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:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared the “most important moment” with his dad less than a year before his tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500.
Joey Logano was on his way to a Daytona 500 win before he was spun out of the lead from behind, but he still congratulated Michael McDowell.
The Daytona 500 is often interrupted by rain but always produces excitement. The rain-shortened 1973 Indianapolis 500 did not.
Jeff Gordon eventually found fame and fortune in NASCAR but, as a teenager, considered quitting racing to start waterskiing professionally.
With the 2021 Daytona 500 in the books, Daytona International Speedway will once again host the NASCAR Cup Series again this weekend. But why?
Michael McDowell went winless in his first 357 NASCAR Cup Series races, but he beat 100-1 odds to win his first event at the Daytona 500.
At 45 and the oldest Cup Series driver, many wonder when Kevin Harvick plans on retiring. He answered the question before the Daytona 500 and sent a message to his competition.
Before Dale Earnhardt’s tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500, he had privately laid out his NASCAR retirement plans.
When Denny Hamlin learned the No. 23 car he co-owns with Michael Jordan was being sent to the back of the field to start the Daytona 500, his ruthless response sent a message to Bubba Wallace about his priorities on race day.
‘The Big One’ refers to the largest of multi-car wrecks in NASCAR Cup Series. Two of the most memorable incidents happened in consecutive runnings of the Daytona 500.
