NASCAR National Commissioner
Encyclopedia
The NASCAR National Commissioner is a largely honorary title awarded by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Created by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. as a reward for contributions to the sport of auto racing, the commissioner today acts as the final appeals level for penalties and sanctions dispensed by the auto racing sanctioning body.
design czar - and personal friend of "Big Bill" France - Harley Earl
, with Earl being followed by Dixiecrat
Mendel Rivers.
The position has, over the years, evolved into the final court of appeal for those protesting penalties and sanctions administered by NASCAR to its competitors. Following appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission, a 32-member body, an appellant can appeal directly to the Commissioner instead of accepting the Commission's verdict. During the eight years prior to 2010, 102 appeal hearings were held by the Commission; of those, only eight were overturned by the Commission, while a ninth penalty was overturned on appeal to the Commissioner. A total of twelve appeals were heard by the Commissioner between 1999 and 2009.
The current NASCAR National Commissioner is John Middlebrook, who assumed the post upon the retirement of Charles Strang before the start of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
season. NASCAR's records on the commissioner position are surprisingly sketchy; upon Strang's retirement, the sanctioning body was uncertain as to the exact amount of time he had held the post of Commissioner.
History
Established by Bill France, Sr., the position of National Honorary Commissioner of Racing was intended to be a powerless, honorary title in recognition of lifetime contributions to the sport of stock car racing. The title was originally awarded by France to Erwin Baker, known as "Cannonball"; following his tenure in the position, he was replaced by General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
design czar - and personal friend of "Big Bill" France - Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Harley J. Earl was first Vice President of Design at General Motors. He was an industrial designer and a pioneer of modern transportation design. A coachbuilder by trade, Earl pioneered the use of freeform sketching and hand sculpted clay models as design techniques...
, with Earl being followed by Dixiecrat
Dixiecrat
The States' Rights Democratic Party was a short-lived segregationist political party in the United States in 1948...
Mendel Rivers.
The position has, over the years, evolved into the final court of appeal for those protesting penalties and sanctions administered by NASCAR to its competitors. Following appeal to the National Stock Car Racing Commission, a 32-member body, an appellant can appeal directly to the Commissioner instead of accepting the Commission's verdict. During the eight years prior to 2010, 102 appeal hearings were held by the Commission; of those, only eight were overturned by the Commission, while a ninth penalty was overturned on appeal to the Commissioner. A total of twelve appeals were heard by the Commissioner between 1999 and 2009.
The current NASCAR National Commissioner is John Middlebrook, who assumed the post upon the retirement of Charles Strang before the start of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season was the 62nd season of professional stock car racing in the United States. Beginning at Daytona International Speedway, the season included 36 races and two exhibition races. The season concluded with the 2010 Ford 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway...
season. NASCAR's records on the commissioner position are surprisingly sketchy; upon Strang's retirement, the sanctioning body was uncertain as to the exact amount of time he had held the post of Commissioner.
List of commissioners
| Name | Photo | Year appointed | Year departed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin "Cannonball" Baker | |||
| Harley Earl Harley Earl Harley J. Earl was first Vice President of Design at General Motors. He was an industrial designer and a pioneer of modern transportation design. A coachbuilder by trade, Earl pioneered the use of freeform sketching and hand sculpted clay models as design techniques... |
|||
| L. Mendel Rivers L. Mendel Rivers Lucius Mendel Rivers was a Democratic U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the Charleston based 1st congressional district for nearly thirty years... |
 |
||
| Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen | 1998 | ||
| Charles Strang | 1999 | 2009 | |
| John Middlebrook | 2010 |