Auto Racing

Auto racing, or motorsport, is a professional and amateur competitive sport involving the racing of modified or custom-built automobiles. The goal is to set the fastest time over a set distance or number of laps around a track, street circuit, or off-road course.

Globally, Formula 1 (F1) is by far the most popular and lucrative auto racing series, boasting hundreds of millions of international viewers. In the United States, however, NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) remains the most popular motorsport format.

Yes, absolutely. Formula 1 is considered the absolute pinnacle of international open-wheel, single-seater auto racing. It involves the most technologically advanced and aerodynamically complex race cars in the world.

The 1970 Plymouth Superbird (along with its sibling, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona) are famous for being virtually banned from NASCAR. These "Aero Warriors" featured massive rear wings and aerodynamic nose cones that allowed them to easily exceed 200 mph. NASCAR changed the rules regarding engine displacement limits for aero-cars, effectively making them uncompetitive and forcing them out of the sport.

Formula 1 cars are significantly faster in almost every metric. An F1 car has vastly superior acceleration, braking, and cornering speeds due to its light weight and extreme downforce. While a NASCAR stock car can hit sustained top speeds of around 200 mph on long oval tracks, an F1 car can exceed 220 mph on straightaways and navigate complex road courses in much less time.

Historically, Ferrari is considered the absolute "king" of Formula 1, being the oldest and most successful constructor in the sport's history. In endurance racing (like the 24 Hours of Le Mans), Porsche holds the crown with the most overall victories. In American stock car racing, Chevrolet has historically been the dominant manufacturer.

The most famous example is actress Ashley Judd, who was married to Dario Franchitti from 2001 to 2013. While Franchitti is best known as a four-time IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, he also briefly competed in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2008.

Historically, this title belonged to Jeff Gordon in the 1990s and later to Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the modern era, Chase Elliott (son of legend Bill Elliott) is widely considered NASCAR's current "golden boy," having won the Most Popular Driver award consecutively for many years.

NASA (National Auto Sport Association) provides a clear pathway for amateurs to go racing. You begin by signing up for an HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) weekend, where you drive your own street car on a track with a qualified instructor. After progressing through the four HPDE levels, you can apply to attend the NASA Competition Licensing school. Upon passing, you can build or buy a race car and compete in their sanctioned wheel-to-wheel racing series. For more detailed guides on entering motorsports, fans can check out the motorsport section on Sports LNV.