NASCAR: A Timeline

Aug. 7, 2007 — -- With less-than-legal beginnings in running moonshine during Prohibition, auto racing has evolved significantly over the last century.

Here's a look at some of the sport's most notable moments.

Early 1900s: Stock car racing gets its start during Prohibition, with moonshine runners attempting to flee federal tax agents.

Dec. 14, 1947: Bill France Sr. holds a meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla., to discuss the future of stock car racing and NASCAR is conceived.

Feb. 15, 1948: First NASCAR race is run in Daytona at the beach road course.

Feb. 21, 1948: NASCAR is incorporated

Sept. 4, 1950: The Southern 500, NASCAR's first 500-mile race, is held at Darlington Raceway.

June 13, 1954: NASCAR's first road race, the International 100, is held at Linden Airport in New Jersey

1958: Fireball Roberts is voted Professional Athlete of the Year by Florida sportswriters, the first time the honor goes to a race car driver.

Feb. 22, 1959: Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500 in front of 41,000 fans.

July 16, 1961: ABC Sports televises two hours of the Firecracker 250 from Daytona as part of its Wide World of Sports.

Sept. 13, 1962: Mamie Reynolds becomes the first winning car owner (with Fred Lorenzen at the wheel) at Augusta Speedway in Georgia.

Dec. 1, 1963: Wendell Scott is the first African-American to win a premier division NASCAR race at Jacksonville Speedway.

1964: Richard Petty wins the first of seven championships.

Sept. 14, 1969: Alabama International Speedway -- known today as Talladega Superspeedway -- opens.

March 24, 1970: Buddy Baker becomes the first driver to break 200 miles per hour.

Feb. 14, 1971: Motor Racing Network -- MRN -- broadcasts its first Daytona 500.

Jan. 10, 1972: Bill France Sr. hands leadership of NASCAR to his son, Bill France Jr.

1978: Jimmy Carter invites NASCAR drivers to the White House.

Nov. 18, 1979: Richard Petty wins his record seventh series championship.

1986: NASCAR renames its premiere series the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

April 30, 1987: Bill Elliott sets fastest speed record at 212.809 miles per hour at Talladega.

1989: Every race in the NASCAR Cup Series is televised.