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:
In 1984, Richard Petty scored his 200th NASCAR win on July 4, 1984, then celebrated the milestone by eating KFC with Ronald Reagan.
Formula One has long struggled to crack the United States, never more so than during this fiasco that was loathed by all who took part in it.
Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a heated feud during the 2008 season. In fact, Busch even received death threats because of their feud.
Martin Truex Jr. has high hopes for the 2021 NASCAR season and will also be focused on winning a life-threatening battle off the track.
Joe Weatherly was one of the most beloved NASCAR drivers in history, and his tragic death in 1964 changed the sport as we know it.
NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and Formula 1’s Michael Schumacher were scheduled to meet in a head-to-head fantasy race in 2004 but it never took place.
Daniel Suarez is coming off a challenging 2020 NASCAR season. Now, his racing future is in the hands of the Grammy-winning artist, Pitbull.
Even the best NASCAR drivers can make big mistakes.
Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 in his second NASCAR Cup Series race ever but never triumphed again in the sport’s most prestigious circuit.
Dale Earnhardt climbed out of an ambulance after a crash at the 1997 Daytona 500 to finish the race. A year later, he won the sport’s biggest race.
