Test Your Knowledge of NASCAR

National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is a privately owned American auto racing company that sanctions and operates stock car racing. NASCAR was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr., and his son, Jim France, is the current CEO. The company is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, and sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks in 48 US states, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe. Stock car racing in the US has its origins in bootlegging during Prohibition. The first Commissioner of NASCAR was Erwin "Cannonball" Baker. NASCAR was founded with three distinct divisions: Modified, Roadster, and Strictly Stock. The Strictly Stock division was renamed the Grand National division in 1950, and over time, the vehicles were purpose-built race cars with a stock-appearing body. The NASCAR Cup Series is the highest level of professional competition in NASCAR, with 36 races over 10 months. The Cup Series had its first title sponsor in 1972 with the Winston Cup Series, later renamed the Nextel Cup Series and Sprint Cup Series. In 2017, the series was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and after the 2019 season, the series was renamed the NASCAR Cup Series. The NASCAR Xfinity Series is the second-highest level of professional competition in NASCAR, with the most recent series champion being Ty Gibbs in 2022.Overview of NASCAR Series and Safety Measures

NASCAR is comprised of six national racing series, including the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, Pinty's Series, and PEAK Mexico Series. Additionally, there is the Whelen Euro Series, Weekly Series, Whelen Modified Tour, ARCA Menards Series East and West, and AutoZone Elite and other divisions.

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series is NASCAR's first sim racing eSports series, featuring five "Amateur Series" divisions, the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series, and the PEAK Antifreeze NASCAR iRacing Series.

Driver safety measures have been implemented slowly over time, with features like fire-retardant suits and anti-spill bladder fuel cells being required only after drivers suffered injuries or fatalities. The SAFER Barrier, which absorbs impact during crashes, was in use as early as 1998 but was not widely implemented until after Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. NASCAR now requires drivers to use the HANS device for head and neck protection.

The Xfinity Series has been criticized for allowing Cup Series drivers to compete, leading to accusations of an unfair advantage and squeezing out Xfinity Series competitors. NASCAR has implemented restrictions on Cup Series drivers racing in Xfinity races, including limiting races per season and ineligibility for certain races. The Chase format has been extended to the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series, with the Truck Series featuring only eight drivers qualifying for the playoffs and two eliminated at the end of each preliminary round.

The ARCA Menards Series is primarily a Midwestern United States series, and NASCAR acquired the series in 2018 after being privately owned for 60 years. The Pinty's Series is a NASCAR racing series in Canada, and the PEAK Mexico Series was created in 2006 to replace the Desafío Corona Series.

The eNASCAR Ignite Series is a developmental league created by NASCAR and iRacing for aspiring gamers ages 13-16, featuring US Legends cars and Modified Tour cars.NASCAR: History, Safety, Criticism, Global Expansion, Subsidiaries, and Culture

History and Safety

• NASCAR was founded in 1948 by William France Sr. and is the largest stock car racing organization in the United States.
• Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001 led to NASCAR implementing stricter safety measures, including the HANS device.
• NASCAR redesigned the racing vehicle with safety improvements, calling it the Car of Tomorrow, which debuted in 2007.
• As of 2021, no NASCAR driver has been involved in a fatal accident since Earnhardt's death.
• NASCAR has faced criticism for various issues, including differences between today's NASCAR vehicles and true "stock" cars, the dominance of the France family in NASCAR's business structure, and policies.
• NASCAR has been challenged on the types and frequency of caution flags, with some critics suggesting the outcome of races is being manipulated.
• NASCAR has banned the display of the Confederate flag from all of its events and properties.

Global Expansion

• Toyota joined NASCAR's ranks in 2006, and there has been an increase in foreign-born drivers.
• NASCAR included a race at the Mexican road course Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the Nationwide Series schedule from 2005 through 2008.
• NASCAR has been considering expansion with exhibition races in Japan and a return to Canada.

NASCAR.com

• Turner Sports acquired the digital rights to NASCAR in 2000 and took over its website.
• NASCAR announced in January 2012 that it would take operation of the site back in-house in 2013.
• NASCAR announced a sports betting content partnership with The Action Network in May 2019.

Subsidiaries and Sister Organizations

• NASCAR Digital Media is a television production company that produces programs designed to promote the sport of professional stock car racing.
• International Speedway Corporation (ISC) was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1953 to construct and manage tracks at which NASCAR holds competitions. NASCAR purchased ISC in 2019.
• The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) was purchased by NASCAR in 2018.
• The Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand-Am) was a sanctioning body of sports car racing. NASCAR took over Grand-Am, but allowed it to operate autonomously. The series merged with the American Le Mans Series in 2014 as a part of NASCAR's purchase of IMSA.

Education and Culture

• NASCAR Technical Institute located in Mooresville, North Carolina, is the country's first technical training school to combine a complete automotive technology program and a NASCAR-specific motor sports program.
• NASCAR Kinetics was established in 2009 with the mission of connecting college students nationwide to NASCAR.
• NASCAR racing has influenced movies such as Days of Thunder and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
• NASCAR racing heavily influenced Pixar's Cars franchise.
• NASCAR partnered with the developers of Jailbreak to launch NASCAR Speed Hub to celebrate NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary.