How much of a stock car is stock? The answer is simple, the shape of the car. This is no revelation to a NASCAR fan but it might require a little explanation to a new enthusiast.

NASCAR was born out of the necessity of bootleggers to keep one step ahead of law officers assigned to apprehend them. Even after the repeal of the XVIIIth amendment, steadfast distillers of moonshine were compelled to continue to produce this unique southern delicacy, hell or high water be damned.

This led them into beefing up sedans that looked "stock" on the outside, but had modifications on the inside, everything from bigger engines, to studier suspensions that could carry an extra load as well as keep that load and vehicle firmly on the road. This era in NASCAR, the post WWII years developed legions such as Buddy Baker, Junior Johnson, both drivers and a mechanics; they developed the expertise of, modifying the latest designs from Chevy, Ford, Mercury, Buick, and Plymouth, Dodge and Pontiac then driving them to the limit. Racing was a better outlet for their energy and won over their passion, creating for us the NASCAR phenomenon today.

In the nineteen seventies, all cars were still stock out of the factories with working doors sealed shut, the first step in a complete rebuild, for the rigors of racing that were required by the newer higher speeds being developed, but the next generation was in the wings building their stock cars from scratch than covering it with a fiberglass shell that conforms to the exact shape of the factory equivalent you are driving today. NASCARS official definition of a "stock car". Despite this fact NASCAR and the manufacturers have never worked any closer, there are brilliant minds in both camps and they work well together in this realm of unique talents.

You can thank these enthusiastic racers and builders for most of the innovative improvements to your family sedan. With NASCAR working closely with the car makers, opening the field to foreign completion from Toyota recently, spreading good will in a world that can surely use it, they are a good hearted crew even if they are a little on the roughhouse side.

The answer is: the name, along with the look, is still stock at a stock car race. And with that a desire of talented people, to improve the driving experience for themselves and the rest of us too! Great improvements have come from this unique chapter in US automotive history; I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

Learn more about this author, J P Burton.
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