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:
Michael McDowell was highly successful coming up through the ranks and then struggled through more than 300 NASCAR Cup Series starts before winning the sport’s biggest event.
Caitlyn Jenner has a background in motorsports and is taking her interest to the next level by entering the W Series as a team owner.
Kasey Kahne walked away from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2018 to compete in sprint cars. One of those races ended with a brutal wreck over the weekend.
Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500 after a last-lap crash that had nothing on the wreck he experienced 14 years earlier.
Jesse Iwuji will drive the No. 34 Xfinity Chevy, co-owned by Emmitt Smith, in tribute to Wendell Scott when the Xfinity Series launches on Feb. 19.
Two radio conversations at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix shed light on the controversial finish in which Max Verstappen snatched the Formula 1 title from Lewis Hamilton.
A longtime Chase Elliott sponsor has extended its commitment, signaling an impending announcement of a new contract between the driver and Hendrick Motorsports.
Joe Gibbs Racing made a surprise announcement of a new Xfinity Series driver joining the team in 2022, and it’s a familiar face.
Tyler Reddick was leading the Busch Light Clash when his day ended due to a mechanical issue that has to worry NASCAR teams about the Next Gen car.
NASCAR can expand its fan base if it takes one element from the Clash at the Coliseum and implements it in the future.
