Nascar - History of the Sport
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The first time NASCAR officially connected races with an overall championship was 1949 with the birth of the Strictly Stock Series which would later become the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The title that year went to a driver who had previously flown in combat in WW2.
As the first decade for NASCAR, and a time when some drivers made the first NASCAR history, the 50’s can be considered a time of legend for the sport. Top stars of the time had their own share of accomplishments just as today’s drivers, such as Jeff Gordon, are making their own legacy in NASCAR.
Many young up and comers matured into stars and even superstars in the 1960’s. The 60’s gave rise to the second winningest driver to ever grace the NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks, David Pearson, as well as to the seven time Champion Richard Petty who won the championship twice in that decade.
I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. ~John Locke
The 1970’s were spectacular years for the sport of NASCAR. History was made when Cale Yarborough won Winston Cup Championships three straight years. But Richard Petty bested that with not only a 722 point victory for the 1975 championship, but a total of 5 championship in the decade. Richard repeated, back to back championships, two times in the span of those ten years.
The 1980’s became a decade of NASCAR champions. Both Darrel Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt won three titles in the 1980’s. Thanks to their spectacular performances the sport gained many new fans and a reputation for mass appeal it had never before enjoyed. In 1983 Bobby Allison, who had fallen oh so short in the past, finally won a title in 1983.
NASCAR saw itself vault into the major sport status in the 90’s. NASCAR enjoyed stratospheric attendance and television ratings in this decade of closely contended races and series championships.
The pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last.
A new Winston Cup Champion emerged in NASCAR as the 21st century dawned. And a new precedent was set by driver Bobby Lebonte. For the first time a NASCAR driver won championships in two premiere series – Winston Cup and Busch. When his brother Terry also won a championship, they became the first brother pair to win NASCAR titles.
Keep this history in mind next time you watch a NASCAR race.
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