular sports in the United States. NASCAR oversees many types of racing. The three most popular series are the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

  1. History

    • NASCAR was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948. The first three NASCAR divisions were Roadsters, Modifieds and Strictly Stock. The Strictly Stock division was founded in 1949, and has since evolved into the Sprint Cup Series, which is the most popular NASCAR series today.

    Racetracks

    • There are 22 NASCAR racetracks nationwide, which range in size from .526 mile to 2.66 miles.

    Races

    • The most popular NASCAR race is the Daytona 500, which is the first race of the year. Other popular races include the Brickyard 400, the Bristol Motor Speedway and the Coca-Cola 600.

    Drivers

    • There are many NASCAR drivers, and because the number of drivers change due to drivers retiring or new drivers coming on, it is not possible to give an exact count. Some of the most popular drivers include Dale Earnhart Jr., Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Legendary drivers include Dale Earnhart Sr., Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty.

    Cars

    • Sprint Cup race cars are custom-built cars based on four door American-made cars. These cars weigh 3400 pounds and have a wheelbase of 110 inches. They can generate over 750 horsepower.