FOUNDER’S DAY
DAYTONA BEACH, FL — 1947: This was the scene in what was called the “smoke filled room,” as 35 men met to form what would ultimately become the National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing (NASCAR). The room was located on the second floor of the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach. A series of three meetings convened at the Streamline Hotel to establish criteria for professional stock car racing, leading to the formation of NASCAR. In this group: Front row, kneeling (L-R) - Chick DiNatale, Jimmy Quisenberry, Ed Bruce, Jack Peters, Alvin Hawkins. Back row, standing (L-R) - Freddie Horton, Sam Packard, Ed Samples (hidden), Joe Ross, Marshall Teague, Bill Tuthill, Joe Littlejohn, Bob Osiecki, Buddy Shuman,, Lucky Sauer (hidden), Tom Galan, Eddie Bland, Bill France Sr., Bob Richards, Harvey Tattersall Jr., Fred Dagavar, Bill Streeter, Jimmy Cox. (Photos from ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group/Getty Images)
On December 14, 1947, Bill France gathered 35 people for four days of meetings (Dec. 14 – 17) at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla. The group represented the most influential names in the racing industry at the time and included drivers, mechanics, promoters, car owners, journalists, businessmen, and a recording secretary.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was born from that meeting and though he knew what was needed, not even Bill could envision what the sport would become.
“Stock car racing has got distinct possibilities for Sunday shows and we do not know how big it can be if it’s handled properly… It can go the same way as big car racing (Indianapolis), I believe stock car racing can become a nationally recognized sport by having a National Point Standing.
“Stock car racing as we’ve been running it is not, in my opinion, the answer… We must try to get track owners and promoters interested in building stock car racing up. We are all interested in one thing — that is improving the present conditions. The answer lies in our group right here today to do it.”
– Bill France Sr. on Dec. 14, 1947, speaking at NASCAR’s organizational meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida.