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About This Quiz
Full of risks, rivalries, crashes and conflicts, stock-car racing is America's second-most popular sport, behind only NFL football. Think you know all about NASCAR? Prove it with our quiz!
In which decade was NASCAR born?
the 1900s
the 1920s
the 1940s
NASCAR is a fairly young organization. Stock-car racing began a bit earlier, during Prohibition, when bootleggers began racing the "stock" cars in which they transported moonshine.
the 1990s
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What does the second "A" in NASCAR stand for?
American
Associated
Association
Auto
NASCAR'S full name is "National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing." It's international by now, of course.
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Who played driver Ricky Bobby in the comedy "Talladega Nights"?
Will Ferrell
Ferrell got comic backup from John C. Reilly as his racing teammate and Sacha Baron Cohen, who played a Formula One driver who came over from Europe to conquer the NASCAR world.
Cary Elwes
Michael Madsen
Seth Rogen
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What was the original definition of a "stock" car?
having a heavy "stock," or chassis
not specially built for racing
A "stock" car was one available on the market. It didn't necessarily mean "unaltered," though, as many amateur mechanics made modifications to make the cars go faster.
built to pull livestock trailers
having fewer than eight cylinders
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Who was known as "the Intimidator"?
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Ask any non-NASCAR fan to name one of its drivers, and Dale Earnhardt is probably the name they'll come up with. He was a seven-time series champion.
Junior Johnson
Richard Petty
David Pearson
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Which family has run NASCAR since its creation?
the Bushes
the Frances
NASCAR was founded by "Big Bill" France, who wanted racers to get their proper share of earnings from promoters. His grandson, Brian France, currently runs NASCAR.
the McMahons
the Kennedys
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Which cigarette company sponsored the NASCAR championship series for many years?
Old Golds
Marlboro
Pall Mall
Winston
Winston sponsored the Cup from 1971 to 2003. Before that, it was called the Grand National Series, and even before that, the Strictly Stock Series.
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Do trucks race in NASCAR?
yes!
Given the popularity of pickup trucks in the United States, it was only a matter of time before this happened. NASCAR's truck-racing division is currently called the Camping World Truck Series. It's named for its sponsor.
no!
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Who had a fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500?
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Dale Jr. and Waltrip, members of Earnhardt Sr.'s team, were also on the track. Waltrip won the race and was celebrating when he learned that Earnhardt's crash, which hadn't looked very serious at the time, had been fatal.
Cale Yarborough
Michael Waltrip
Kyle Petty
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Does NASCAR hold races in Europe?
yes, it's spread even to Europe
The existing stock-car racing series in Europe, Racecar Euro Series, became a NASCAR-sanctioned series in 2012. Whether it can overtake Formula One in popularity remains to be seen.
no, Europeans are all about Formula One.
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Which early NASCAR figure was known for his love of motorcycles?
Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker
Baker owned an Indian motorcycle. He is as respected in motorcycling history as he is in stock car racing.
Bill France
Junior Johnson
Dale Earnhardt
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Which driver was nicknamed "The Last American Hero"?
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Junior Johnson
Johnson is a legend in stock car racing, descended from a family of bootleggers. His nickname came from the title of an Esquire article about him.
Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker
Wendell Scott
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What is the new name of the former Alabama International Motor Speedway?
Dale Earnhardt Memorial Speedway
Lincoln Motor Speedway
Talladega Raceway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega was built on a former Air Force base in Lincoln, Alabama. It gave its name to the Will Ferrell comedy, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."
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In what city is NASCAR headquartered?
Daytona Beach, FL
NASCAR's main offices are in Daytona Beach, home of one of its most famous racing venues. There are also satellite offices in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Louisville, KY
Nashville, TN
Richmond, VA
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What is the Grand National Series currently called?
the Home Depot Cup
the Kroger Cup
the Monster Energy Cup
Whole Foods, sponsoring a NASCAR series? Ha ha ha ha ha!
the Whole Foods Cup
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In what city is the NASCAR Hall of Fame located?
Macon, GA
Charlotte, NC
The North Carolina city is home to Charlotte Motor Speedway, and a number of NASCAR teams are based in the area. These were both factors when deciding where to build the Hall of Fame.
Mobile, AL
Pensacola, FL
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Which of these was NOT an inductee in the first Hall of Fame class?
Bill France, Sr.
Dale Earnhardt
Junior Johnson
Cale Yarborough
The first Hall of Fame class was inducted in 2010. Yarborough, a famous driver, wasn't honored until 2012.
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What distinguished Wendell Scott from other famed NASCAR drivers?
he was never a bootlegger
he served time for bootlegging
he was African-American
Scott, a lover of cars and speed from childhood, became the first African-American NASCAR driver. Despite his contribution, NASCAR'S drivers are still predominantly white.
he raced European-made cars
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What is the name of Darrell Waltrip's younger brother, who is also a driver?
Alfie
Kenny
Matt
Michael
Michael Waltrip followed his older brother into stock car racing and made his own name in the sport. Fun fact: He also did a lap around the dance floor on "Dancing With the Stars."
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The record of seven career championships is shared by Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and which other driver?
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson has had a great career in racing, which isn't over yet. He still drives for Hendricks Motorsports.
Kyle Petty
Darrell Waltrip
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Rusty Wallace holds which record in stock-car racing?
most Grand National wins
most wins overall
most races without a single win
highest-recorded speed
Wallace holds the current record for speed, having reached 216 miles per hour. He has also won plenty of races.
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At which track was the current speed record set?
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Talladega Superspeedway
If there's a new record set in the near future, that's likely to also happen at Talladega. The 2.66 mile track is ideal for high speeds -- and also leads to aggressive driving during races.
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Which driver did Dale Earnhardt Sr. call "Wonder Boy" early in the driver's career?
Kyle Busch
Jeff Gordon
Gordon, like Jimmie Johnson. made a splash in racing from his debut. He's now an announcer for Fox NASCAR.
Jimmie Johnson
his own son, Dale Jr.
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Which driver holds championships in both IndyCar and NASCAR?
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Danica Patrick
Tony Stewart
Though Patrick also competes in both fields, she doesn't hold championships in either. It's Stewart who has this honor.
Helio Castroneves
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Which driver is known as "the King"?
Jeff Gordon
Richard Petty
In photos, you'll often see "The King" wearing a Western hat with feathers or silver ornamentation. Petty was a top-winning driver in his race days, with more than 200 wins.
Rusty Wallace
Darrell Waltrip
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Which driver was nicknamed "Jaws," mostly for his outspoken ways?
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip was a colorful character who courted the media before many of his fellow racers. His outspokenness didn't always make him popular behind the scenes, though.
Michael Waltrip
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Danica Patrick holds the highest-ever finish by a woman in the Daytona 500. In what place did she finish?
sixth
eighth
Patrick holds several "firsts by a woman" in auto racing. She has also competed on the IndyCar circuit.
ninth
tenth
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Which of these movies was inspired by NASCAR's first commissioner?
Cannonball Run
Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker liked to test out cars by driving them coast to coast. This inspired first an unsanctioned road race named for him, and then two movies about that race, "Cannonball Run" and "Cannonball Run 2."
Duel
White Line Fever
Vanishing Point
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Which of these states does NOT have a NASCAR track?
Kansas
New Mexico
Were you surprised by New Hampshire? We don't blame you! A nice vacation day in New Hampshire: pick some blueberries, see some sites in Revolutionary War history, and then ... NASCAR racing!
New Hampshire
Michigan
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Who was Richard Petty's biggest rival?
Kyle Busch
Junior Johnson
David Pearson
Though Pearson didn't have as many championships as Petty, he gave the King a serious run for his money on the track. This pair finished first/second more than 60 times in their racing years -- with more wins going to Pearson than Petty.
Cale Yarborough
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Who was the first driver to rack up five consecutive championships?
Dale Earnhardt
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson caught everyone's attention from pretty much the first time he drove onto a NASCAR track. To date, he's won the Daytona 500 twice.
Wendell Scott
Darrell Waltrip
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What was the name of Richard Petty's father, also a NASCAR driver?
Alan
Bill
Lee
Though overshadowed by his son, Lee Petty had 54 career wins. He started a dynasty which continues with Richard's son, Kyle Petty.
Robert
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Which of these is/was NOT a NASCAR race?
the Goody's Headache Shot 500
the Hooters 500
the Ford EcoBoost 400
they are all NASCAR races
Yes, even the "Ford EcoBoost 400" is real. Because nothing says you care about the environment like sponsoring an event where gas-burning cars drive in circles for hundreds of miles.
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Which NASCAR track is known as "the Paperclip"?
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Darlington Raceway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is the shortest NASCAR track, at a little more than a half-mile long. The tight turns at both ends inspired its nickname.
Richmond International Raceway
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Which of these actors has played a NASCAR driver?
Tom Cruise
Cruise played driver Cole Trickle in "Days of Thunder." This was the movie in which hemet Nicole Kidman, whom he married. Which, as we all know, ended as well.
John Cusack
Meg Ryan
Miles Teller
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You Got:
/35
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