March 8: Stock Car Race in Daytona Beach, Florida (1936)
Prayer Idea
Pray for drivers and crews who participate in auto racing.
History Note
People have enjoyed racing each other for thousands of years—on foot, on horseback, and in boats. Automobiles added a new twist to the passion for racing, making it faster and more dangerous.
On March 8, 1936, a group of automobile enthusiasts gathered in Daytona Beach, Florida, for a race. The course was partly on the hard sand of the beach and partly on roads. An assortment of 27 cars started the race. Only ten finished. Bill France came in fifth.
Over the next few years, Bill France’s interest in auto racing grew. In 1947 he founded the organization that would become NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). Today NASCAR hosts races across the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe.
This photo shows a 2023 NASCAR race in Georgia. Photo courtesy the Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
This silent footage shows the difficulty of the race course at Daytona Beach in 1936.
Learn more about motorsports at Homeschool History.
