NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing and was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948.
The first official NASCAR race took place at the Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina on June 19, 1949.
Richard Petty, also known as 'The King,' holds the record for the most wins in NASCAR history with 200 victories.
The Daytona 500, NASCAR's most prestigious race, is often referred to as 'The Great American Race' and has been held annually since 1959.
Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of the sport's most legendary figures, won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, a record he shares with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson.
The longest race in history was the 2020 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which lasted over five hours due to multiple rain delays.
NASCAR drivers experience intense G-forces, especially on turns, where they can feel up to 3 Gs, similar to what astronauts experience during a rocket launch.
The NASCAR Cup Series cars can reach speeds of over 200 mph, with the fastest recorded speed being 212.809 mph by Bill Elliott at Talladega in 1987.
Unlike many other motorsports, NASCAR cars do not have anti-lock brakes (ABS) or traction control, making driving skills and car control crucial.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and honors the greatest drivers, crew chiefs, owners, and other contributors to the sport.
Jeff Gordon became the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series title in 1995 at the age of 24.
Races typically feature 40 cars on the track, making for intense and crowded conditions, especially on shorter tracks.
The largest oval track on the NASCAR circuit is Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, which is 2.66 miles long.
The introduction of restrictor plates at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega was implemented to reduce speeds and improve safety after a series of high-speed crashes.
The Playoffs, introduced in 2004, create a dramatic end to the season by having drivers compete in a series of elimination rounds leading up to the final championship race.