In 1938, American auto racing under the AAA Contest Board was defined by an unusually brief National Championship. Only two races awarded championship points—the Indianapolis 500 and the Syracuse Mile—making it one of the most Indianapolis-centered seasons in AAA history. Floyd Roberts secured the national title largely through his victory at Indianapolis, which carried overwhelming points importance. While the official championship was limited, AAA-sanctioned racing remained active nationwide through numerous non-championship “big car” events, and midget racing continued to grow rapidly in popularity as a cornerstone of American motorsport.
In Europe, auto racing remained strong in 1938, as World War II had not yet begun. The season represented the final uninterrupted year of pre-war Grand Prix racing, dominated by the factory teams of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, whose advanced machines far outpaced their rivals. Rudolf Caracciola won the European Championship for Mercedes-Benz, while drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari remained key figures. Despite the high level of competition, the political climate cast a growing shadow over the sport, with 1938 ultimately marking the peak and impending end of the pre-war European racing era.
