Checkered Past: Dec. 14, 1947 – Foundation Blocks Laid for NASCAR
Bill France Sr. in his office Credit: France Family archives/NASCAR Media |
In January 1947, after having competed and promoted a few
auto races in the Daytona Beach, Florida area, William France Sr. decided it
was time to develop a series for racers, which he named the “National Championship
Stock Car Series.” France approached the American Automobile Association in hopes of gaining financial
backing for the venture, but the group declined.
France was not deterred, however, and announced that the
winner of the 1947 season – beginning in Daytona in January and ending in
December at Jacksonville – would receive a check for $1,000 and a trophy. Almost
40 events were run that season, with Fonty Flock declared the champion after
winning seven events. France was true to his word, and delivered a check
and a trophy to Flock, as well as $3,000 in prize money for other drivers who competed.
France also announced a series of meetings following the
1947 season that would directly lead to the formation of NASCAR. The first of four meetings
was held Dec. 14, 1947 at 1 p.m. in the Streamline Hotel in Florida, with
France hosting 35 representatives of the National Championship Stock Car Circuit (NCSCC) and outlining his idea for an
organized group of drivers. The original name chosen was the National Stock Car
Racing Association, but someone pointed out that the name was already being
used by another organization. Mechanic Red Vogt proposed the name National
Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, which became NASCAR.
On Feb. 21, 1948, NASCAR was officially founded by France,
with its original divisions being Modifieds, Roadsters and Strictly Stock. Roadsters
were quickly abandoned as a division and Strictly Stock was put on hold until
1949. The Modified division ran 52 races in 1948, with Red Byron being named
the first NASCAR champ.
Checkered Past: Dec. 14, 1947 – Foundation Blocks Laid for NASCAR
Reviewed by Paula
on
Saturday, December 14, 2013
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