This and That- A Few Little Known Facts About NASCAR.

     Here are just a few tidbits to share with the average NASCAR fan that doesn't already know the complete history of NASCAR. Some are referenced to changes in the sport over the years. Some are similarities.

     Jeff Gordon, arguably the most successful driver in NASCAR today, has 79 career wins; ranking him 6th all time.
His total career earnings, not including endorsements and merchandise sells are :
$ 82 million and counting.

That:

      Richard Petty, the most successful driver in the history of stock car racing, has an amazing 200 career wins and owns or is near the top of every record in NASCAR.
His total career winnings are: $7.7 million.

     That amount seems like pocket change compared to Gordon's earnings, but it does give us a little more perspective as to how much the growth and marketability of the sport has changed and the amount of money flowing through NASCAR today compared to the past.

     Another odd fact relating to Petty and Gordon:

This:

That:

This:

    Many fans today enjoy NASCAR because of the possibility of wild crashes and spins.  Some may think the biggest crash ever in NASCAR would be one of the recent "Big Ones" at Daytona or Talledega Superspeedways.
They would be half right.

That:

     The actual biggest crash in the history of stock car racing was at the 1960 Daytona 500.
It also marks the race with the most number of cars ever to compete in a NASCAR race.
68 cars, almost completely stock, started the race at the then one year old track.
On the very first lap, heading into turn 4 at 150 mph, a mid-pack car slid up the track, collecting car after car behind him.
    After the smoke cleared, an amazing 37 cars were out of the race. That's almost the complete field in today's NASCAR.
    Another surprising fact of that crash was that not a single driver was seriously injured, considering they didn't have a "spotter" then to help dodge an oncoming wreck, and the cars were basically rental cars with a few engine modifications.

Here's a little video of the 1960 Daytona pile-up if you care for some "ole black and white"  TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtwYOGQE7SA

This:

    Although the evolution of the sport originated from the sandy beaches of Daytona, the first true NASCAR race was held at the Charlotte, North Carolina Fairgrounds on June 19,1949. Glenn Dunnaway (later stripped of the win for illegal parts) won that race in a '47 Ford that had been used for boot-legging alcohol earlier that week.

That:

    Today's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., drives a car sponsored by the largest beer manufacturer in the world, Budweiser.

Guess a few things haven't changed that much in NASCAR.

       I hope you enjoyed reading a little of This and That.