Stock car racing is sanctioned in America by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (“NASCAR”).  These are heavily modified production-based cars, that are often on oval tracks.  It is a privately-owned company that sanctions over 1,500 races at over 100 tracks all over the U.S.A, Canada, Mexico and Europe.  It is televised in most countries.  The company was formed in 1948 by Bill France Sr.  NASCAR is an outgrowth of when bootlegging whiskey required powerful cars to outrun law enforcement during Prohibition.

NASCAR actually encompasses a number of different levels of competition including: Monster Energy Series which is the pinnacle NASCAR competition, Xfinity Series, Gander Outdoors Truck Series, ARCA series, Pinty Series, PEAK Mexico Series, Whelen Euro Series and other Regional and Divisional series.  Tracks range from .9 kilometers (.53 miles) to the longest track at Talladega at 4.3 kilometers (2.66 miles).  Race distance varies by track, but typically range from 350 kilometers (220 miles) to 804 kilometers (500 miles).