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:
The NASCAR Next Gen car has produced entertaining racing early in the season and provided a pleasant surprise for numerous teams and fans.
Denny Hamlin’s repeated problems in the early going signal that he could be on the outside looking in when the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin.
Retired NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson is interested in reuniting with Rick Hendrick for the team’s run at entering a Next Gen car at Le Mans.
Bubba Wallace, who struggles on road courses, will drive in the Xfinity Series for Joe Gibbs Racing at Circuit of the Americas.
NASCAR’s race in Atlanta easily attracted the biggest auto racing TV audience of a busy weekend, but one ratings number should be worrisome.
Rick Hendrick’s drivers have won 283 NASCAR Cup Series races on a variety of tracks and road courses. He’s like to see NASCAR put a street course on its schedule.
Ross Chastain talked about his second-place finish at Atlanta and feelings about the reconfigured track, then brutally blasted another track.
Sergio Perez will be cooperating with Netflix on ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ this year, leaving a gap in coverage of the Red Bull Racing team.
Defending champion Max Verstappen had to abandon the season-opening Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix due to mechanical problems.
Retired NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson registered a breakthrough performance in Sunday’s IndyCar race at Texas Motor Speedway.
