| NASCAR is actually an acronym for the National | | | | The fact that so many people were attracted to |
| Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. The | | | | Nascar wasn't lost on companies that wanted to |
| organization was founded in 1948 by Ed Otto and | | | | find advertising opportunities. This period of |
| William France. The two men recognized the fact | | | | Nascar history marks the beginning of full-time |
| that people enjoyed watching car races, and that | | | | jobs as drivers, promoters and pit crews of |
| there needed to be some standardization behind | | | | Nascar racing. The earliest companies who used |
| the racing industry in order to attract more | | | | the advertising opportunities were largely car |
| racers and to make the races equitable for those | | | | manufacturers, though the 1970s saw a marked |
| who entered. Having more who were willing to | | | | increase in the number of companies that |
| enter the races naturally increased the number of | | | | sponsored racers. |
| fans who were willing to pay to watch - a natural | | | | Some who aren't tried-and-true Nascar fans think |
| step in the marketing of Nascar. | | | | there is only a single Nascar racing circuit, but the |
| During those early years of Nascar racing, cars | | | | fact is there are several circuits sanctioned by the |
| were "strictly stock," meaning they were basically | | | | parent organization. Some of the largest events |
| exactly as the manufacturer released them. But a | | | | are televised and it's probably this fact that has |
| few accidents convinced those in control of the | | | | created the number of fans that follow the sport |
| racing events that some modifications for safety | | | | so closely. |
| would be a prudent step. It wasn't long before | | | | The sheer number of fans has created |
| other modifications were allowed to increase | | | | superstardom for many of the Nascar drivers as |
| speed, handling and other racing performance | | | | well. Not only do those drivers make their living by |
| issues. | | | | racing, many are also spokesmen for products |
| After about another decade of this type of | | | | and companies, making their Nascar status even |
| racing, those who were serious about the sport | | | | more profitable. |
| began creating cars that were exclusively for | | | | There's no doubt that Nascar has a huge following. |
| racing. In those cases, the cars typically | | | | Most people have heard of Nascar and even |
| incorporated all the modifications allowed by the | | | | those who don't watch the sport can name a |
| Nascar officials. For several more years, the body | | | | few of the more successful drivers. And it |
| of the cars would continue to resemble the stock | | | | started because two men realized the potential |
| cars of the early racing days - though in | | | | for a racing organization to oversee the sport. |
| appearance only. | | | | |