We still have a dirt track here in Pevely, Mo., pretty near where I live. I've been watching "Stock car" races there my whole life. My dad used to be part of a pit crew for a driver named Billy Masters. I remember watching guys like Hammerle and Klein race every weekend. Good times.
Wasn't NASCAR original born out of moonshine runners ?
Well, actually the moonshiners/bootleggers were by far the most prevalent racers across most of the SE, but NASCAR was actually formed by a few (about 30+/- charter members if IIRC), dedicated racers but most without the moonshiner's reputations and legacies. Big Bill France, the actual founder was a visionary in the racing world and could see a big future in the sport if they could just clean it up some and develop a major and consistent schedule and following.
At the very beginning the moonshiners could only see a way to make quick money since they typically had the faster cars, even faster than the local pure racers. Many shied away from actually joining NASCAR in the very beginning since they were typically not the regulated, 'play by the rules' kind of guys. They would enter many NASCAR sanctioned races, take most of the money and go home to run a load of shine later that same Saturday night. But in a short time they began to see that the sanctioned events not only gave them an opportunity to race their faster cars, make some 'honest' money at it, but at the same time stay out of jail when/if they were caught running shine.
Many of them began to join up with NASCAR and began to run more race events and less alcohol. Obviously not all of them ... read the story of Jr Johnson ... "Last American Hero". One of the most prominent throwbacks from moonshiner to 'Hall of Fame' NASCAR driver/owner. Or his autobiography "Brave in Life". He was the best example of all the bootleggers who came into the sport and made good. He won 50 races during his stint behind the wheel and attributes his ability to the practice he got from running shine for his daddy from an early age of around 13 or so IIRC. Passed away in 2019 from Alzheimer's disease at 88 I think.
So yes, in the real world moonshiners are probably what made early NASCAR a success. Without them and what they brought to the events, there would not have been nearly the excitement that drew the fans. Remember before NASCAR, most races were just thrown together events run on high school tracks around the football field, a few dedicated dirt tracks, a farmers field plowed up in a big circle, or most often a short 1/8-1/4mi oval scratched out at local fairs, carnivals, etc, all run by a different 'fly by night' promoter. There was little to no scheduling so few dedicated followers/fans. And very hard to retain a regular bunch of racers to entice the fans because in those days there was so many race and track promoters who would wait till just before the pay window opened and during the last event of the day would run out with all the receipts of the day and nobody got paid. It was really bad early on in this particular sport and locations even though there was organized and sanctioned races up north and mid-west like primarily USAC Sprints and midgets. Even back then the Indy (actually before the name Indy car) guys were pretty well organized and covered.
But the SE redneck, country liquor runners were just getting started. Just look where it has come to today!!! Bill France put it all into motion to what it is now. Some good, some not so good, but it is what it is. He made it into a many, many million dollar industry and made millionaires of a lot of drivers and car owners. Back in the day, an early NASCAR beach/road course race (one of the biggest events of the day) might pay $100+/- to win. Today you can't buy a decent NASCAR approved race spectator seat for that. And more than that, back then you could actually have a monkey ride in the passenger seat while you were racing and call him your co-pilot. Read up a little on Monty Flock and see what I mean ... the monkey's name was 'Jocko'.
Sorry, didn't mean to get so long winded, but as I said I've been in and around it for a long, long time (born into it in 1947) and can tell some really interesting (to me at least) stories. Hope y'all enjoy. jj
Edit: Just thought I'd add for you wrench slingers how the real racers used to swap a Mercury 255ci flat head crank into a 239ci Ford flat head for longer stroke and higher compression. The Mercs had a 4" stroke and the Fords had a 3 3/4" stroke. The wrist pin in the Merc was a little higher on the rod too than the Ford. Remember we're talking about back in the early-mid 40's and a few into very early 50's. This was probably the most common 'cheat' back then because it was hard to prove without a tear down, and back then there was no such thing as a 'claimer race'. If you wanted to protest and see inside, you had to buy the motor and most who did it wouldn't sell. I've heard it said but can't verify that the best mechanics could actually hear the difference when the Merc cranks were used. I'm not one to doubt that. I've known some cracker jack mechanics on that old stuff. jj
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