Florida may be the official home of NASCAR, but its roots stretch
further than just the Sunshine State’s soil. From as far north as Chicago,
where Al Capone ran one of the most lucrative “bootlegging” operations during
Prohibition, souped-up cars began gaining traction in the illegal alcohol
trade.
Even Lee Petty,
a North Carolina native and one of the sport’s first heroes, had traversed the backroads of the South with hidden caches of
moonshine and bathtub gin—all while evading the coppers. When Bill France Sr.
headed up NASCAR in the late 40s, the stage had already been set for stock car
racing to develop into the phenomenon it is today.
For fans of the sport, its history may not be a revelation,
but rather a reminder that prohibition wasn’t all that bad. After all, would
America have such fond memories of Daisy Duke and the General Lee if it weren’t
for the decade-plus run where booze-craving ingenuity overshadowed ethical
business practices? We think not.
With Chevy being an official manufacturer of NASCAR engines,
we at Dimmitt Chevrolet thought it prudent to showcase the sport’s upcoming races
that are within driving distance from Clearwater. Plan a trip through those same
backroad-laden states that started Lee Petty’s career, and enjoy one (or all)
of these boisterously electrifying events.
