Happy Birthday NASCAR

My, how you've grown.

By Angela DiMarzio

Published

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www.thedrive.com
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Early NASCAR Modified stock cars race at a dusty dirt track in the Deep South. , ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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General view of a standing-room-only crowd looks on as the field lines up for the start of the Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. Car No. 87 went on to win the event driven by Buck Baker., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Fonty Flock waves from the seat of Raymond Parks’ NASCAR modified stock car that was wrenched by Red Vogt. Fonty’s brother Bob Flock also drove the car on occasion., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Richard Petty sits in the cockpit of his NASCAR Cup car, which shows the roll cage technology that was used in mid-1960s racecar construction., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Racecar fabricator Turkey Minton also owned cars that ran on the NASCAR Cup circuit in 1967 and 1968., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Construction of the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1958 during the asphalt stages., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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A television cameraman focuses in on the action during a NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Veteran NASCAR driver Charles “Red” Farmer having a bit of fun in victory lane following a NASCAR race., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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The Kiekhaefer fleet of trucks get set up at Darlington Speedway. , ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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A crew pits a car during a NASCAR Cup race., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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An early photo of NASCAR racer Marshall Teague., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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The field is halted to clean up a big wreck during an early 1950s NASCAR event at Martinsville Speedway., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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NASCAR Modified action as Melvin “Puddin'” Swisher (No. 53) passes Johnny Johnson., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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Race fans take in the action from the infield at Martinsville Speedway., ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images
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A NASCAR official waves the checkered flag during the Pure Oil Performance trials that were held on Daytona Beach., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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Bobby Johns of Miami, Florida scored two wins in 141 starts during his NASCAR Grand National career., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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NASCAR Grand Touring owner Ross Huggins poses in front of one of his AMC Javelins. The late Huggins' North Carolina company has been the Goodyear racing tire distributors for decades., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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Pure Oil became NASCAR's first official sponsor in 1951, servicing race cars on the beach right from the fuel trucks., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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Ralph Lee Earnhardt raced in NASCAR premier events from 1956 until 1964, registering 51 starts and two wins., ISC Archives via Getty Images
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An aerial view of the brand new Darlington Raceway in 1950. Note the passenger bridge over the original backstretch and Sherman Ramsey's Pond near Turn 2. Later, the egg-shaped track reversed the front and back straights and had covered grandstands installed., ISC Archives via Getty Images