Meet the American who created NASCAR: Bill France Sr., Daytona speed demon and racetrack pioneer

Bill France Sr. was a prominent mechanic and service station owner in Daytona Beach in the 1930s and 1940s; he raced cars on the city's wide sandy beaches. He founded NASCAR, the world's most popular stock-car racing circuit, on Feb. 21, 1948.

Bill France Sr. was born with a mind for business, a gift for people — and a need for speed. 

He turned those passions into a nationwide obsession with stock car racing. 

France founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — 75 years ago this week, on Feb. 21, 1948, in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

NASCAR has grown into the world’s premiere stock car racing circuit. "Big Bill," as he was known, is the unquestioned godfather of the autosport.

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"His story is a great American success story," NASCAR historian Ken Martin told Fox News Digital. 

"And NASCAR is the great American sport."

Bill France Sr. in the pre-NASCAR days. France, a native of Washington, D.C., moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, in his 20s, ran an auto shop and raced cars before founding NASCAR in 1948.  (ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)

Stock cars, at least in the sport’s earliest years, were essentially production-model cars turned into racing vehicles. 

"Bill’s vision was to basically take cars from the assembly line and put them on the racetrack to see who built the better car, the faster car, the more durable car," said Martin.

"His story is a great American success story." — NASCAR historian Ken Martin 

"He knew Americans could relate to the vehicles on the racetrack. He also knew he could generate support from Detroit by pitting Chevys against Fords."

Much as football is a largely