Motorsports and American Culture : From Demolition Derbies to NASCAR

Soon after the first automobiles were introduced in the United States, auto racing became a reality. Since that time, motorsports have expanded to include drag racing, open wheel racing, rallying, demolition derbies, stock car racing, and more. Motorsports have grown to such an extent that NASCAR is now the second most watched professional sport in America, behind only football. But motorsports are about much more than going fast and finishing first. These events also reflect our culture, our society, our values, and our history. In Motorsports and American Culture: From Demolition Derbies to NASCAR , Mark D. Howell and John D. Miller bring together essays that examine the relevancy of motorsports to American culture and history, from the late nineteenth century to the present. Addressing a wide spectrum of motorsports—such as stock car racing, demolition derbies, land speed record pursuits, and even staged train wrecks—the essays highlight the social and cultural implications of contemporary and historical moments in these sports. Topics covered include gender roles in motorsports, hot rods and the creation of fan and participant identities, the appeal of demolition derbies, the globalization of motorsports, the role of moonshine in stock car history, the economic relationship between NASCAR and its corporate sponsors, and more. Offering the most thorough study of motorsports to date from a diverse pool of disciplines and subjects, Motorsports and American Culture will appeal to motorsports and automobile enthusiasts, as well as those interested in American history, popular culture, sports history, and gender studies. Contents 6 Introduction 8 Part I: Speed and Spectators: What Motorsports Means to Fans 24 1 The NASCAR Paradox 26 2 Automobile Racing and the American Hot Rod 48 3 Speed and Destruction at the Fair 62 Part II: The Track and Beyond: Motorsports and Community Identity 76 4 Creative Destruction: The Demolition Derby 78 5 “What Is Your Racket, Brother?”: Bootleggers, Respectable Atlanta, Bill France, and the Birth of NASCAR 96 6 “Running with the Big Dogs”: The Rhetoric of Fan Identity in a Postmodern NASCAR 110 Part III: Fenders and Genders: Motorsports, Femininity, and Masculinity 126 7 Just a Good Ol’ Gal: Pioneer Racer Louise Smith 128 8 “Anything but a Novelty”: Women, Girls, and Friday Night Drag Racing 148 9 “Way Tight” or “Wicked Loose”?: Reading NASCAR’s Masculinities 162 Part IV: Stars of the Road: Spectacular Drivers and Spectacular Feats 176 10 The Spectacle of NASCAR: Rationalized and Enchanted by Sponsors 178 11 Barney Oldfield: Daredevil Demon of Speed and the First Multimedia Superstar 196 12 The Fastest Cars in the World 210 Bibliography 230 Index 234 About the Editors and Contributors 246 Summary:This collection of essays examines the relevancy of motorsports to American culture and history, from the late nineteenth century to the present. Addressing a wide spectrum of motorsports-such as stock car racing, demolition derbies, land speed record pursuits, and even staged train wrecks-the essays highlight the social and cultural implications of contemporary and historical moments in these events. Topics covered include gender roles in motorsports, hot rods and the creation of fan and participant identities, the appeal of demolition derbies, the globalization of motorsports, moonshine's role in stock car history, the economic relationship between NASCAR and its corporate sponsors, and more-WorldCat