The Prohibition and NASCAR

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The Anti-saloon league museum is a standing testament of a period long gone. Located within the Westerville Ohio library, it houses important artifacts and memorabilia from the Prohibition era. At the height of its popularity, the league was a national organization which boasted branches across the United States.4. Along with various Christian organizations, the league was able to marshal resources that enabled it to bring the prohibition fight to congress and the senate. Tours and group presentations expose curious visitors to the inner workings of the league. Video footage taken from the height of the organizations power allows onlookers to explore the conditions that led to the ban on alcohol being enforced to such a magnitude. Newspaper clippings detailing speakeasy shutdowns and police confrontations with moonshine runners are hung along the walls of the museum.

Both Prohibition and NASCAR came about as a means to solve certain issues affecting society. Prohibition was the result of the tireless effort of the temperance movement continuously advocating against the use of alcohol and other intoxicating substances in American society. The stock car came along as a reactionary measure to counteract the ban on alcohol and liquor. At its inception, stock car racing’s intended audience included individuals who were connected to the underworld, as these are the groups that would be present when competitions took place. With its advent rise in popularity and the legalization of the sport, NASCAR presently holds the enviable title of being the most watched spectator sport in the United States.5 ______________________________________________________________________________

4. Fielden, Greg (2005). "The First Beach Race". In Editors o...

... middle of paper ...

... cited

Aaron, Paul and Musto, David, Temperance and Prohibition in America: A Historical Overview. In: Moore, Mark H., and Gerstain, Dean R. (eds) Alcohol and Public Policy: Beyond the Shadow of Prohibition. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1981. Pp 127-181.

Anti-Saloon League. Westerville Public Library. Accessed September 4th, 2011,

http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us/AntiSaloon/

DiCicco, Christopher (November 3, 2007). “NASCAR’s Organizational Structure By.”.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-nascar.html

Fielden, Greg (2005). "The First Beach Race". In Editors of Consumer Guide. NASCAR: A Fast History. Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International Ltd

“History of NASCAR”. Famento, Inc. February 20, 2009

Lyttle, Steve; Marusak, Joe (2010-05-12). “Charlotte celebrates NASCAR Hall of Fame’s opening day”. The Charlotte Observer.

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