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:
Bubba Wallace was a trailblazer for NASCAR in 2020. Devon Rouse looks to do the same in 2021 as the first openly gay NASCAR driver in years.
A look into the theory that NASCAR staged the success of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2001, the same year his father died, to help boost ratings.
Just weeks before his death, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Sterling Marlin had a chilling conversation about dying and what Earnhardt expected to happen if he died in a race.
Before she made motorsports history in both IndyCar and NASCAR, Danica Patrick spent a brief and unsuccessful time working in retail.
Former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace still has tremendous regret regarding one decision he made in his professional driving career.
Jeff Gordon won three NASCAR races with his Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the mid-1990s, but his old race car was just put up for auction.
NASCAR legend Junior Johnson lived a very interesting life. He even went to prison for ‘moonshining’ and was later pardoned by Ronald Reagan.
While Dale Earnhardt Jr. could have avoided the Daytona International Speedway after his father’s tragic death, he embraced the track as a special place.
Hailie Deegan is a promising talent in NASCAR at 19 years old, but her career just hit a snag after she was caught uttering an offensive slur.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. came from a huge racing family, but he wasn’t even the best driver among his siblings while growing up.
