On February 22, 1959, Lee Petty defeated Johnny Beauchamp
in a photo finish at the just-opened Daytona International
Speedway in Florida to win the first-ever Daytona 500.

The Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida, where
NASCAR was found.

NASCAR was founded by William France, Sr. on February 21,
1948 with the help of several other drivers of the time.

The original plans for NASCAR included three distinct
divisions: Modified, Roadster, and Strictly Stock.

William Henry Getty France
(September 26, 1909 – June 7, 1992)

Ralph Dale Earnhardt (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001)

Dale Earnhardt is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history and was named as one of the NASCAR’s 50
Greatest Drivers class in 1998.

On February 15, 1998, after 20 years of trying, racing great
Dale Earnhardt Sr. finally wins his first Daytona 500, the
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing season
opener and an event dubbed the “Super Bowl of stock
car racing.”

Driving his black No. 3 Chevrolet, Earnhardt recorded an
average speed of 172.712 m.p.h. and took home a then-
record more than $1 million in prize money.

Following his victory, crews from competing teams lined
the pit road at the Daytona International Speedway in
Daytona Beach, Florida, to congratulate Earnhardt, who
drove his car onto the grass and did several celebratory
doughnuts, or circles.         
       
        
        
   
       

Earnhardt’s win that February in 1998 represented his sole Daytona
victory. Tragically, on February 18, 2001, Earnhardt died at the
age of 49 during a crash at that year’s 43rd Daytona 500.

(FOX NEWS) – A loss in the sports world of NASCAR was
announced by the National Motorsports Press Association
on Monday, January 27th.

Longtime broadcaster Bill Weber died on Dec. 13, the
organization kept his death private until recently. No
cause of death was given. He was 67. 

Interestingly, he worked as a magician in Florida after
the end of his broadcasting career.

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