Fast and furious: the rise in NASCAR's popularity

Despite state-of-the-art safety features, F1 is still a relatively dangerous sport. To date, the competition has claimed the lives of 52 drivers including, infamously, the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna within a day of each other in 1994. French driver Jules Bianchi is the most recent driver to have been fatally injured during a World Championship Grand Prix, succumbing in 2015 to injuries sustained in a 2014 crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

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NASCAR Cup Series -

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was founded in 1948. The NASCAR Cup Series— the highest level of professional competition—has evolved into one of the most popular sports in the world.

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NASCAR Cup Series -

Since 2001, the Cup Series season has consisted of 36 races over 10 months.

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NASCAR Cup Series -

From its inception, the premier series of NASCAR has seen 28 driver fatalities, the most recent of which occurred in February 2001 when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed during the Daytona 500.

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Daytona 500 -

The Daytona 500 is the most iconic of the NASCAR Cup Series races. It's held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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Daytona 500 -

The Daytona 500 has opened the NASCAR season every February since 1982, and is run over a grueling 500 mi (over 800 km).

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

The world's most famous sports car endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is also the world's oldest active endurance racing event, first run in 1923.

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

The ultimate test of man and machine, Le Mans is all about driving a car the furthest distance in a 24-hour time period.

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

To date, 22 driver fatalities have been recorded at Le Mans. The single worst crash occurred on June 11, 1955, when 82 people died after French driver Pierre Levegh's car span out of control and catapulted into the crowd. Levegh was among the victims.

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IndyCar Series -

The IndyCar Series, popularly known as Indy Car Racing, is the top level of American Championship Car racing. Its premier event is the Indianapolis 500, or simply the Indy 500.

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Indianapolis 500 -

The Indy 500 has been taking place since 1911, staged annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, just outside Indianapolis, Indiana. Held on the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Indy 500 is one of the best-attended single-day sporting events in the world, attracting several hundred thousand sports car fans.

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Indianapolis 500 -

The event has claimed the lives of 58 drivers so far, either in the race itself, qualifying, or practice.

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12 Hours of Sebring -

Named for the Sebring International Raceway in Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars.

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12 Hours of Sebring -

The inaugural race took place in 1950 as a six-hour competition. The following year it adopted its current 12-hour format and was quickly dubbed the "once around the clock" race.

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12 Hours of Sebring -

Sebring's darkest hour was the ill-fated 15th edition of the race, a second round of the 1966 World Sportscar Championship. On that day, March 26, five people lost their lives—four spectators and Canadian driver Bob McLean—in two separate incidents.

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Dakar Rally -

Formally known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, this is one of the toughest and most dangerous off-road endurance events in the world.

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Dakar Rally -

Originally staged through France and Senegal, the annual Dakar Rally has since taken place in South America and Saudi Arabia. Motorcycles, quads, cars, UTVs, and trucks are the five competitive vehicle classes.

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Dakar Rally -

The Dakar Rally has a reputation for being one of the most grueling and driver-unfriendly motorsport events ever conceived. To date, some 31 competitors have died attempting to complete the distance. But the rally has also claimed the lives of numerous others, including support crews, spectators, and news journalists.

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Rally Finland -

Considered the fastest competition of the World Rally Championship, Rally Finland is celebrated for its numerous blind crests and awesome jumps.

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Rally Finland -

The rally takes place mainly on gravel roads that snake through towns, villages, and seemingly endless forest. The event is deserving of its sobriquet as the "Grand Prix of rallying."

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Rally Finland -

During the 1980s, fatalities not only among drivers and co-drivers but also spectators and marshals were commonplace. Race safety today is far more stringent, resulting in a dramatic fall in fatalities.

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

One of the most anticipated competitions on the rally sport calendar, the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo is the oldest of its kind, having first been run in 1911.

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

Conceived as a way of promoting Monte Carlo as a tourist destination, the rally takes place along the French Riviera in Monaco and southeast France.

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

Ironically, Swedish driver Lars-Erik Torph and his co-driver Bertil-Rune Rehnfeldt both died after being struck by a competing vehicle while attending the 1989 edition. In 1990, French co-driver Francis Malaussene lost his life in a crash.

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MotoGP -

Two-wheel motorsport's premier competition is MotoGP—Grand Prix motorcycling racing. The inaugural season dates back to 1949.

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MotoGP -

The Grand Prix is actually the oldest established motorsport world championship. And as with F1, MotoGP competitions are held across the globe.

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MotoGP -

Sadly, MotoGP has a long and inglorious history of crashes, driver injuries, and unfortunate deaths. To date, 107 riders have lost their lives.

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The Isle of Man TT -

They began racing motorcycles on the Isle of Man as early as 1906. Today, the annual event known as the Isle of Man TT is arguably the most famous two-wheel competition in the world.

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The Isle of Man TT -

Currently, nine races featuring different classes of machine take place in a time-trial format on public roads closed to the public. But if the TT is one of the most recognized events of its kind, it's also one of the most dangerous.

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The Isle of Man TT -

Numerous competitors have died racing on the Isle of Man. In fact, to date 265 riders have been killed on the famous Mountain Course at various events since it was first used in 1911. Pictured are motorbike fans reading messages at Fairy Bridge in Douglas, the island's capital. Many believe the superstition that requires riders to visit the spot and leave messages to the fairies who will grant them safe passage on the island.

Sources: (NASCAR) (MotorBiscuit.com) (History) (World Rally Championship) (Škoda Motorsport) (One Stop Racing) (Motorsport.com)

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Formula One -

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Formula One -

F1 is hosted at different race tracks around the world. The Monaco Grand Prix is considered the most prestigious F1 competition, noted for its location and glamorous, celebrity-fueled appeal.

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Formula One -

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NASCAR Cup Series -

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NASCAR Cup Series -

Since 2001, the Cup Series season has consisted of 36 races over 10 months.

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NASCAR Cup Series -

From its inception, the premier series of NASCAR has seen 28 driver fatalities, the most recent of which occurred in February 2001 when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed during the Daytona 500.

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Daytona 500 -

The Daytona 500 is the most iconic of the NASCAR Cup Series races. It's held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

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Daytona 500 -

The Daytona 500 has opened the NASCAR season every February since 1982, and is run over a grueling 500 mi (over 800 km).

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

The world's most famous sports car endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is also the world's oldest active endurance racing event, first run in 1923.

Getty Images

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

The ultimate test of man and machine, Le Mans is all about driving a car the furthest distance in a 24-hour time period.

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24 Hours of Le Mans -

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IndyCar Series -

The IndyCar Series, popularly known as Indy Car Racing, is the top level of American Championship Car racing. Its premier event is the Indianapolis 500, or simply the Indy 500.

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Indianapolis 500 -

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Indianapolis 500 -

The event has claimed the lives of 58 drivers so far, either in the race itself, qualifying, or practice.

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12 Hours of Sebring -

Named for the Sebring International Raceway in Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars.

Getty Images

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12 Hours of Sebring -

The inaugural race took place in 1950 as a six-hour competition. The following year it adopted its current 12-hour format and was quickly dubbed the "once around the clock" race.

Getty Images

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12 Hours of Sebring -

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Dakar Rally -

Formally known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, this is one of the toughest and most dangerous off-road endurance events in the world.

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Dakar Rally -

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Dakar Rally -

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Rally Finland -

Considered the fastest competition of the World Rally Championship, Rally Finland is celebrated for its numerous blind crests and awesome jumps.

Getty Images

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Rally Finland -

The rally takes place mainly on gravel roads that snake through towns, villages, and seemingly endless forest. The event is deserving of its sobriquet as the "Grand Prix of rallying."

Getty Images

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Rally Finland -

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

One of the most anticipated competitions on the rally sport calendar, the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo is the oldest of its kind, having first been run in 1911.

Getty Images

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

Conceived as a way of promoting Monte Carlo as a tourist destination, the rally takes place along the French Riviera in Monaco and southeast France.

Getty Images

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Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo -

Getty Images

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MotoGP -

Two-wheel motorsport's premier competition is MotoGP—Grand Prix motorcycling racing. The inaugural season dates back to 1949.

Getty Images

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MotoGP -

The Grand Prix is actually the oldest established motorsport world championship. And as with F1, MotoGP competitions are held across the globe.

Getty Images

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MotoGP -

Sadly, MotoGP has a long and inglorious history of crashes, driver injuries, and unfortunate deaths. To date, 107 riders have lost their lives.

Getty Images

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The Isle of Man TT -

They began racing motorcycles on the Isle of Man as early as 1906. Today, the annual event known as the Isle of Man TT is arguably the most famous two-wheel competition in the world.

Getty Images

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The Isle of Man TT -

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The Isle of Man TT -

Sources: (NASCAR) (MotorBiscuit.com) (History) (World Rally Championship) (Škoda Motorsport) (One Stop Racing) (Motorsport.com)

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Fast and furious: the rise in NASCAR's popularity

From F1 to NASCAR, what drives motorsport?

15/10/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Daytona 500

The history of motorsport dates back to the late 19th century, to the fledgling days of road racing at Le Mans. By the early 20th century, the first championship races were being run, on two wheels and four. Rallying also evolved. By the late 1940s and early '50s, Formula One and NASCAR events had been established. But as these competitions developed, so too did an inherent risk to life and limb, both on and off the track. Ironically, it took a catalog of tragic accidents to improve the safety features employed today in motorsport.

Click through and take a look at the competitions that drive motorsports, and some of the unfortunate events in its history.