Meet the American who created NASCAR: Bill France Sr., Daytona speed demon, racetrack pioneer
Fox News
Bill France Sr., the American who created NASCAR, did so 75 years ago, on Feb. 21, 1948, in Daytona Beach, Florida — and today it's the world's premier stock car racing circuit.
"His story is a great American success story." — NASCAR historian Ken Martin "Let’s just say he ‘ran the show.’ — NASCAR legend Richard Petty of Bill France Sr. Sports entertainment exploded across America in the years after the war. France added stock car racing to the national menu of sports options. English racer Sir Malcolm Campbell astounded onlookers by reaching a record speed of 278.6 MPH on Daytona Beach in 1935. "Dale Earnhardt's death was a pivotal moment in (NASCAR) history." — Ken Martin Kerry J. Byrne is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
France founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — on Feb. 21, 1948, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
NASCAR has grown into the world’s premier stock car racing circuit. "Big Bill," as he was known, is the unquestioned godfather of the autosport.