NASCAR

NASCAR, officially the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC, is an American company that sanctions and operates auto racing events, most famously stock car racing. It ranks among the world’s top motorsports organizations and is one of the largest spectator sports leagues in the United States. This private company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948 and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. Each year, NASCAR oversees more than 1,500 races at over 100 tracks across 48 U.S. states, plus in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe.

Stock car racing’s origins lie with moonshine runners from the Prohibition era, who began competing against each other for pride. In 1935, Bill France Sr. started organizing races on Daytona Beach, hoping to attract spectators and offer racers fair payouts—unlike other promoters who often cheated winners. This venture succeeded, leading to the series’ official founding in 1948. Races were held in multiple divisions that evolved into a structured ladder: the top-tier Cup Series, the second-tier O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, the third-tier Truck Series, and smaller series below.

Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota compete in each series, with RAM also participating in the Truck Series. Most NASCAR drivers are American, but competitors have come from Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australasia, and elsewhere. All Cup Series races are held in the United States and Mexico.

A season includes 36 points-paying races, plus the pre-season Clash and the mid-season All-Star race. NASCAR primarily runs on oval tracks—including superspeedways, short tracks, and formerly dirt tracks—but also uses road courses and street circuits. Richard Petty holds the Cup Series record for most wins, with 200. He is tied with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson for the most championships, each having seven.

Early stock car racing

As of the 2026 season, Kyle Larson is the defending Cup Series champion. During the 1920s and 1930s, Daytona Beach replaced France and Belgium as the top location for world land speed records. After a historic 1903 race between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton, 15 records were set on the Daytona Beach Road Course between 1905 and 1935. By 1936, Daytona Beach was synonymous with fast cars.