Prohibition Creates Bootleggers
How the early 1900’s shaped our beloved racing culture all comes down to a movement to ban the making, selling and distribution of alcohol. The temperance movement, which gained much popularity in the 1900’s, led to the creation of the 18th Amendment. That Amendment didn’t stop those willing to break it. As alcohol continued to be manufactured it needed transportation. Bootleggers in this period soon began making modifications to their cars to be able to outrun any law enforcement aiming to enforce illegal transportation.
However, in 1933 the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th , ending the temperance movement. But the love for “racing” modified cars was infectious. Known as whiskey cars, moonshiners soon found racetracks and fairgrounds to run races. Those races soon drew large crowds of folks who were willing to pay money to watch these drivers showcase their skills. One such pioneer, Billy France Sr. helped organize races in Daytona Beach, Florida and in 1948, he proposed the creation of a national organization to sanction races thus NASCAR is founded. Many of its early stars drove, owned or built moonshine cars. In fact, Junior Johnson, a former moonshine runner, was a member of the first NASCAR Hall of Fame call in 2010.