The NASCAR organization is family owned. It was founded in 1948 by Bill France and is currently headed by his grandson, Brian France, who has been running it since 2009.
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the second largest major national sporting event, coming second to the NFL (National Football League). While NASCAR is most known for its endorsement of the three most popular U.S. races (Camping World Trunk Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series), it actually sanctions and governs over 1,500 races at over 100 race tracks all over the United States and Canada.
In addition to the many races that are sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States, the exhibition races at the Suzuka and Motegi circuits in Japan and Mexico, and the Australian circuit at Calder Park Raceway have been presented by this organization.
The first races were held in Daytona Beach, FL. in 1936, before the establishment of the NASCAR organization. Bill France had placed fifth in that race, and saw the potential for something bigger. Initially, he started an organization, the National Championship Stock Car Series (NCSSC), that was rejected by the American Automobile Association (AAA)for financial assistance. Not to be defeated, France created a set of rules and awards and upon it’s success, the name was changed to National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, after several other name options didn’t work out. Then a national phenomenon began.
Today, NASCAR continues to be one of the most popular sporting events in the United States.