Except for diehard NASCAR fans and automobile racing history buffs, few people realize NASCAR evolved from illegal whiskey (moonshine) runs from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains especially around Wilkes County, North Carolina. This operation required sleek vehicles, a knowledge of short cut routes and skilled drivers capable of dodging local law enforcement.

Around the same early 1930s time period, Bill France, Sr., son of a Washington, DC bank teller began sneaking the family’s Model T to a nearby race track to satisfy his need for speed. With 25 in their pocket, the France family set off southward ending up in Daytona Beach, Florida. The sand pack between Daytona and Ormond Beach was ideal for racing with speeds reaching almost 300mph.

A few years later, Daytona town commissioner, Sig Haugdal set up a racing course using the beach and 2 miles of alternate state-route A1A Racing was done in street-legal 1935-36 model cars. The winner received a whopping 1,700 purse.
Unfortunately, the city lost more money than ticket proceeds garnered resulting in no further interest in this venture.

Following World War II which required all vehicle parts to be focused on the war effort, France again set out to realize his dream. After formalization of a racing plan, rules and events schedule, the first organization bore the name National Championship Stock Car Series. At the end of the 1948 series, France held a seminar in a motel during which he presented his ideas which resulted in the formation of the NASCAR we know today. The first race was held at Charlotte Speedway in June 1949.

Without the help of racing enthusiasts such as Edwin (Cannonball) Baker, Bob (Barky) Barkhimer, and Harold Brasington, NASCAR probably would never have grown to the level of prominence it holds in today’s world of sports.