| NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car | | | | Emory Healthcare 500 is held at the Atlanta Motor |
| Auto Racing, was founded in 1948 by Bill France, Sr. in | | | | Speedway. The holiday weekend race typically |
| Daytona Beach, Florida. It is North America's largest | | | | attracts over 100,000 spectators. Many fan favorites |
| motorsports sanctioning body. The Sprint Cup Series is | | | | will be there, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, |
| NASCAR's premier series, with the sport's highest | | | | Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, |
| level of professional competition. The top racing talents | | | | and Kevin Harvick, who leads the current Sprint Cup |
| in the world compete in a 36 race season running from | | | | Series point standings. |
| February to November. NASCAR sponsors two other | | | | A typical Sprint Cup race weekend includes practice, |
| national series, the Nationwide Series and the Camping | | | | qualifying, and other events leading up to the race. |
| World Truck Series. There are also a number of | | | | During practice sessions, drivers evaluate their car's |
| regional and local series races on NASCAR Home | | | | performance and pit crews make any necessary |
| Tracks. | | | | adjustments. Qualifying is usually the Friday before the |
| Sprint Cup races are held all over the country. Some | | | | race, and determines which cars will race and what |
| of the better known venues are Daytona, Talladega, | | | | the starting order will be. Many loyal fans arrive at the |
| Charlotte, Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Atlanta. NASCAR's | | | | racing venue several days before the race. Concerts, |
| schedule offers both afternoon and evening races. | | | | fan festivals, and tailgating are other popular activities |
| The Labor Day Weekend Sprint Cup race is one of | | | | leading up to each race. |
| the most popular of the Sprint Cup season. The annual | | | | |