In this lesson, students will learn about NASCAR’s origins in the Prohibition era, exploring how the ban on the production and sale of alcohol led producers of illegal alcohol (“moonshiners”) to employ drivers with fast cars (“bootleggers”) to distribute their product. When Prohibition ended, many of those drivers began racing one another, often as cheering observers looked on, leading to the earliest NASCAR races. After gaining a foundational understanding of NASCAR’s history, students will independently explore primary sources and current events articles to learn more about NASCAR’s past and present, including learning about women and African Americans who have driven/are driving for NASCAR, and their “Drive for Diversity” initiative.