NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) was formed in 1948. Since that time race cars have been transformed from road-going, true “stock” cars into the sleek, technologically advanced machines we see on speedways today. NASCAR racing is now the second most-popular sport in the U.S. in terms of TV ratings.
The tracks vary in length from 0.562 miles to 2.66 miles. Originally, the races were on rough-surfaced dirt tracks. One of the first items produced specifically for stock car racing was a racing tire manufactured by the Pure Oil Co. in 1952. Other early changes included roll-bars, aerodynamic designs, and a trap door in the compartment to allow the driver to check tire wear. Safety precautions were not mandatory, but this position changed after one of the sport’s most popular drivers was killed in a racing accident on the last lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001.
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