Day-by-Day in NASCAR History

Description

Stock car racing is a USD2-billion-a-year industry that draws crowds totaling 5.5 million fans in a single season. The beginning of stock car racing's premiere organization, NASCAR, can be traced to December 14, 1947, when Bill France began a series of meetings at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach. Thirty-five participants debated the future of their sport and subsequently founded a professional racing series first called Strictly Stock, which eventually evolved into today's NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Covering both the sport's humble beginnings and phenomenal successes, this day-by-day reference work chronicles the important moments in NASCAR history. Also noted are such events as driver births and deaths, memorable races, and miscellaneous facts. A few abbreviated examples are: January 10, 1972: Control of NASCAR was officially passed to Bill France, Jr., taking over for his father, Bill France, Sr. February 18, 1979: The Daytona 500, broadcast on CBS, was the first live telecast of a NASCAR race from start to finish. February 18, 2001: Dale Earnhardt, Sr., dies of injuries sustained in a last lap crash at the Daytona 500. February 21, 1948: NASCAR was legally incorporated in 1948. May 29, 1994: Jeff Gordon, 22 years old, won his first Winston Cup Series race in only his 42nd NASCAR start. July 4, 1964: Racing in Daytona, A.J. Foyt earned his first career NASCAR win.