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:
Daniel Suarez battled more than the track and his fellow NASCAR drivers in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Daytona as he endured the most sickening moment of his career during the final laps of the race.
An early morning of alcohol and donuts brought NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch together after over a decade of feuding.
NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon and an on-track doctor were up close and personal for a post-race altercation between Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman in 2019.
Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell shared a hilarious moment with two rival NASCAR drivers following the race that some may have missed.
When Jeff Gordon moved to Indiana from California in 1986, he was playing ‘barn ball’ before his NASCAR career took off.
During his time as a NASCAR star, Dale Earnhardt Jr. handled plenty of high-stakes situations. Surviving a zombie apocalypse, however, is another story.
Joe Gibbs has coached three Super Bowl champions in the NFL and seen his drivers earn five NASCAR Cup Series titles. An Xfinity Series race win by grandson Ty Gibbs may be the sweetest moment of them all.
Bubba Wallace started the 2021 NASCAR season on the wrong foot, getting a pre-race penalty for a violation before the Daytona 500. It got worse after the race when his team received a hefty fine for a completely separate infraction.
Motorsports legend Jeff Gordon became a master at sneaking in and out of hotels after he violated one of NASCAR’s biggest unwritten rules.
The NASCAR Cup Series has doubled the number of road courses on its points-race schedule, which works to the advantage of defending champion Chase Elliott.
