Motorsports
Motorsports have been around for nearly as long as motors have been inside cars. Two of the most famous racing circuits are NASCAR in the United States and the intercontinental open-wheel F1, though motorsports also include off-road rally-car racing, drag racing, and motorcycle racing.
NASCAR was founded in 1948, began contesting races in 1949, and held its first Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious and famous events in North American racing, in 1959. NASCAR contests Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Camping World Truck Series races across the United States. Star drivers such as Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Year founded: 1948
President: Steve Phelps
Winningest driver, races: Richard Petty (200)
Winningest driver, cup titles: Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Sr. (7)
Formula 1 started racing in 1950 and has since become the premier racing series in the world. F1 contests more than 20 races on five continents each year, with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) serving as the governing body. Renowned drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Ayrton Senna starred on the F1 circuit.
Year founded: 1950
FIA President: Mohammed Ben Sulayem
Winningest driver, races: Lewis Hamilton
Winningest driver, championships: Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton (7)
Featured articles:
Read the latest news, rumors, and analysis on NASCAR and F1:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels driving 170 mph isn’t fast enough during ride alongs and cheats NASCAR fans of the full experience.
In a two-year stretch at the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Sr. lost due to a small piece of debris, hit a seagull, and sent a car flying into the air.
While Jimmie Johnson has plenty of NASCAR experience, his IndyCar career is still a work in progress.
Danica Patrick raced against Sam Hornish when they were teens and she caused a frightening last-lap accident that sent her airborne.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. called out his sister Kelley on his podcast for her unexpected reaction during a ride along with him at Bristol.
Dale Earnhardt took a slight shot at Michael Jordan when discussing the death of his friend Neil Bonnett in 1994.
While Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a one of NASCAR’s biggest names, that didn’t make him immune to stage fright.
Almost four years to the day after quitting a race at Talladega in which a driver was killed, Bobby Isaac quit another race and died hours later.
Denny Hamlin bizarrely calls out Fox NASCAR reporter on Twitter who was defending Bubba Wallace.
Businessman Scott Tucker became a racecar driver at the age of 44 and dominated the Le Mans Series soon afterward. He’s now doing his second stint at Leavenworth after being convicted of crimes related to payday loans fraud.
