17 replies to this topic

[Muzza]

Dear Fellows,


For a number of years I have been trying to understand all NASCAR-sanctioned series and its divisions, name changes, title switches, years of competition, definitions (what they are/were) and so forth - to absolute no avail. Judging by what I am reading in this forum and elsewhere in the web, I am not alone (*).

I was facing the same problem with the many German touring car and sportscar championships when I realized that it would be quite helpful to display this information in a "diagram" - a "genealogic tree" of sorts. With the help of the tireless Hugo Boecker, this document is now being generated (it will be the subject of a future thread in this forum; the result will be displayed in the web and all those that collaborate will be listed as co-authors).

Now what about NASCAR? With a little incentive by Jim Thurman (http://forums.atlasf...800#post1743800) I would like to propose that we get together and generate such a "diagram".

The format can be discussed later, but the main idea is to prepare a tree showing:

- how the many NASCAR series evolved from one to another;
- what each of its series are/were (Grand National? Modified? Late Modified? Sportsman?). What kind of car - and of race - do/did they abridge?
- the many name changes of these championships;
- anything else you may find required, but without getting into too much details. The idea is to "make sense of this whole mess of championship names".

We would like to make this another truly collective project. The final result will be displayed in the web for everybody's peruse.

Any takers?

Cheers,


Muzza


(*) ...or have I been looking in the wrong places? If you know where I can find this sort of information, please let me know.

[Mihai]

Originally posted by Muzza
If you know where I can find this sort of information, please let me know.

Olá,

I'm sure you'll get some meaningful replies on this forum, but you can also try your luck on this awesome NASCAR forum :

http://forums.motors...y.php?forumid=5

Todo de bom.

[Don Capps]

I haven't really taken the time to sit down and do this justice, but I will see about more later on when I can really look into the files. However, the almost infinite and amazing variety of classes that NASCAR has sanctioned is remarkable. Not much information, but I am sure I will dig up more later.

1948 -- Modified Division // continues today

1949 -- Strictly Stock Division // changed name to Grand National in 1950

1950 -- Grand National Division // name change for Strictly Stock cars

1950 -- Sportsman Division // also had State Champions and Track Champions in the class

1951 -- Late Model Short Track Division // ran from 1951 thru 1959

1952 -- Speedway Division // formed and ran in only 1952 and 1953

1952 -- Hawaiian Futurity Division // Sportsman cars

1953 -- Midget Division // formed and in 1953 & 1954 and 1958 thru 1960 single championship

1953 -- Futurity Division //

1955 -- Convertible Division // formed by merger with SAFE, the division ends in 1959, but convertibles still used until 1962/63 in some specified events

1955 -- Midget Division // split into Ford & Offy classes for 1955 thru 1957

1955 -- Pacific Coast Late Model Division // or 1954....

1962 -- Modified-Special Division // ran in 1962 & 1963

1968 -- Late Model Sportsman // name change for the Sportsman Division

1968 -- Grand American Division // Pony Cars, ran 1968 thru 1972

1971 -- Winston West Series of Grand National "Winston West" // formerly Pacific Coast Late Model Division and now AKA NASCAR Grand National Division Winston West Series

1972 -- Winston Cup Series // new name for Grand National Division

1972 -- Grand National East // ran in 1972 & 1973

1975 -- Goody's Dash Series // AKA Goody's Dash Series NASCAR Touring

1980 -- Grand American Stock Car Series // 1980 to 1983

1982 -- Busch Grand National Series //

1985 -- Winston Northwest Tour // AKA NASCAR Elite Division Raybestos Northwest Series

1985 -- Busch All-Star Tour //

1985 -- Featherlite Modified Series Touring Champion //

1986 -- Featherlite Southwest Tour // AKA NASCAR Elite Division Featherlite Southwest Series

1987 -- Busch Grand National North Series // AKA NASCAR Grand National Division Busch North Series

1991 -- Winston All Pro Series //

1991 -- NASCAR Elite Division Kodak Southeast Series //

1995 -- Craftsman Truck Series //

1998 -- NASCAR Elite Division International Truck and Engine Corporation Midwest Series //

2004 -- NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series // Dodge replaces Winston as sponsor for National championship for local tracks with Feature and ShorTrack Divisions


Others:
Hobby Division
Late Model Sportsman Division
Limited Sportsman Division
Mini-Stock Division
Super Modified

Classes in the NASCAR Winston Racing Series which began its National Championship in 1982:
A Modified
All American
All American Street Stock
American Mini Stock
American Short Trackers
B-Limited
B Modified
Beginner Street
Bomber
Bronco
Bud Lightnings
Bumper Cars
Buzzbomber
Charger
Claimer
Compact
Daredevil
Dash Cars
E Modified
Eathnol Mod 4
Economy
Factory
Factory 4s
Factory Stock
Fender Bender
Figure 8
Flyer
Formula Four
Four Cylinder
4 Cylinder Mini
4 Cylinder Modified
4 Cylinder Pony Stock
4 Cylinder Stock
Front Wheel Drive Mini Stock
Fun
Georgia Girls
Grand American Late Model
Grand American Modified
Grand Nationals
Grand National Late Model
Grand National Sportsman
Grand Slammers
Grand Stock
Hobby
Hobby Stock
Hobby Street
Hornets
Hot Stock
Jalopy
Late Model
Late Model Chargers
Late Model Pro Stock
Late Model Sportsman
Late Model (Street Stock)
Late Model Stock
Late Model Truck
Lightning Stock
Limited Late Model
Limited Sportsman
Midwest Modified
Mighty Compacts
Mini Cup
Mini-Mod
Mini sedan
Mini Sports
Mini Stock
Modified
Modified 4
Modified Fours
Modified Mini
Modified Pony
Open Wheel Modified
Oval Bombers
Pickup
Pony Stock
Poor Boy Bombers
Powder Puff
Pro Am
Pro 4s
Pro 4 Modified
Pro Mini
Pro Modified
Pro Series
Pro Stock
Pro Street
Protruck
Pro Truck
Pure
Pure Stock
Pure Stock 4
Pure Street Stock
Rear Wheel Drive Modified Mini
Renagades
Road Runner
Rookie
Rookie Figure 8
S Truck
Short Trackers
SK Modified
Speedway Sportsman
Sport Truck
Sportsman Modified
Stadium Stock
Street Stock
Street Stock Bomber
Strictly Stock
Stock 4
Stock Pony
Super Late
Super Late Model
Super Mini Truck
Super Modified
Super Stock
Super Stock Chargers
Super Truck
350 Supermodified
Thunder
Thunder Car
Thinder n' Lightning
Thunderstox
Toyota Sedans
Trucks
Truck Series
Ultra Wheel Super Stock
Western Late Model
Wildcats
Winged Women on Wheels
Winston Mini
Winston Stock
(I am sure that I have overlooked a few classes.... and this was fun.....)

[canon1753]

Don-
With all due respect,

You missed NASCAR North, a touring series in New England from 197?-1985. It's claim to fame (other than Chuck Bown driving well and going South and Beaver Dragon) is that it was the first series that a V6 won and it also, eventually, became dominated by V6s. It fell apart and split into the ACT tour and the BGN North tour.

I can't see that you missed much else.

Thanks

[conjohn]

2004 - Nextel Cup Series // new name for Winston Cup Series

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by canon1753
You missed NASCAR North, a touring series in New England from 197?-1985. It's claim to fame (other than Chuck Bown driving well and going South and Beaver Dragon) is that it was the first series that a V6 won and it also, eventually, became dominated by V6s. It fell apart and split into the ACT tour and the BGN North tour.

I thought I had put it on the list, but apparently I didn't. I am certainly aware of the series since it was the basis of the BGN North series. Thanks for pointing it out.

I am certain that there are more than a few others that I missed since this was done with relatively little research, just from the materials I readily had at hand.

The major importance of this web of divisions and series is that from its earliest of day NASCAR created a system which contained feeder series for developing talent as well as providing opportunities for drivers and teams to find their "level" somewhere along the way. By making sure that it was in synch with the promoters and owners of the local tracks, NASCAR pounded the opposition in the early years. Having a pyramid with a very wide base allowed drivers and teams many opportunities to find the key to success and for a great majority of those who reached the GN/Cup ranks to have a proven record and something of a following.

Road racing in America, for the most part, just never came remotely close to this level of organization and promotion. When American road racing oriented on the amateur model of the ARCA after WW2 and continued to stay that course for over a decade and a half, it sealed its own fate. Had NASCAR had made a concerted effort in the direction, it is interesting to consider what might have been. One must keep in mind that until February 1959, one of the two Big Events on the NASCAR calendar was a road race.....

Lots of detail that can be added to this list at some point.

[Muzza]

Hello Fellows,


Wow, quite a promising start! This is going to be an interesting project.

One of the series that causes the most confusion is what became known as Dash Series: not only its name changed often, but also the characteristics of the cars was completely altered with it. This is what I gather:

- 1973-1975: The Baby Grand National Racing Association
- 1975-1980: The Baby Grand Series
- 1980-1983: NASCAR International Sedan Series
- 1983-1985: Darlington Dash Series
- 1985-1990: Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series
- 1990-1992: NASCAR Dash Series
- 1992-2003: Goody's Dash Series
- 2004: IPOWERacing Dash Series (*)

(*) Sanctioning transferred from NASCAR to BRDAYTONA.

The source for the above are the good articles that can be found in the links below, that also provide a comprehensive history of this series:

http://www.stockcarr...ries/index.html
http://www.stockcarr...ies/index2.html
http://www.stockcarr...ies/index3.html
http://www.stockcarr...ies/index4.html
http://www.stockcarr...ies/index5.html

Two curiosities about the Dash Series (from the pages above) :

"The Dash Series produced the first-ever NASCAR champion to drive a foreign-made car when Dean Combs drove a Datsun 200 SX to the Dash title in 1980";

"Shawna Robinson [...] made racing history while competing in the Dash Series. On June 10, 1988, Robinson became the first woman to win a NASCAR feature race. Robinson's history victory came in the AC Delco 100 at New Asheville (North Carolina) Speedway. She also won two Dash races in 1989."

Cheers, keep it coming,


Muzza

[Jim Thurman]

Don, outstanding, simply outstanding

Originally posted by Don Capps

1955 -- Pacific Coast Late Model Division // or 1954....

1971 -- Winston West Series of Grand National "Winston West" // formerly Pacific Coast Late Model Division and now AKA NASCAR Grand National Division Winston West Series

This one I can fill in a bit on...

NASCAR Winston West Series, known as:

Pacific Coast Late Model Division: 1954 - July 1970 correction: August 8, 1970

NASCAR Grand National West Division: August 8, 1970 - ???

(note: this causes confusion, a name change during the season. In August 1970, Bill France Sr. visited the race at Orange Show Speedway, San Bernardino, California and announced the series name change).

NASCAR Western Grand National Division: before 1977 (I want to say '75 or '76) - 198?

NASCAR Winston West Series: 198? (probably 1985 to go along with NASCAR's change for it's top division)

When I get the chance, I'll try and dig out the date changes to WGN and WW.

Also, when the series changed to NASCAR Grand National Winston West series a year or two ago, there were rule changes that changed the type of cars from Cup to GN. Prior to then, the cars rules were similar to Cup.

[bpratt]

There was a modified series in the Pacific northwest that existed in 1977-78. Ran at tracks like Wenatchee, WA, Langley, BC, etc. Cars locally (Canada) were called modified sportsmen. Bill Amick seemed to be in charge of it.

Also the late model sportsmen had a northwest series in the early 1980s that seems to have evolved in the Northwest Tour/Elite series.

[theunions]

Originally posted by Don Capps
1952 -- Hawaiian Futurity Division // Sportsman cars

While the series started circa 1948 and ended in 1960, NASCAR sanctioning only lasted from 1952 to the first race of 1954, when the organizers (at strong behest of the drivers) elected to throw them out due to insurance rates, membership fees, etc.

NASCAR's first taste of a serious drivers' union/rebellion wasn't at Talladega 1969, it was throughout the latter half of the '53 Territorial season...

[m.tanney]

Originally posted by Don Capps
1948 -- Modified Division // continues today
1950 -- Sportsman Division // also had State Champions and Track Champions in the class

  Don's mention of the Modified and Sportsman cars sent me back to Greg Fielden's High Speed at Low Tide. A wonderful book, it's a history of the beach-road races at Daytona from 1936 to 1958. In the fifties the Modified and Sportsman classes ran together at Daytona. The fields were enormous - much bigger than that those of the premier Grand National class. Cars came from all across the U.S. It was "grass-roots" racing but the standard of competition was extremely high. Fireball Roberts, who finished second in GN points in 1950, devoted himself entirely to Modified racing for most of the 1951 season and all of the next four years. The Modifieds were faster than the GNs, usually more competitive, and more lucrative for the faster drivers. Junior Johnson was another one who stuck with the modifieds until Peter DePaolo's Ford money brought him (like Roberts) back to the GNs. The Modifieds were pretty close to a formula libre for stock cars. Fielden's descriptions of two of the faster cars show the "anything goes" nature of the class.
  Tim Flock's Daytona winner from 1956 was a 1939 Chevrolet:

...powered by a '56 Oldsmobile 88 with a new batch of goodies Wolf had assembled. Capable of turning 7,000 rpm, the engine had ex­perimental heads, Hilborn fuel injec­tors and a Herbert roller cam. A Ford rear axle was used to replace the Chevy unit. A Halibrand quick-change rear end was used with a special solid ring gear spool, brakes and drums from a three-quarter ton Ford pick-up. The engine was set back 26 inches, putting the driver's compartment where the back seat normally would be. Tim was immedi­ately referred to as "America's Number one back seat driver". At speed, the car looked as if it had no driver at all. "I could barely see out the little rear window," Flock remarked.

  In 1957, Bob Reuther turned a qualifying lap of 150.25 mph - the fastest lap ever run on the beach-road course, and almost ten mph faster than Paul Goldsmith's GN record. Reuther had a "hefty '57 Chrysler V-8 hunk of iron inside the gold and blue '38 Plymouth coupe. When finished, it had a Halibrand quick-change rear end, a Howard fuel injector, chain driven McCulloch blower, moon disc hub-caps and a '37 LaSalle transmission".
  Great drivers, interesting cars, competitive races. A history of the first two or three decades of the Modified and/or Sportsman series would make a fascinating book. (Yes, that is a shameless plea)
  Most present-day NASCAR fans think of "NASCAR racing" solely in terms of the Nextel/Winston Cup series. I'm not sure how many are even aware of the original "Strictly Stock" Grand National days in this era of bogus "modern day" records, let alone the Modified and Sportsman divisions or the Western Grand National, later the Winston West, series (which would also make a great book). It's a shame.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by m.tanney

Most present-day NASCAR fans think of "NASCAR racing" solely in terms of the Nextel/Winston Cup series. I'm not sure how many are even aware of the original "Strictly Stock" Grand National days in this era of bogus "modern day" records, let alone the Modified and Sportsman divisions or the Western Grand National, later the Winston West, series (which would also make a great book). It's a shame.

Well, that's how NASCAR has marketed itself...and they're to blame for that. If it isn't "new" they can't attract the trendies as well as appeal to the media.

As far as the history of PCLM/WGN/GNW/WW making a great book...it's something I've been interested in doing for years. Last year I received a golden offer to help in putting such a book together. The letter was in my hands as a fever hit me - literally...and then it was two plus months of battling acute bronchitis along with a mystery infection never diagnosed. Coupled with some after effect health issues, it's been a logistical impossibility for me to pursue this wonderful opportunity. The fact that Western U.S. drivers have been so sorely overlooked, had their names misspelled, etc...drives home the need for this book even more (without even getting into the media believing that Kasey Kahne being from Washington state is unprecedented).

I truly hope things work out before the opportunity is lost

I also hope someone like Greg Fielden will chronicle the Sportsman and Modified division's great history. Seasonal re-caps and detailed accounts of the "major" events for each series would be great.

The Grand Touring/Grand American division, the short lived Grand National East...

There's a lot left to cover just within NASCAR.

[Muzza]

Originally posted by Jim Thurman
Don, outstanding, simply outstanding



This one I can fill in a bit on...

NASCAR Winston West Series, known as:

Pacific Coast Late Model Division: 1954 - July 1970

NASCAR Grand National West Division: July 1970 - ???

(note: this causes confusion, a name change during the season. In July 1970, Bill France Sr. visited the race at Orange Show Speedway, San Bernardino, California and announced the series name change).

NASCAR Western Grand National Division: before 1977- 198? (I want to say '75 or '76)

NASCAR Winston West Series: 198? (probably 1985 to go along with NASCAR's change for it's top division)

When I get the chance, I'll try and dig out the date changes to WGN and WW.

Also, when the series changed to NASCAR Grand National Winston West series, there were rule changes that changed the type of cars from Cup to GN. Prior to then, the cars rules were similar to Cup.

Jim, my friend,


Time to ressucitate this thread. If I understand your comments well, you mean that in 1979 and 1980 specifically this series was called NASCAR Western Grand National Division, right?

[In the sentence "NASCAR Western Grand National Division: before 1977- 198? (I want to say '75 or '76)" you actually meant "...'85 or '86", right?]

All (later) references I found call this series "NASCAR Winston West Series" even in 1979 and 1980... It does not seem right. This is most possibly another example of revisionism, alike to the one with which the NASCAR establishment today calls Richard Perry a "NEXTEL Cup champ"...

Thanks for your clarifications,


Muzza

[Bob Riebe]

The posts are a bit hard to follow, has anyone mentioned the Super Speedway Modified Division which replaced the Modified road race at Speed Weeks and ran a couple of years before it went kaput.
They were really NASCAR's version of the IMSA AAGT.
Bob

[Muzza]

Hello, Bob,


Yes, the postings are as hard to follow as it is to understand all these series, divisions, classes and name changes...

Hopefully someone with available time would one day develop a "genealogic tree" of NASCAR categories as I (humbly) proposed. It would be a wonderful document to all of us.

Unfortunately I cannot volunteer as my time is completely taken by other projects. :

Best regards,


Sal / Muzza

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Muzza


Jim, my friend,


Time to ressucitate this thread. If I understand your comments well, you mean that in 1979 and 1980 specifically this series was called NASCAR Western Grand National Division, right?

[In the sentence "NASCAR Western Grand National Division: before 1977- 198? (I want to say '75 or '76)" you actually meant "...'85 or '86", right?]

All (later) references I found call this series "NASCAR Winston West Series" even in 1979 and 1980... It does not seem right. This is most possibly another example of revisionism, alike to the one with which the NASCAR establishment today calls Richard Perry a "NEXTEL Cup champ"...

Thanks for your clarifications,

Sal,

I haven't confirmed the 1979 and 1980 name changes (nor, many others for the time being). However, I can shed some light and confirm some of what I posted.

Actually I meant '75 or '76 and should have put the parenthesis before the 198? I have amended the post.

I have been able to confirm that the name change from PCLM (Pacific Coast Late Model) to Grand National West took place on August 8, 1970. The July date I gave was going solely by memory, off the top of my head and was incorrect . I've amended the post for accuracy. The formal announcement did take place with Bill France Sr. attending the race at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California (so that part of my recollection was correct). The event at Orange Show was the 10th race of the season and came just one night after the 9th race of the season (at Craig Road Speedway - North Las Vegas, Nevada). So, for the first 9 races of the 1970 season, the series was known as PCLM and from race 10 on, it was known as GNW.

I can confirm the Grand National West name was in use through 1974 (hence my '75 or '76 for the change to WGN). I don't have my 1974 NASCAR Record Book handy, and do not have the 1975 or 1976 editions, but checking the 1977 edition threw a curve into this as it lists the series as Winston West Grand National. Additionally, I don't have a 1985 NASCAR Guide handy, but I don't believe the Grand National was dropped and the series name changed to Winston West until the same change took place with the national series from GN to Winston Cup.

You are absolutely correct in your thoughts as far as later references using revisionism in referring to all champs prior to the Winston Cup as Winston Cup champions and, now, Nextel Cup champions. This is primarily, I believe, to provide continuity for the non-motorsports press.

I should have a couple of additional items for Motorsport Memorial shortly. Please check the "Speeds Ultimate Price" thread here on TNF and look for a PM.

[Magee]

NASCAR started the Canadian Series Grand National (EAST and WEST?) in 1954; however, there's much more research to be done to determine all the races, the drivers, and the locations in Canada.

Now's a good time to start a collection of Canadian data.

[John B]

Slightly OT but related.....anyone remember a proposed "L-R" road racing series that was proposed after the 1985 (or 1986) season? It was supposedly going to use small cars such as the Pontiac Sunbird and similar bodies. The plan was 6 events on road and street courses, the street races in visible metro areas. What I can't remember was if this was intended as a separate series or a subset of the main Cup schedule (which back then was not quite as packed as the current 36 race monster). Nothing ever came of it, though I remember seeing drawings of the concept cars in magazines.