This Sunday, February 26th is a date that every NASCAR fan has been waiting for since last November. At 12pm, this year’s Sprint Cup Championship will rev up and go, starting at the birthplace of stock car racing, Daytona Beach Florida. Back in the 20’s and 30’s, Daytona Beach because the place to set land speed records.
If you are a diehard NASCAR fan, you can thank Prohibition for helping to create your favorite sport. Bootleggers had to have extremely fast cars and great driving skills to outrun the law. Most sports teams are actually still based in the south, partly because of this.
NASCAR which stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is still family owned and operated by the France family. Established in 1947 and based in Daytona Beach, it is the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing, NASCAR sanctions over 1500 races on 100 tracks. The races are held in 39 states and Canada and include the three largest series, The Spring Cup, the Nationwide Series and the Camping Truck Series as well as NASCAR Local Racing, Whelen Modified Tours, Whelen All-American and the iRacing series.
Did you know that NASCAR is the most watched sport after Football? Have you called us yet for tickets to the next race?
I was watching Smokey and the Bandit the other night. If you recall, the premise was that Coors Beer was wanted in Atlanta (my home town) and at that time, it could’t be sold east of the Mississippi – call it Prohibition Revisited.
In any case, thanks for helping me understand my Southern – fast car – roots and for sharing yet another reason that government intervention doesn’t work.
I live in Orlando now – just down the road from Daytona Beach. Might have to see what all the fuss is about at the Daytona 500!
Would love to experience the Daytona 500!
Believe me, I will be spending this Sunday glued to the TV… and it has nothing to do with the Oscars! Moonshine goes great with seven layer dip! All NASCAR baby!
How fun! I had no idea it was the second most watched sport. And I thought the only thing going on this Sunday is the Oscars …
Wow, racing looks so exciting. My husband watches the races on tv. I know a lot of people enjoy them.
Here in the South, NASCAR is just another “Denomination” behind College Football…lol. I know people who have saved up all year and vacation time to attend a Race.
I’ve attended NASCAR races in Southern California but never in Daytona. Interesting that the sport traces its roots to Prohibition!