The History of Auto Racing
Auto racing has come a long way since its inception and has continued to surprise and amaze all of the fans worldwide. When most people think auto racing, they think NASCAR. There is more than one type of auto racing. Fans will be delighted to know exactly where it all got started and how it has come so far.
Auto racing got its start in the late 1800s. The first organized race was a bit of a bust because only one person showed up and the win was not recognized. In the next race that was organized, everyone who was on the list to compete showed, but the start-off was not what was expected.
Finally, in the last five years of the 19th century, there was a race the panned out well for everyone involved. Back then there was a rule that mandated four seats in the racing vehicle. Emile Levassor was disqualified as a winner because his car did not have four seats.
The early 20th century saw the Milwaukee Mile, which was once a horseracing track that became the world's first built-for-circuit racecar track. The adventurous souls to race would start their vehicles and push the accelerator as far down as it would go. The cars driven were the only ones of the period and they did not go faster than 50 miles per hour.
The great boom in auto racing began in the late 1940's. Stock cars were driven on a circuit track in Charlotte. Racing began to transform into a know sport in the 20th century. Racing legends started to emerge from that very first race. People started to come from all over just to see who could drive faster, who could drive better and who would cross the finish line first.
NASCAR was founded in 1948. Since then, the name has become synonymous with extravagant paved tracks and 200 mile per hour cars. Driving and racing legends such as Glen Wood, Fred Lorenzen, Davey Allison, Terry Labonte, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. have made auto racing worth being called a sport.
The different types of auto racing have all been recognized in one way or another. From Indy cars to stockcars, from open wheel to drag racing, all of these form of auto racing have has an arduous road since that very first race.