I spend a lot of time at tracks, on forums, and in other places talking to race fans. And one topic keeps coming up over and over.

A "stock car" is suppose to be stock.

It's time for a short history lesson. Very short, I promise.

The sport started out as modified cars, now called "modifieds". No, it didn't start n the South, and Bill France didn't invent it. No matter what some PR people feed us. There are tracks in Ohio much older than NASCAR...

Bill saw the post war auto boom, and decided to start a new class for "late model strictly stock cars". That's where the term "Late Model" comes from. Newer cars with all the body panels and features, he thought that would draw a lot more fans, and get the manufacturers involved. He was right.

He found out at the first race, YOU CAN'T RACE A STRICTLY STOCK CAR. For one thing, they're too unsafe. For another, they're not built for that punishment. So safety modifications were allowed. Performance modifications were allowed, as long as the common person could buy them at the dealer.

At some point they found it cheaper, safer, and easier to build the car from the ground up, and the cars performed better. And since then we have purpose built cars, using better materials, with the same basic design as the stock automobile.

So here we are today, with the fast exciting "stock" cars.

Some fans wish the cars really were stock. And you can see that every week at your local track. Cars off the street, with minimal modifications for safety. They put on their own style of racing, they're entertaining. But for most fans, the most popular cars are the sleek low loud throaty purpose built cars that fly around the track at ungodly speeds. And that more than anything else, is why the cars are not "stock".

So the "stock car" isn't what it says. That's just part of racing. Here are some more terms to help you understand that a type of race car usually has very little in common with it's name:

"Indy cars" don't just run at Indy. In fact for several years they didn't run there at all.

"Dragsters" don't drag anything. They wouldn't be allowed on the track if they did.

"Pro Stock" is only pro for some, and it's far from stock.

There's nothing funny about a "Funny Car". They are very serious hot rods!!!

"Modifieds" aren't modified anything. They're purpose built race cars. Same with "Late Model".

"Econo Stocks" are not cheap.

"Touring cars" don't tour. They keep going to the same points on the track over and over again.

"Prototypes" are not cars built to show off a future design.

You won't find Mario Andretti or David Pearson in your local "Legends Car" race.

"Pro Stock Bike". OK, any motorcycle that stands up without a kick stand, is NOT stock.

"Midget" drivers are not short people with short arms and legs.

So when you hear a racing fan complain that a stock car isn't stock, just nod and agree. We know better...

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