NASCAR: Humble Beginnings
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), was conceived on a bar room napkin. The bar to which the napkin belonged was known as the Ebony Bar, which was located at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach. The conversation from which the napkin gained import was held in 1948 by both drivers and promoters of local stock car races. It’s reported that stock car races began as early as the 1900′s in the Daytona Beach area. The meeting, and the napkin, might never have come to be had a mechanic named William France, Sr. not have moved to the Daytona area from Washington, D.C. in 1935. By 1936, he, too, had been captured by the sport, and even managed to finish fifth in a local race. Mr. France was moved to participate in such a meeting after his stint in racing for two reasons: a) he believed the sport had a potential for a following, and b) he believed the drivers were being mistreated by unregulated promoters who simply chose not to pay them.
Since its birth, NASCAR has grown, and now has fans from all over the country. It shouldn’t be a surprise that NASCAR has so many fans, because NASCAR chose early on to treat their fans quite well. NASCAR has not only expanded geographically, it has also embraced other types of racing. And in its continuing quest to please its fans, NASCAR decided early on please its fans through its ticketing system. A ticketholder to a NASCAR event can choose to see any one of its nationwide racing series: either the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, or the Craftsmen Truck Series. Almost unbelievably, this same ticket give the fan entree to regional events as well, such as the Whelen All-American Series (amateur auto racing); the Whelen Modified Tour (NASCAR modified division); and the NASCAR Local Racing (four geographic series).
NASCAR: MADE IN THE USA, TO STAY IN THE USA
NASCAR has expanded from Daytona Beach, Florida to all around the world. Exhibition races have been held in two countries, and the sport is currently broadcast in over 150 countries all over the world. NASCAR’s fans have made it so popular that it is currently the second most popular sport on television – second only to the National Football League. NASCAR fans contributed to almost three billion dollars in product sales last year. Even Fortune 500 companies are getting into the act. Despite this popularity, however, NASCAR appears to prefer its roots. NASCAR, it would seem, recognizes what its local and loyal fans have done for it, and has decided to maintain its major corporate presence right where it began: in Daytona Beach, Florida, as well as several offices in North Carolina. Despite its international attention, it has but two offices overseas.
NASCAR STAYS HOME, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
NASCAR knows why it is what it is: the fans. The fans even know why NASCAR it what it is: THE FANS! It’s why a race must be seen at the track: THE FANS! They’re loud, they’re proud, and they make NASCAR what it is.
The always have, and always will, make NASCAR the one and only experience of its kind. A NASCAR fan will have goose bumps on a 90 degree day, and wouldn’t let a tornado warning keep her from her race. She’s got her tickets, waited all season to get ‘em, and now it’s her turn.
You call yourself a NASCAR fan – so where’s your ticket? The season starts on February 12, 2009 at Daytona Beach, and the tickets are going fast. If you’re truly a fan, then you’d better buy your ticket now. Be where the sport itself started, when the season starts. Don’t be the only one sitting at home.
If you don’t buy your tickets, trust me, the other fans will. Sold out is sold out, and then where will you be? Get your tickets for Daytona Beach on the 12th – NASCAR, where it was meant to be watched, whichever series you like: Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or Craftsmen Truck.
BE who everyone wants to be – a NASCAR ticket holder; BE where everyone wants to be – in Daytona on February 12th; BE the envy of EVERYONE – BUY your tickets, and BUY them NOW!
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