Daniel Suarez will debut in the main NASCAR category next Sunday. But what is NASCAR, and when and where was it created? What has happened since its creation? We tell you decades of history in a few lines.

  • It was Bill France Sr., of Daytona Beach, Florida, who, in December 1947, organized a meeting at the Streamline hotel to discuss the lack of organization in the races, and hence NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) was born.
  • There have been more than 1200 races in more than 30 US states. Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
  • The first NASCAR sanctioned race was at the Daytona circuit on February 15, 1948. Red Byron, an Atlanta driver, won the event in a modified Ford.
  • But it was until 1949 that the first division of NASCAR, as we know it, was created.
  • In 1950 was opened the first paved oval (speedway) in Darlington, South Carolina.
  • In 1959 the Daytona International Speedway was inaugurated. A full 2.5 mile with more than 30 degrees of cant.
  • The first edition of the Daytona 500 took three days to define. That took NASCAR officers to study a photo and determine Lee Petty’s triumph over Johnny Beauchamp.
  • ABC televised in 1961 a 250-mile race in Daytona, Florida.
  • In 1969 Bill France opened the 2.66-mile Superspeedway, Alabama International Motor Speedway (the world’s largest super oval commonly called Talladega).
  • In 1971 the sponsorship began in style. With this, the first division of NASCAR became the Winston Cup Series.
  • In 1979, the entire Daytona 500 was broadcasted – the first 500-mile televised event from start to finish.
  • In 1982 NASCAR consolidated the second division; The idea was to face the best regional drivers in a national series. The Budweiser Series was created, and in 1984 it became Busch Series.
  • In 1989, 10 years after broadcasting the Daytona 500 from start to finish, all NASCAR Winston Cup events were televised – mostly live.
  • In 1994, the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 miles, was added to the calendar.
  • In 1994, NASCAR also organized the Craftsman Truck Series, one specially made for Pick-ups. In ’95, it was the first event with points, and then it was called Camping World Truck Series.
  • In 2000, Mike Helton became the 3rd president of the agency and was not a member of the France family for the first time.
  • In 2004 the NASCAR Playoffs, the Chase for the Cup, was created.
  • In 2006, Toyota joined the three national series, and for the first time, there was a non-US manufacturer.
  • In 2007 the regional ones outside the USA were created. In Canada the Canadian Tire Series and in Mexico the Toyota Series; In 2012, Nascar arrived in Europe.
  • In 2016, a Mexican got the title of the Xfinity Series and became the first foreigner to get a NASCAR national title … Daniel Suárez.
  • The top racers in the category are Richard Petty, The King, and Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator, both with seven rings.