The first NASCAR-sanctioned race was held on February 15, 1948, at the Daytona Beach–Road Course, a demanding 4.15-mile circuit that combined hard-packed sand with public highway. The event, known as the Rayson Memorial, was part of NASCAR’s inaugural Modified Division season and is widely recognized as the organization’s first official championship race. The race was scheduled for 68 laps, covering approximately 150 miles, and featured a large field with about 50 cars taking the start. Red Byron claimed victory driving a Ford prepared by Raymond Parks, becoming NASCAR’s first official race winner. Marshall Teague finished second, while Raymond Parks, with relief driving from Bob Flock, was credited with third place. The race attracted an estimated 14,000 spectators, underscoring the strong early appeal of organized stock-car racing.
This event predates the Strictly Stock Division, which debuted in 1949 and later evolved into the Grand National Series and today’s NASCAR Cup Series. While the 1948 Daytona race was run under Modified rules, it laid the competitive and organizational groundwork for NASCAR’s premier division and established Daytona Beach as a cornerstone of the sport’s history.
