By Paula Green

Gentlemen – start your engines!  Every NASCAR race opens with these familiar words.  NASCAR is an acronym for National Association for Stock Car Racing.  It was founded in 1948 to give official structure to the races happening throughout the south.  Today, there are millions of NASCAR fans.

This month is a special time for race car enthusiasts as the Daytona 500 Race celebrates its 50th Anniversary.  It is the first and most important race on the NASCAR circuit.  It is often referred to as the “Great American Race” or the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR.  This year’s 200-lap race will be held on Sunday, Feb. 17.

The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are the NEXTEL Cup Series, the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series.  Due to changes in sponsorship, two of these series will undergo name changes this year – the NEXTEL Cup will now be referred to as the Sprint Cup.  The Busch Series will change to the Nationwide Series.

The sponsorship in NASCAR is what makes the sport so distinctive.  From the multicolored driver’s uniforms to the paint schemes of the cars, NASCAR racing is one of the sports world’s most colorful spectacles.

The popularity of NASCAR continues to increase.  It has grown to become the second most popular professional sport in terms of television ratings inside the U.S., ranking only behind the National Football League.

Over the years, NASCAR has seen thousands of drivers speed over its tracks.  Some include popular driver Richard Petty.  In his sterling 35-year career, he won an astounding 200 races, earning him the nickname “The King.”

Another well-liked driver was Dale Earnhardt.  For more than 20 years, he was at or near the top of the NASCAR ranks.  Tragically, the career of this legend was cut short when he crashed and died on Feb. 18, 2001, on the last lap at the Daytona 500.

Today, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has emerged as a race car leader and has won numerous races including three victories at the Daytona 500 in 1997, 1999 and 2005.

NASCAR is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Currently, NASCAR is in the process of building a Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Ground-breaking took place on Jan. 26, 2007, for the $160 million facility.  It is slated to open in 2010.

Since we have revved up your engines with some NASCAR information, we must now zoom into our race car quiz… because it’s time to get a little trivia...

1. This team changes tires, fuels the vehicles and makes minor repairs.

2. What was Dale Earnhardt’s nickname?

3. Tony Stewart drives the #20 car in the Sprint Cup series for what sponsor?

4. What flag indicates the end of the race?

5. Name the 2006 NASCAR movie starring Will Ferrell.

6. Who holds the record for the most NASCAR consecutive victories?

7. Who won last year’s Daytona 500 race?

8. This NASCAR driver made his debut the same day as Richard Petty’s final race.

9 In 1977 this female became the first woman driver to start a Daytona 500. 

10. What is the name of the NASCAR track in Pennsylvania?

11. Which two tracks are called “The Big One?”

12. Name the animated Disney movie based on NASCAR racing?

13 .NASCAR season begins in February.  In what month does it end?

14. This gentleman is a NASCAR Championship team owner and has also coached in the NFL.

15. What company supplies the “officially fuel” for NASCAR? 

Sources:

Eyewitness NASCAR by James Buckley Jr., Racing Pro officially licensed by NASCAR, Second to None – The History of the NASCAR Busch Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from Desert to Superspeedways, http://www.wikipedia.com

Answers:

1. The Pit Crew;  2. The Intimidator;  3. Home Depot;  4. The checkered flag;  5. Talladega Nights;  6. Richard Petty;  7. Kevin Harvick;  8. Jeff Gordon;  9. Janet Guthrie;  10. Pocono Raceway;  11. Daytona and Talladega;  12. Cars;  13. November;  14. Joe Gibbs; 15. Sunoco.

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