QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About NASCAR?
Ever since its inception in 1947, NASCAR has grown to become one of the most beloved sports in the US… thanks to its iconic drivers, unforgettable moments, and an enthusiastic fan base. But beyond the roar of engines, there’s a rich history and a wealth of fascinating details that make NASCAR so special.
Today, we will test your knowledge on everything related to NASCAR — from legendary drivers and historic records to famous tracks and general trivia. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just starting to explore the world of stock car racing, it’s time to see how much you really know about NASCAR!
NASCAR features several racing series, but one stands out as the most popular and largest, attracting the most fans and drivers. What is the name of this premier NASCAR series today?
A. The NASCAR Cup Series
B. ARCA Menards Series
C. The Xfinity Series
D. The Camping World Truck Series
Answer: The NASCAR Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series is the most popular and largest series in NASCAR. The series began in 1949… and has since been known by different names, the most recent being the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
This legendary NASCAR driver won 76 Winston Cup races and earned seven championships during his four-decade career. What’s his name?
A. Ricky Rudd
B. Jimmy Spencer
C. Sterling Marlin
D. Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Answer: Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Famously known as “The Intimidator,” Dale Earnhardt Sr. was one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, with 76 Winston Cup race wins and seven championships (tying with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson). Earnhardt Sr. died in 2001 in a crash at the Daytona 500, leaving the racing world utterly devastated.
What is the most significant race in NASCAR that also kicks off the racing season each year?
A. Daytona 500
B. Dixie Vodka 400
C. Food City Dirty Race
D. Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500
Answer: Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is the first race of the NASCAR season and is considered the most prestigious. It draws fans from around the world and sets the tone for the rest of the year.
Famously associated with the No. 43 car, this driver holds an impressive 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories and the record for most wins in a season. Who is this legendary driver whose achievements may never be surpassed?
A. Ryan Newman
B. Dave Marcis
C. Davey Allison
D. Richard Petty
Answer: Richard Petty
Richard Petty, known as “The King,” is undisputedly the greatest NASCAR driver of all time. He amassed 200 victories… which is far ahead of David Pearson’s 105 wins and Jeff Gordon’s 93 wins.
Dubbed “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s most prestigious event held every February. How many laps must drivers complete in this race?
A. 50
B. 100
C. 150
D. 200
Answer: 200
The Daytona 500 consists of 200 laps around the 2.5-mile (4km) tri-oval track at Daytona International Speedway. The total distance comes out at 500 miles, and the drivers take less than a minute to complete one lap.
This legendary driver won seven NASCAR Cup Series championships. Can you name him?
A. Bob Welborn
B. Jimmie Johnson
C. Tim Richmond
D. Darel Dieringer
Answer: Jimmie Johnson
Tying with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson is seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. His remarkable achievements, including five consecutive championships from 2006 to 2010, have made him one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time.
NASCAR’s Cup Series features various tracks, but one holds the title of being the shortest. Can you name it?
A. Bristol Motor Speedway
B. Martinsville Speedway
C. Dover International Speedway
D. Richmond Raceway
Answer: Martinsville Speedway
At just 0.526 miles, Martinsville Speedway in Virginia is the shortest track in the NASCAR Cup Series. It is also the only track to have hosted Cup Series races every year since NASCAR’s inception.
This NASCAR pioneer was not only the father of the sport’s all-time most successful driver but also one of its first superstars, winning 54 races in just 427 starts. Can you name him?
A. Jeff Burton
B. Terry Labonte
C. Buddy Baker
D. Lee Petty
Answer: Lee Petty
Lee Petty, the father of Richard Petty, won 54 races and three championships, including back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1959. Petty also made history as the winner of the first Daytona 500, held in 1959.
NASCAR features a variety of tracks, but one oval stands out as the largest in the series. What is the name of this track?
A. Michigan International Speedway
B. Daytona International Speedway
C. Talladega Superspeedway
D. Charlotte Motor Speedway
Answer: Talladega Superspeedway
Measuring 2.66 miles in length, the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama is the largest NASCAR oval track. While Talladega is the biggest oval, Road America in Wisconsin holds the title for the longest track overall at 4.048 miles.
What are the qualifications needed for a NASCAR driver to compete?
A. Racing experience
B. Driver’s license
C. Pass a drug & physical test
D. Engineering diploma
Answer: Pass a drug & physical test
NASCAR drivers are not required to have a driver’s license. However, they must pass drug screenings and physical examinations to ensure they’re in peak physical condition for the demands of racing.
This legendary driver won 105 Cup Series races and three championships. He was also named NASCAR’s “Driver of the Century” in 1999 by a panel of NASCAR experts. Can you name him?
A. Jeff Gordon
B. Dale Earnhardt Sr.
C. David Pearson
D. Richard Petty
Answer: David Pearson
David Pearson is known for his 105 Cup Series wins (second after Richard Petty) and three championships in 1966, 1968, and 1969. Pearson also earned the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award in 1960.
NASCAR races are known for their thrilling speeds, especially on larger tracks like Daytona and Talladega. How fast do NASCAR cars typically go?
A. 200-250 mph
B. 50-100 mph
C. 100-150 mph
D. 150-200 mph
Answer: 150-200 mph
NASCAR cars have an average speed of around 150 mph. But on larger tracks, like Daytona and Talladega, it can reach up to 200 mph. To put this in perspective, it takes just over one second for a NASCAR driver to travel the length of a football field.
The fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR history was set in 1987, and it’s a record that might never be broken. Who set this record?
A. Dale Earnhardt Sr.
B. Jeff Gordon
C. Bill Elliott
D. Richard Petty
Answer: Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott set the record for the fastest qualifying lap in NASCAR history in 1987 at Talladega Superspeedway. Due to changes in regulations and the introduction of restrictor plates, Elliott’s 212.809 mph record might never be broken.
In NASCAR, a specific color of stripes is designated for rookie drivers to indicate their inexperience on the track. What color are these stripes?
A. Blue
B. Black
C. Yellow
D. Orange
Answer: Yellow
First-year drivers (or drivers having their first start at a track) display bright-yellow stripes on the rear bumpers of their cars to alert fellow competitors that they might not be as experienced in every situation.
This driver drives in all three NASCAR national series, and has more than 230 victories as well as multiple championships to his name. Who is he?
A. Richard Petty
B. Kyle Busch
C. Darryl Waltrip
D. David Pearson
Answer: Kyle Busch
With 63 Cup wins – the most among active drivers – Kyle Busch is the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series champion. Busch is the all-time record-holder for wins in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Among the many NASCAR circuits in the US, there is one that hosts just a single race each season, earning it a unique status in the NASCAR calendar. What is the name of this iconic track?
A. Bristol Motor Speedway
B. Autodrome Chaudière
C. Indianapolis Motor Speedway
D. Daytona International Speedway
Answer: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Known for its historical significance and as a venue for the Indy 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts just one NASCAR race per season. The track has a portion paved with bricks, and is therefore known as “The Brickyard.”
The 1970 Rebel 400 featured a significant crash involving Richard Petty, which led to an important safety innovation in NASCAR. Petty, in fact, designed that feature. Can you name it?
A. Airbags
B. ABS
C. Safety belt
D. Window nets
Answer: Window nets
Richard Petty’s crash in the 1970 Rebel 400 inspired NASCAR to introduce the window net as a mandatory safety feature. Designed by Petty himself, the window net protects drivers by keeping their arms inside the car during a crash.
Before Danica Patrick made waves in NASCAR, another trailblazing woman broke boundaries by competing in a Winston Cup event in 1976. Who was this pioneering female driver?
A. Louise Smith
B. Janet Guthrie
C. Sara Christian
D. Kim McGowan
Answer: Janet Guthrie
In 1976, Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete in a Winston Cup event. Guthrie also made history by qualifying for both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 next year.
The Daytona 500 is NASCAR’s most famous race, but it wasn’t always a season opener. When was the first Daytona 500 held?
A. 1949
B. 1951
C. 1959
D. 1948
Answer: 1959
The first Daytona 500 took place on February 22, 1959, at Daytona International Speedway, with more than 41,000 fans in attendance. After a dramatic photo finish and a 61-hour wait, Lee Petty was declared the winner by two feet.
This NASCAR driver never won a single race in a career that spanned three decades. Can you name him?
A. Johnny Roper
B. Morgan Shepherd
C. Timmy Hill
D. J.D. McDuffie
Answer: J.D. McDuffie
When discussing winless records in sports, J.D. McDuffie stands out for an impressive yet unfortunate reason. McDuffie went 653 races without a victory throughout his nearly 30-year career, which began in 1963.
The first “strictly stock division” NASCAR race (current NASCAR Cup Series) was full of surprises, including a disqualification after the race. When was it held?
A. February 15, 1948
B. June 19, 1949
C. September 12, 1951
D. May 5, 1953
Answer: June 19, 1949
The first “strictly stock division” NASCAR race took place at the Charlotte Speedway on June 19, 1949. Glenn Dunaway initially won, but was disqualified for using illegal rear springs. The win was later awarded to Jim Roper.
NASCAR races usually feature a large field of cars, but one race set an all-time record for the most starters. When did it happen?
A. 1951 Southern 500
B. 1959 Daytona 500
C. 1969 Talladega 500
D. 1975 Coca-Cola 600
Answer: 1951 Southern 500
The largest number of cars to ever start a NASCAR race was 82, which occurred in the 1951 Southern 500. Despite starting on pole, Frank Mundy finished last, losing 81 spots in a record that might never be broken.
NASCAR had its first official race shortly after it was founded by William France Sr. with the help of several other drivers of the time. Do you know what year it was?
A. 1956
B. 1951
C. 1948
D. 1946
Answer: 1948
NASCAR’s first official race was held on February 15, 1948, at the beach road course in Daytona Beach, Florida. Red Byron beat Marshall Teague and emerged victorious in a Ford.
