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:
Mario Andretti, arguably one of the best race car drivers of all time, tells Sportscasting why he’s pulling for Tom Brady.
While Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of NASAR’s biggest stars, he’d still like to spend a day living like retired quarterback Tom Brady.
NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon was so nervous about asking a life-changing question that he had to make a few trips to the bathroom first.
Chase Elliott won his first NASCAR Cup Series title in 2020, matching his father Bill, who won in 1988. Bill’s title and Chase’s existence almost never happened because the elder Elliott almost died in a fighter jet mid-air collision in 1987.
Given the resources of the 23XI team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace aims to win two NASCAR Cup Series races this year.
Tony Stewart hasn’t driven in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2016, but he still enjoys racing sprint cars. His first victory in 2021 came with an unusual photo opportunity.
Richard Petty won 200 NASCAR races, but couldn’t find the same success when he entered a 1996 North Carolina political race.
Certain drivers showed a knack for getting tangled up in wrecks more often than their NASCAR Cup Series peers in 2020.
While Richard Petty is a living NASCAR legend, he was “pretty down” after the tragic death of his grandson. A letter from a fan, however, changed everything.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. kept a federal crime a secret from his father because he was more concerned about his father’s reaction than jail.
