'Stock car' racing has been around for a long time, but not until the 1990's did NASCAR experience the explosive growth that made it one of the most popular spectator sports in the United States. Once limited to the southeastern part of the country, the NASCAR season now runs from February through November and travels from coast to coast. While many of us might not understand the attraction of watching cars travel a (usually) oval path hundreds of times, millions of fans can't all be wrong.