Today, we honor NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill France Sr.
Known as “Big Bill,” France was the driving force behind the formation of NASCAR in 1948. As the sport’s founder and first president, he established a unified organization for stock car racing and helped lay the foundation for what would become one of the world’s most popular forms of motorsports.
France’s vision extended beyond the formation of NASCAR. He led the effort to build Daytona International Speedway, which opened in 1959. On February 22 of that year, the first Daytona 500 was held on the 2.5-mile superspeedway, with Lee Petty ultimately declared the winner after a dramatic photo finish.
Through his vision, determination and belief in the future of stock car racing, Bill France Sr. helped transform a regional pastime into a national sport.