The NASCAR Grand-Touring or Grand-American division, your preference on the name, was created by Bill France at the start of the 1968 racing season in response to the popularity of similar racing leagues like the SCCA's Trans-Am and USAC's Stock Cars. The new series of NASCAR was open to stock-looking 'pony cars'. A majority of drivers raced the new Chevrolet Camaro, against the initial car of the late 60's 'pony car movement', the Ford Mustang. Also joined in the series was the AMC Javelin, Mercury Cougar and the Pontiac Trans-Am. Every now and then, a Mopar guy would bring in a Plymouth Barracuda or a Dodge Challenger. Trying to compete for fans of SCCA, foreign cars were used, but only for the inaugural season of 68'. Like many of NASCAR's series before Winston, some records are lost from this series. 19 races were held in 1968, mostly on short tracks. Veteran short track and Grand National racer, Tiny Lund recorded the first championship for the touring group that year. The next season, NASCAR took the G-A cars to 35 events, even combining one race with the Grand National drivers - the only other touring series that used NASCAR's name.

It was on a hot July weekend when founder Bill France had opened his second super-speedway in 10 years. This time, a 2.5 mile D-Shaped track in Alabama. Richard Petty, who was then president of the driver's union told France shortly before most of the drivers were scheduled to race, that at least 15 drivers had decided not to run because of dangerous speeds and tires that would not withstand a good number of laps. With a frantic decision on what to do, Bill France decided to merge the lessening field of the Grand National cars with the pony cars offered by the Grand American series. While most was still not sure of France's decision, a decent amount of cars could be entered for France's big opening race. The only problem was that the Grand American cars were way under-powered. The G-A cars had a limit of 305 C.I, while the Grand National cars were putting out high horsepower, courtesy of their big block engines under the hood.

Pete Hamilton, who just the year before was named 'Grand National Rookie of the Year', competed in 26 out of the 35 events held in 69, he won 12 of them, but lost the championship title that year to Ken Rush, the 1957 Grand National Rookie of the Year.

1970 brought another full season of racing with Tiny Lund scoring his second title in just three years. However, in 1971, right as Winston came on board with NASCAR, much of the Grand American races were moved, cancelled or merged into a Grand National Race.

One memorable race in particular happened right here in Georgia. In May of 1971, the pony cars traveled to the newly opened Road Atlanta, where they raced in segments, much like a dirt track race. The road race was split into two segments of 50-laps each. The results from each half was combined to give one final total with Tiny Lund taking the victories and veteran road racers from nearby, Gene Felton.

Another talked about race that season involved Bobby Allison and his 'Coca-Cola' sponsored Mustang. The race occurred on August 6, 1971. It was a 250 lap race at the historic 1/4 mile Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This race was considered a joint race - meaning that both Grand National AND Grand American cars could compete. After 250 laps, Allison crossed the line first in his #49 1970 Mustang, owned by former president of Dover Downs, Melvin Joseph. The way the old system worked in the joint races was that, if you won a joint race in a Grand American type, 'Pony Car', then you earned points in that series. The same applies for if you won that race in a Grand National car, then you received points in the Grand National Series. Since Bobby was driving a Mustang that weekend, that win was counted under his Grand American win list. Years later, he would tie in Winston Cup wins with Darrell Waltrip, each with 84 wins. If the Bowman Gray race was counted, Allison would have one more win that Waltrip would.

Tiny Lund would capture what would be the last full Grand American season in 1971. With Winston coming into the picture in mid 71', they would move the Grand American races to different races other than Winston Cup tracks. With 15 races, all but two were won by Winston Cup racers. Neil 'Soapy' Castles would win the title with Tiny Lund returning as the 1973 champion.

Information has just came about of how even into the late 70's and as late as 1980, there was some races titled as 'Grand American' races, even though there was no sanctioned series. By looking at the results and pictures from the time, it appears that Grand American type cars were mixed with what was known as the Late Model Sportsman cars.

For it's time, the NASCAR Grand American cars were favorites for the local competitors that couldn't afford to race in the big leagues, but could still race with the NASCAR name. The cars were easy to find and cheap (back when), had an engine restriction that involved a common engine, and traveled to local tracks such as Lakewood, Jefco, Middle Georgia, Columbia, Hickory, Bowman Gray, and others along with a big season opener at Daytona, known as the Permatex 250.

In a way, you can see a trace of the old series in the Nationwide races now with the Mustangs and Camaros leading the field and up until last year, the Dodge Challenger's also competed. Although it's nothing like it was 40 years ago, it's still a hint of what was around back when.