Colorful Crowds and Carburetors: The History of American Stock Car Racing
By: Sydney Stultz
Fumes of all kinds swarm the amphitheater. Burnt rubber, gasoline, the occasional whiff of fried food. The roar of engines that quiets a colorful crowd. Deafening. The sound pierces the air. Crews scramble and cars roll forward. People from all over the country, even the world, come to see these treacherous monsters. Hoping to hear the crunching of metal or the squeal of a spin. Maybe even the ping-ping of a tire change. The thrill and suspense as each 3,000-pound car makes each turn. Some crave it. Stock car racing has captured the hearts of millions. People have flocked to the nearest track for decades. Many do not realize the thick roots of its history started with whiskey. Bootleggers running in modified cars down the highway, hoping they won’t get caught. This was no choice. For some, it was a source of income. The following essay will explain the history of stock car racing, also known as NASCAR, and how the nationwide sport evolved from daredevil men trying to make a living to the sport phenomenon it is today.
Origin & First Idea
In the 1930s, bootleggers, or people delivering illegal whiskey, were found anywhere between Virginia and Georgia. In the dead of night, these men packed their moonshine in the trunk of their cars and hoped for the best. Many were poor, so they turned to this risky business. The decision was not a matter of choice, but desperation. Despite the sticky situations they were in, bootleggers never passed down an opportunity for fun. They started to race their fellow bootlegging buddies down backroads and even highways. Literally, it was stock car racing. They were racing cars any average person could buy during the 1930s. Driving these moonshine cars was far more dangerous than any of the race cars on the track (Anderson, “Racin’ Like,” 82). These men loved the thrill of racing their cars so much that they decided to make their own tracks. Anywhere they could find a spot. Pastures or fields, it didn’t matter, as long as they could go fast (Houston).
NASCAR’s history doesn’t stop at bootlegging. How else would it have gotten where it is today? One man had an idea that would essentially change the concept of stock car racing forever. William H. G. France, also known as “Big Bill.” He wanted to create a national auto racing organization that included your everyday car. Where on the weekends men could race a car identical to the car they drove to work on Monday (Benjamin 64). He would call it NASCAR, standing for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Bill France grew up in Washington, D.C. Drooling over the stock cars at local racetracks. He would sometimes take the family car for a few laps. In his later years, Bill was a World War II submarine builder. After the war, France decided to open his own filling station business. He moved his wife and kids to Florida. Many stock car drivers hung around at Bill’s filling station. Bill France was asked to promote a few events. He eventually got into the business side of stock car racing (“William). France decided to gather up people to create a organization dedicated to stock cars. He wanted to give the sport more respect (“William”).
The bootleggers running from the law. The guys turning wrenches at the mechanic shop. The businessmen. They all came together to create this organization. It started with 4 men in the late 1940s. Eddie Bank stood beside President Bill France as vice-president. France also hired, Bill Tuthill as secretary and Marshall Teague as treasurer. Teague was also a driver and was the first person to lead a NASCAR lap (Latford 8).
Later on, NASCAR was finalized in the Streamline Hotel on Daytona Beach in 1947 (“William”). NASCAR would be divided into 3 different divisions. First, the Modified division that raced pre-war street cars that had been tweaked and tinkered to sustain high speeds. The second division was the Roadsters division, slower and more lagging cars. Finally, the 3rd and most respected division was the Strictly Stock. These were the newly built, post-war cars that were saved for the most prestigious of drivers. Any of the 1930s bootleggers were usually the fastest on the track. France and his team had decided to inaugurate the new found sport on the beaches of Daytona, where the sport’s inception was held. Part of the track would stretch on the highway’s pavement. The other half on the wet sand of Daytona Beach. This area had recently been revamped with hotels and homes after the post-war construction boom, so it was essentially the perfect location (Latford 8).
By the time NASCAR was beginning to spread, World War II had just ended and returning soldiers were desperate for something to fulfill the suspense of being on the battlefield. Many turned to auto racing as a replacement (Clarke 20). These men did not have the money to race custom made race cars, so street cars were the only cars they could get their hands on. Instead of ruining a brand new automobile, they found old junk cars to beat and bang at the track (Bailey). If you won the race, all your winnings went into next week’s car or repairs. There wasn’t any room for leftover spending (John; Bentley; Mark; Beech 12).
The iconic fire suit that drivers wear today was never around at the start. Safety was not the first priority for these daredevils, so their apparel was very low-key. Drivers would strap into the race car wearing a T-shirt and shorts (John 18). Sometimes drivers would add fire resistant solutions to their clothes to somewhat prevent fiery accidents. The first helmet was called a Cromwell and it resembled a hardhat. These helmets were open faced and covered the ears. There was also a chin strap to help secure it. Not until the death of Dale Earnhardt would NASCAR make necessary safety changes to the sport (Aumann).