Skip to main content

NASCAR

NASCAR
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is known worldwide to bring the best racers to compete in one of the most highly attended sporting events in the world. Its popularity didn’t happen overnight, it didn't draw in as many drivers or big crowds like you see today. We have a few key points to share with you about this ever growing sport.

In the Early Years

In December 1947, Bill France Sr. organized a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida. The topic for discussion were the problems facing stock car racing. Others in the meeting agreed that these were problems that could be solved; and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing was born. Two months after that meeting, Feb. 15, 1948, the first sanctioned NASCAR race was held on Daytona's beach course, and the first race was won by Red Byron in his Ford Modified. In Sept. 4, 1950, Darlington International Raceway became the first asphalt super speedway to host a NASCAR event. The winner in that event was Johnny Mantz in his 1950 Plymouth. Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500 in front of 41,000 fans on Feb. 22, 1959. Wendell Scott becomes the first African-American to win a premier division NASCAR race at Jacksonville Speedway in 1963. Nearly fifty years later, Darrell Wallace Jr. would become the second African-American to win a NASCAR national series event when he won a Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.  

Later On

In 2002, Tony Stewart's championship season was the beginning of a youth movement in NASCAR. A new generation of drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., gain more popularity. The following year, Brian France replaced his father, Bill France Jr., and is named as NASCAR's Chairman and CEO. The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup was announced in 2004. It gave the sport a post-season comparable to a playoff. The first Chase was won by Kurt Busch. Jimmie Johnson makes history in 2008. He did so by winning his third consecutive Sprint Cup championship, tying Cale Yarborough's record. The next year, he would break that record by winning his fourth consecutive championship and would be named Male Athlete of the year by the Associated Press. December 2012, the Generation-6 car is unveiled, bringing NASCAR racing back to its roots of stock cars. The new Gen-6 cars more closely resembled vehicles sold on showroom floors across the country, while becoming even safer and more exciting on the track. In January 2014, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France announces a new championship format that puts greater emphasis on winning races all season long. He also expanded the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field to 16 drivers, with round-by-round advancements.

Williams Group Auto


At Williams Group Auto, we appreciate a great piece of American history. While we may not sell NASCAR regulated cars, we do sell a wide range of vehicles that you are sure to appreciate. So if you're in need of a used car in Abilene, come by today and check out our selection or visit our virtual showroom at www.williamsgroupauto.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Classic Automobile Features in You Won't See in Modern Cars

  Classic Features Classic Features in Cars You Won’t See Today Who knows what kids will reminisce about years from now about their first car. Heck, there’s a chance vehicle won’t run on gasoline anymore, and that is something they will look back on and find nostalgic. Vehicles can start with the push of a button on your keychain, you can open the hatchback with the swipe of your foot, and heated seats (my personal favorite) are just a few features you can find in cars today. Here are a few classic features you won’t see today but were the best. Oldies and Goodies One of my favorites, bench seats. For some reason, I always thought they were fun as a kid, but looking back now, I realize how horrible they really were. Being squished between two adults was actually uncomfortable during long rides. I guess as a kid, you feel the front seat was larger than it really was, and sometimes you had it all to yourself- that’s fun. I’m sure several teenage boys took advantage of the seat design...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Few Facts About the Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company The Ford Motor Company has seen it all since Henry Ford opened the Ford Motor Company in 1902. From producing vehicles for the public to helping with military equipment, going through some rough times in the past, and to some financial problems. The company has proven to be a brand that plans on sticking around for a long time. Here are a few interesting facts that many have not worked out and some that we still see today. Ford Facts Ford was the first company to manufacture and sell cars. Their first model, the Model A, sold for $850 and only hit a max speed of 30 mph.  The Ford assembly line was devised after Henry Ford got the idea from a pig-slaughtering plant.  They offered better pay to their employees offering double the market average pay at $5 a day.  While the first Ford was sold in 1903 to Dr. Pfennig (Ford’s current CEO, Jim Hackett, owns it today), the iconic Ford logo was first introduced in 1907.  Many may not know that H...
Post a Comment
Read more

Make Sure Your Tires are Maintained

Tire Maintenance After spending all that time researching and negotiating for that perfect vehicle, there comes the time for regular maintenance to keep it in tip-top performance. One thing most of us overlook is the tires. Rotating your tires as part of your regularly scheduled vehicle maintenance can have several benefits. It can improve gas mileage, provide a smoother ride, and prolong your vehicle’s suspension components. Checking the air pressure once a month can improve the wear on the tires as well and can reduce the potential for a blowout or flat. Here are a few guidelines to follow to help prolong the life of your tires and to maintain a better fuel economy in your vehicle provided by  J.D. Power . Check Your Tire Pressure To check tire pressure, use an air pressure gauge. These inexpensive items are available at auto parts stores, gas stations, or in the automotive section of department stores. You should consult your owner's manual or the label inside the driv...
Post a Comment
Read more