This article initially appeared in a print issue of the Monitor released Oct. 31, 2025.

For as long as cars have existed, there have been people trying to race them. The history of motorsports is long and storied on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Indianapolis 500 defining the very early days of American racing while Le Mans defined European racing. However, the best-known forms of motorsport on each side of the ocean only began in the post-war years. Formula One (F1) began with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) releasing an official rulebook (or “formula”) for competition in 1946, with the first proper F1 championship taking place in 1950.

No such easy development happened for NASCAR. Where the leading European racing series was built from a history of sports car racing events, the leading American series has its roots in criminal enterprise, smuggling and prohibition. What’s more, NASCAR celebrates this legacy, with a display case at their Hall of Fame containing a whiskey still built by NASCAR legend Junior Johnson. This is the story of how a Constitutional amendment, a few well-designed cars, and some small-town Southerners with a chip on their shoulder produced America’s most popular form of auto racing.

Prohibition

In 1919, the United States passed the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of” alcoholic beverages. The American temperance movement believed that a ban on the sale of alcohol would improve social relations and public health, and decades of pressure from temperance organizations such as the Anti-Saloon League finally pressured the government into passing the amendment. 

With the 18th Amendment coming into effect at the very start of the Roaring Twenties, people across the US immediately started to find ways around the amendment, which proved highly unpopular. The demand for illegal alcohol produced a massively profitable black market. In the North, gangsters like Al Capone grew rich on alcohol smuggling, but the South proved a difficult market for large-scale organized crime to conquer. Instead, the South would find its own source of illicit alcohol in the form of the Moonshiners, and their exploits would become the stuff of legend across an entire region.

Moonshiners and their cars

With alcohol rendered illegal and serious federal effort put towards enforcement, small-time alcohol producers moved their businesses underground, producing whiskey and other spirits at small distillation facilities (or “stills”) under the cover of darkness. This illicit booze, or “moonshine,” would need to be distributed across the county or the state, and for that job the distillers enlisted the help of bootleggers. Often local country boys with plenty of mechanical experience, bootleggers would drive cars full of alcohol from the secret stills down to the towns where it could be quietly sold.

Arguably the most famous bootlegger turned racing star was Robert Glen “Junior” Johnson, who won 50 races as a driver and 132 races as a team owner. Back in 2005, he and his moonshining partner Willie Clay Call were interviewed by Hot Rod magazine, where they described their extensive collection of cars modified for bootlegging exploits. Among this collection were twenty 1940 V8 Ford Coupes, cars that were the backbone of both the late moonshine era and the early days of American stock car racing. Among the most capable small-frame cars of their era, they were sturdy, easy to modify, and most importantly, cheap. 

Since bootleggers could easily collect pre-war cars, they could devote their time and resources to upgrading their fleets. The Ford coupe’s V8 engine had plenty of kick, but Johnson and other bootleggers would swap in the most powerful motors they could find, often taken from ambulances. The cars would have their extra seats removed, their floorboards lowered, and their suspensions reinforced, all to carry as much moonshine as possible. With every facet of their cars tuned for performance, and drivers who knew every turn of the country roads and every inch of their car’s abilities, the leading bootleggers made a mockery of the police. Many of them, including Junior Johnson, would view it as a badge of honor that they were never once caught while driving.

Organization and Legalization

National prohibition ended in 1933 with the 21^st Amendment, and those states that had their own prohibition laws gradually repealed and restricted them over the coming years. While whiskey-running remained a viable enterprise, especially as it evaded taxes, most moonshiners moved on from the business, and those that did found themselves with a pile of heavily modified and incredibly fast cars and not much to do with them. With no police cars to race against, many of them turned to the next best thing: racing each other.

Moonshiners had already been racing against one another since their inception, but after Prohibition, and especially after World War II, those races went from quiet back-alley affairs to public shows. The abundance of pre-modded cars already tuned for speed meant that racing was cheap and easy entertainment, and communities such as Wilkes County in North Carolina, the home of Junior Johnson, knew about and took pride in the exploits of their local moonshiners. Soon enough, they found themselves racing not for survival or liquor but for profit and bragging rights.

With auto racing booming, an engineer named Bill France seized on the opportunity to not only standardize these races but turn the sport into an empire. France, who ran the Daytona Beach circuit that hosted many of the early stock car races in the post-war era, would hold several meetings with other racing promoters, venue owners, and racers. The result of these meetings would be the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. Under the unified NASCAR banner, tracks and rules underwent standardization, and the scattered races attended by local bootleggers transformed into a legitimate sport.

Even after Bill France created NASCAR and defined the rules of stock car racing, the rebellious instincts that led the bootleggers to break the law in the first place led them to find every possible exploit in the rulebook. Junior Johnson once again led the charge on this front, with his most famous rule-breaker being the infamous “Banana Car”. NASCAR gave Johnson permission to effectively bring whatever car he wanted to help get Ford to return to NASCAR, and Johnson took full advantage, effectively custom-crafting a car from the ground up. The Banana Car would go on to lead for much of its only race before a mechanical failure ended its day, but Junior Johnson’s point was proven.

That same rule-breaking spirit has lived on into modern day NASCAR. Crew chiefs still work tirelessly to find minor rules that they can bend to their advantage, while NASCAR’s inspection process desperately tries to keep a crowd of unruly vagabonds in line. At its core, NASCAR remains a sport of bootleggers pushing their cars to the limit, and the sport’s willingness to celebrate its legally shadowed past is part of what makes it so fascinating.

Team Penske – Ford

The cars: Austin Cindric No. 2, Ryan Blaney No. 12, Joey Logano No. 22

The story: Penske is a team at the top of their game, with Logano winning the 2022 championship and Blaney winning the 2023 championship. Blaney has continued his form into 2024, while Logano has had a terrible start but is typically strong in the summer stretch. Cindric, meanwhile, looks to rebound in his third full-time season after a sophomore slump last year. Can the Penske crew make it three titles in a row?

The predictions: Blaney and Logano will both be title contenders as usual despite Logano’s slow start. Cindric will probably still be behind his teammates, but I expect him to improve over last year in nearly every metric and possibly get his second career win.

Wood Brothers Racing – Ford

The cars: Harrison Burton No. 21

The story: Wood Brothers is a team with a long history, having run the No. 21 car with the same paint scheme since the 1960s. Historical success does not translate to consistent results, however, and the No. 21 car has been quite slow with Burton behind the wheel. Even a close technical alliance with Penske hasn’t done much to help their speed.

The predictions: WBR has been terrible since Burton took over driving duties in 2022, and I don’t expect them to do much better in 2024. Burton needs to have a good year or else his time in the Cup Series might be over.

RFK Racing – Ford

The cars: Brad Keselowski No. 6, Chris Buescher No. 17

The story: After Buesher won three races in 2023 and both RFK cars finished top 8 in points, expectations for this team are high going into 2024. After a decade-long slump that saw the team downsize from five cars to two and lose multiple championship-tier drivers, RFK’s future is finally looking bright with a solid start to 2024.

The predictions: Keselowski is the last remaining competitive owner-driver, and I expect him to break his two-year winless drought this season. Buescher’s three wins should give him the confidence to continue his streak. A championship push may well be realistic for both RFK cars.

Stewart-Haas Racing – Ford

The cars: Josh Berry No. 4, Noah Gragson No. 10, Chase Briscoe No. 14, Ryan Preece No. 41

The story: Once a championship-tier organization, SHR is shedding relevance with each passing year. 2014 champion Kevin Harvick and longtime veteran Aric Almirola retired after 2023 with their roles filled by rookie Berry and second-year driver Gragson. Last year, Harvick dragged his team to relevance, but he’s not here to repeat those glories in 2024.

The predictions: With Harvick’s retirement, SHR lost its best driver by far. I would be shocked if any of their four cars were in the top 20 in points since Briscoe and the talented rookie Berry are their only realistic chances at relevance.

Front Row Motorsports – Ford

The cars: Michael McDowell No. 34, Todd Gilliland No. 38

The story: McDowell has been the underdog story of the 2020s, winning races in both 2021 and 2023  and bringing long-time backmarkers FRM to relevance. The No. 34 has made the most out of FRM’s resources and become a fan favorite through consistency and persistence which have brought the rewards of increased funding and support from Ford going into 2024.

The predictions: FRM’s increased manufacturer support has already paid dividends with McDowell and Gilliland showing lots of speed early in 2024. Front Row won’t make a championship run yet, but I would expect McDowell to compete for a win or two.

Rick Ware Racing – Ford

The cars: (Multiple Drivers) No. 15, Justin Haley No. 51

The story: Rick Ware has always been a backmarker team with quite slow cars, but they’ve been improving over the past few seasons. Adding Haley, a proven competitor capable of getting good runs out of weak cars, is a significant upgrade for this team, and we’ve seen RWR show more speed than usual early in 2024.

The predictions: RWR isn’t great, and they won’t be winning races anytime soon. What RWR is looking for is consistency and improvement, which I believe Haley can bring in the No. 51 while the No. 15 hosts a few drivers looking for a full-time ride.

Hendrick Motorsports – Chevy

The cars: Kyle Larson No. 5, Chase Elliott No. 9, William Byron No. 24, Alex Bowman No. 48

The story: This team oozes talent. Byron is coming off a breakout six-win year, Bowman is a dependable performer and 2020 champ Elliott is looking for revenge after a winless 2023. Add Larson, the 2021 champ and arguably the best race car driver in the world, and you have a terrifying juggernaut. They’ve already won three of the first six races: Byron won at Daytona and Circuit of the Americas, while Larson took Las Vegas.

The predictions: Hendrick is consistently the championship favorite. I expect Elliott and Bowman to have fantastic comeback seasons, Byron to keep winning races and Larson to at least be a championship contender right at the end.

Trackhouse Racing – Chevy

The cars: Ross Chastain No. 1, Daniel Suárez No. 99

The story: The young Trackhouse team is already a top-tier organization going into their fourth year of competition. Chastain is a championship threat with a flair for aggressive driving, Suárez got his second career win at the start of the year and the team co-owned by Pitbull (yes, that Pitbull) remains the most interesting team in the sport.

The predictions: Trackhouse has six wins over the past two seasons, and I think they’ll come back strong this year with both full time cars getting a win and Chastain making another deep championship run.

Richard Childress Racing – Chevy

The cars: Austin Dillon No. 3, Kyle Busch No. 8

The story: Adding two-time champion Busch for the 2023 season was a great decision as he brought the team legitimacy and three wins to boot. Dillon, on the other hand, had his worst statistical year since 2019 and his worst points finish ever. RCR has promise, but if they want to shake the “Richer Children’s Racing” moniker, they’re going to need to prove that both cars are legitimate contenders.

The predictions: In his second season at RCR, Busch will be searching for consistency to match his speed, which I think he’ll find despite a rough start. Dillon will likely rebound, but I still anticipate him to be a non-factor for wins or the championship.

Spire Motorsports – Chevy

The cars: Corey Lajoie No. 7, Zane Smith No. 71, Carson Hocevar No. 77

The story: A long-time backmarker, Spire has quietly been improving in recent years. Lajoie has established himself as a dependable and competent driver, and he’s paired with two talented rookies in Hocevar and Smith for 2024. If the team is going to make a big stride forward, this year would be a great time to see Spire move up the charts.

The predictions: Spire won’t be a title contender, but Lajoie is quite talented and will get a few good finishes. Hocevar and Smith will have some learning to do, but once they settle in, this team has potential to shake up the midfield.

Kaulig Racing – Chevy

The cars: (Multiple Drivers) No. 16, Daniel Hemric No. 31

The story: Kaulig brings a brand new driver lineup with Justin Haley moving on from the No. 31 and A.J. Allmendinger moving back to the lower-tier series from the No. 16. Hemric, a consistent performer in the lower series, takes over the No. 31 full-time, while the No. 16 has a rotating cast of part-time drivers. This will be an adjustment year; can Kaulig set up for the future?

The predictions: Kaulig has struggled through its first few seasons, and losing two talented, full-time drivers in Haley and Allmendinger is a tough blow. One Kaulig car in the top 20 in points would be a good season for this team.

JTG Daugherty Racing – Chevy

The cars: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 47

The story: JTG Daugherty isn’t a flashy team, but in recent seasons Stenhouse has been a consistent and reliable driver, bringing this small team good results and the occasional win. They don’t have the speed or the resources of the big-name teams, but the JTG Daughtery crew has steadily found ways to finish races well and get themselves unexpected results.

The predictions: The No. 47 car won’t be in contention for a championship, but Stenhouse has shown good form recently, including a win in 2023. Don’t be surprised when this team randomly appears in the top ten or even top five several times this year.

Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota

The cars: Denny Hamlin No. 11, Martin Truex Jr. No. 19, Christopher Bell No. 20, Ty Gibbs No. 54

The story: Coach Gibbs has built an empire headlined by 2017 champ Truex and 3-time Daytona 500 winner Hamlin. The up-and-coming Bell and Ty Gibbs (grandson of Joe) give them staying power. Despite losing two-time champ Kyle Busch after 2022, JGR has not missed a beat, racking up wins and remaining a title threat. With Bell and Hamlin winning early this year at Phoenix and Bristol, respectively, JGR is setting up for another great season.

The predictions: Truex, Hamlin and Bell have all been title contenders in the past few years, and I expect that to continue. Gibbs showed great promise in his rookie year and his 2024 is off to a fast start. He has a great chance to get his first Cup win later this year.

23XI Racing – Toyota

The cars: Bubba Wallace No. 23, Tyler Reddick No. 45

The story: This team, co-owned by JGR driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, is coming off its best season yet with Reddick winning twice and both cars finishing top 10 in points. The future appears bright for the organization with two young talents behind the wheel and an ownership group invested in the team’s long-term growth.

The predictions: 23XI has steadily improved with each passing year, and I expect this trend to continue. Reddick will continue to contend for wins and might be a dark horse for the title, while Wallace has a great shot at his third career win.

Legacy Motor Club – Toyota

The cars: John Hunter Nemechek No. 42, Erik Jones No. 43

The story: LMC switched from Chevy to Toyota for the 2024 season after a disappointing 2023. Jones managed to have a few strong runs towards the end of last year. Nemechek joined LMC after two fantastic seasons in the lower series. After a terrible 2023, can LMC rebound into competitive form with a new manufacturer?

The predictions: This team is hard to predict. Despite finishing 27th and 32nd in points last year, there’s a surprising optimism about this team. I don’t expect title contention, but a win for one or even both LMC cars wouldn’t shock me.

Every weekend from now until November, these 36 cars will be in action with their drivers and teams traveling across the nation to compete at all manner of tracks. It is these tracks that we will turn to next, from the high banks of Daytona to the winding esses of Sonoma. I hope to see you there!