Nationwide Series History - NASCAR.com - Nationwide Series History

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing was founded in December 1947 at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach, Fla. The sanctioning body's prime purpose was to bring stability, credibility and uniformity to the previously unstructured sport.

The "Modified" was the vehicle of choice for racing purposes at that time. A modified consisted of pre-WWII coupes and sedans fitted with highly-modified engines, usually Ford flatheads, but in some cases, Mercury, Cadillac and Lincoln engines.

The inaugural NASCAR season of 1948 featured modifieds exclusively. The "Strictly Stock" division, later known as the Sprint Cup Series, came about in mid-1949. Also, during that year, NASCAR created the "Sportsman" Division -- also known as the "Special Modified" class -- in response to car owners concerned about the mounting costs of building a first-class modified. Today's Nationwide Series is a direct descendant of that early Sportsman class.

The inaugural season for the new division came in 1950. The Sportsman Division cars looked just like the modifieds, but mechanically they were "mostly stock." Factory cylinder heads, stock carburetor manifolds and stock rear ends were required. A battery ignition was allowed, but no magnetos. On the other hand, modifieds were allowed quick-change rear ends, hi-rise manifolds with multiple carburetors and exotic ignition systems.

A Sportsman Division race was held on Daytona Beach for the first time in 1951.

The event drew more than 100 entries, showing the popularity of the class. The Sportsman cars were paired with the modifieds for Daytona's 1952 race. The highest-finishing Sportsman car was driven by Tommy Moon, who finished 12th. Three Sportsman cars were among the top-30 finishers as they competed against their more powerful cousins.