NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is one of the most popular motorsports in all over the United States. It is considered as one of the favorite sports in the USA as a huge crowd love watching motorsport races. Imagine cars that look like the ones you can buy, zooming around tracks in a really exciting way – that is what NASCAR is known for! This cool racing thing was started by Bill France, but people also called him Bill France Sr. or Big Bill. He was not only a smart businessman but also a racer himself. He had this awesome idea to create NASCAR, and he introduced it in 1948. This turned out to be a huge hit as NASCAR is now a super important part of racing, worldwide.
Bill France Sr. was born on September 26, 1909, and he was good at both racing and business. His biggest achievement was making NASCAR a major event. He was really good at giving innovative ideas and being a strong leader. A lot of people look up to him for inspiration, not just in racing but also in business Icon.After a while, in 1948, his son Jim France took over running NASCAR. The Main place where all the exciting NASCAR stuff happens is in Daytona Beach, Florida. They put on more than 1,500 races all year, and these races happen in different places like the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and even Europe.
The origin of NASCAR can be traced back to the era of alcohol prohibition in the US when individuals used to race cars that carried illegal alcohol. These races gained popularity, particularly in North Carolina. Then in 1935, Bill France Sr. smartly executed his idea by launching races in Daytona Beach, which the public enjoyed and appreciated. As a result, NASCAR was formally established in 1948, introducing various racing tiers. These include the premier Cup Series, followed by the Xfinity and Truck Series. Some notable automobile manufacturers, including Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota actively engage in these racing tournaments.
Most of the NASCAR drivers are from the United States, but some of the racers are from countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Europe. These drivers compete on oval tracks, which come in various lengths – some are large and some are designed for high speeds, while others are smaller and covered with dirt and little mud. They also race on road courses and street tracks. Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson are some of the most popular racers in the Cup Series. The latest champ in 2023 is Joey Logano. NASCAR is, therefore, all about great cars, thrilling races and supporting cherished racing drivers.
Here is a list of NASCAR Cup series fatalities from previous seasons:
| Driver Name | Date of Accident | Event | Circuit | Session | Series | Medical Condition |
| Gene Lovelace (USA) | July 3, 1970 | Southside Speedway | Heat race | Late Model Sportsman Division | After making a pit stop, the 36-year-old owner of an upholstery shop tragically suffered a heart attack and passed away. | |
| Bobby Issac (USA) | August 13, 1977 | Winston 200 | Hickory Speedway | Race | Late Model Sportsman Division | Isaac, who had stopped in the pits, experienced heat exhaustion and later had a heart attack. Unfortunately, he couldn't recover from this heart attack, and he passed away on August 14, 1977. |
| Bill Baker (USA) | August 12, 1978 | Winston Sears Point 100 | Sears Point Raceway | Practice | Winston West Grand National Series | Following a practice run, Baker had a heart attack that proved fatal. |
| Larry Catlett (USA) | May 2, 1980 | Cahaba Shrine Temple 100 | Huntsville Speedway | Race | Grand American Division | The 38-year-old driver crashed into a wall and, sadly, suffered a heart attack that led to his passing. |
| John Nelson (USA) | May 29, 1982 | Bowman Gray Stadium | Practice | Modified Division/Winston Racing Series | Despite a collision with a guardrail and another car, the 51-year-old auto repair shop operator lost his life due to a heart attack. | |
| Gary Neice ( USA) | May 4, 1991 | Carquest Auto Parts Stores 300 | South Boston Speedway | Race | Busch Grand National Series | The 36-year-old professional race car driver struck a wall and a heart attack ultimately claimed death. |
| Hal Shuster (USA) | June 6, 1992 | 30-lap race | Cajon Speedway | Feature race | Winston Racing Series (Sportsman Stock) | While in the pits, the 49-year-old transmission seller experienced a diabetic seizure that proved fatal. |
| Edward Maness (USA) | July 10, 1993 | Commercial Credit Night | Santa Fe Speedway | Race | Winston Racing Series | The 51-year-old driver crashed into a wall, and though he survived until July 11, 1993, he eventually succumbed to a heart attack. |
| Ron Biellier (USA) | July 15, 1994 | Speedway USA(Bolivar, Missouri) | Race | Winston Racing Series (Late Model Stock) | The 45-year-old businessman brushed against a wall, but it was a heart attack that claimed his life. | |
| Al Papini (USA) | April 1, 2001 | 40-lap race | Rockford Speedway | Feature race | Weekly Racing Series (Late Model) | Despite crashing into a wall, the 41-year-old driver's cause of death was a heart attack. |
| Bubba Beck (USA) | June 1, 2002 | 25-lap race | Bowman Gray Stadium | Race | Weekly Racing Series (Modified) | The 66-year-old garage owner hit a guardrail, but it was a heart attack that led to his passing. |
| Bub Bilodeau (USA) | June 5, 2010 | 40-lap race | Beech Ridge Motor Speedway | Feature race | Whelen All-American Series (Pro Series) | After finishing a rain-shortened race, the 53-year-old sales manager suffered a fatal heart attack. |
| Ron Pestana (USA) | July 14, 2012 | 15-lap race | All American Speedway | Feature race | Whelen All-American Series (Spectator class) | Despite hitting a wall, the 60-year-old real estate agent's life was tragically cut short due to a heart attack. |
| Jimmy Smith (USA) | April 13, 2013 | 8-lap race | Thompson International Speedway | Heat race | Whelen All-American Series (SK Modified) | Having completed a race, the 62-year-old driver who worked in the fastener/seals industry tragically had a heart attack that proved fatal. |
| Leon Gonyo (USA) | September 19, 2015 | Mekkelsen RV Vermont 200 | Devil's Bowl Speedway | Feature race | Whelen All-American Series (Modified) | During a victory lap, the 63-year-old buildings, grounds, and transportation superintendent hit a wall and tragically died from a stroke. |
