Nascar Now Espn Cast
Amazing History of NASCAR
Many NASCAR race fans don’t have a clue about early NASCAR history, as it’s popularity was geographraphically located in the southern states. Most of the recent fans have heard of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, but are not as familiar with some of the earliest drivers who helped make the current NASCAR a success. Nascar Sprint Cup Tickets are just about sold out for every race this season.
Bill France Sr. created NASCAR on February 21st, 1948. France selected Erwin Baker aka “Cannonball” as the first commissioner of NASCAR. Baker had become very well known, having raced previously at Indianapolis and set over a hundred speed records on land. The transcontinental race is named after him.
Junior Johnson was for sure on of NASCAR’s first stars, winning 6 racing championshipsand won more than 50 overall races. Junior had a unique past, he was notorious for transporting moonshine. Upon retiring from racing in 1966 he went on to be a team owner.
Ned Jarret was another early racing star. Nicknamed “Gentleman Jim”, Jarret was well known for selling one of his cars to Wendell Scott, the first African American NASCAR driver. Jarret won two NASCAR Championships and 50 plus races. He then became an announcer, and his son Dale followed shortly in his footsteps and became a race driver.
Past great Lee Petty’s son also followed his father into NASCAR, and Richard Petty became the biggest star Nascar Races has ever seen. Lee was no slouch though, winning three race championships and the very first Daytona 500. The first Daytona 500 was so close; it took three days before Petty was declared the winner. Lee Petty had a late start to his NASCAR career, as he didn’t start racing until he was 35. It didn’t take long before he was a fan favorite. When he retired from racing, he founded Petty Enterprises, one of the more successful race teams. The number 43, Richard Petty is NASCAR’s has won mor races than anyone in history of racing.
Wendell “Wildman” Scott is a true pioneer, he is the only black racer to ever win a NASCAR race. Scott was a feerless driver at the beginning, racing the (white|neighborhood} kids on his bike. After serving in World War II, Wendell Scott, like Junior Johnson, began running moonshine. He would also attend races, and got his shot when a promoter, desperate for a gimmick to fill the seats, thought he stir the pot somewhat by putting a Negro in in a real race. Scott had to deal with racial slurs and white drivers attempting to crash him. He succeeded, and won the only race a black driver has ever won in NASCAR in 1961. Scott forged ahead and continued to compete until he was forced to retire in 1973.
Jimmie Johnson Champion Diecast Swapmeet 12-11-2010