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The history of stock car racing is, in a sense, the history of the automobile. The first recognized race in the United States between stock production models generally is considered to have been the match contest between automobile manufacturers Henry Ford and Alexander Winton in Detroit. This historic event was held in either 1899 or 1900. Ford won.

Many early stock automobiles were raced against one another and against time on the sands of Daytona Beach in the early 1900's. Among the most highly regarded performances in those days were the achievements of the Buick and the Packard. Many of the cars, of course, were constructed with special bodies, but were considered stock cars none the less.

The Vanderbilt Cup races and Elgin Road races were actually the earliest events in which large numbers of stock cars participated. The sport was short-lived, however, for shortly before World War I American plants concentrated on mass production and no longer had the time, inclination or enthusiasm to devote to racing machines.

Following the First World War, stock car racing was sporadic at best. There was limited activity on the West Coast, to this day one of the hotbeds of automotive enthusiasm. This extended through the 1930's and into the 1940's, when enterprising groups-particularly in the South and West-began a series of what we now call "pasture races." A plot of ground would be cleaned and neighborhood stock cars would compete, more for the sport than for financial gain.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing was formed in 1947 by Bill France and William R. Tuthill, both of Daytona Beach. France is the president of the National Stock Car Racing Commission and E.G. (Cannonball) Baker of Indianapolis is the national commissioner.

The group has grown steadily in recent years. In 1949, NASCAR sanctioned 87 races on 25 tracks, with a purse total of $181,289. By 1951 the figures were 585 race meets on 91 tracks and the purse offerings reached nearly $800,000. These figures were improved upon in 1952. Membership soared from 875 in 1949 to more than 4,500 three years later. The number of races and value of purses continue to show annual increases. Every year NASCAR stages a two-week racing program at Daytona Beach. All top manufacturers are represented. Thereafter drivers race weekly in various categories for national championship points.

More than 1,000 events were conducted, in 1971, under the NASCAR Banner with prizes in all divisions totaling more than $5 million, For 1972, a new Grand National Racing Division was formed, while the Winston Cup Grand National Division was streamlined to 32 major events.

The American Automobile Association reported that its stock car program produced the greatest gain in public acceptance recorded by any division of A.A.A. racing for 1952. The 14 championship races run was an increase of 11 over the preceding year. New track, purse and attendance marks were set everywhere, in spite of the fact the actual competition was dominated by one make of car and 3 drivers.
For the first time stock cars in the A.A.A. raced on half-mile tracks. As an experiment a sprint type program was scheduled at some places and found great favor. All A.A.A. stock car events are classed as championship races with points awarded being determined by the length of the feature event. The A.A.A, has since dropped out of the racing field and its role has been taken over by the United States Auto Club. There also are a number of independent stock car race promoters.