Historian Daniel Pierce Speaks at Appalachian

Dr. Daniel S. Pierce, author of Real NASCAR: White Lightning, Red Clay, and Big Bill France (UNC Press, 2010), spoke at Appalachian State University on Thursday, October 7. He described his research documenting the real story of the early days of stock car racing and the formation of NASCAR. He found that moonshining played a major role: many of the most talented early drivers were bootleggers, and money made from moonshining was used to build several early racetracks, including North Wilkesboro Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. Bill France Sr. was a race driver and promoter who used a combination of charm and a strong personality to corral these free spirits into organized racing that was birthed as NASCAR in 1947. Following his talk, Pierce answered questions from the audience and signed copies of his book. Pierce, an environmental and southern historian, is chair of the History Department at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Visit his blog at realnascar..com