Automotive Journal

1949 was the beginning of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, formerly titled the NASCAR Strictly Stock Series, and the crowning of the first in a long line of champions. The title that year went to a driver who had previously flown in combat in WW2.

NASCAR enjoyed its first full decade in the 1950’s, a time during which some of the first drivers to compete became legendary in the sport. Just as the Jeff Gordons of today, the stars of the early days had to excel beyond the field of accomplished drivers in order to win championships.

As the 60’s progressed so did NASCAR, adding many exciting young drivers who gained their own fame throughout the decade. The 60’s gave rise to the second winningest driver to ever grace the NASCAR Winston Cup Series tracks, David Pearson, as well as to the seven time Champion Richard Petty who won the championship twice in that decade.

NASCAR had perhaps it’s best decade to date in the 1970’s. Cale Yarborough won not one, or two, but three straight Winston Cup Championships. Richard Petty did even better, with five titles in the 70’s including 1975 when he beat the second place finisher by 722 points. Richard repeated, back to back championships, two times in the span of those ten years.

The 1980’s became a decade of NASCAR champions. Both Darrel Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt won three titles in the 1980’s. Like Magic and Bird in the NBA, their efforts carried NASCAR to new heights as far as fan numbers and mainstream appeal. Bobby Allison, who had been second for the championship many times, finally won his first title in 1983.

The 90’s saw NASCAR make it’s way to equal billing with the NBA, MLB and NFL as a major professional sport. The champions and races in the 90’s marked their own place in the NASCAR mythology, bringing more fans to the tracks and more viewers to the broadcasts than ever before for NASCAR.

A new Winston Cup Champion emerged in NASCAR as the 21st century dawned. And a new precedent was set by driver Bobby Lebonte. Never before in the history of NASCAR had a driver won both the Winston Cup and the Busch Series. When his brother Terry also won a championship, they became the first brother pair to win NASCAR titles.

Keep this history in mind next time you watch a NASCAR race.

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