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This database was originally started back in 1993. I had been loaned a
computer by a man who wanted me to write a business plan for a computer
school that he wanted to start for under privileged kids in Cedar Rapids,
IA. The computer was a 386 IBM compatible Packard Bell. The bundled
software included a subscription offer for Prodigy internet software.
I signed up and started downloading articles about
NASCAR®.
Of course at that time, June of 1993, the sports media was comparing this
phenom driver named Jeff Gordon to Richard Petty. I started to
research the "facts" of Richard Petty's statistics and couldn't find much
about the historical records of
NASCAR®.
I started compiling a spreadsheet of race results.
Soon, the spreadsheet became unmanageable. I was downloading as many
files off of the internet that were available (circa 1994, 1995) and when
the official
NASCAR® site was launched, I embarked to create a database to eventually
strike a deal with the sanctioning body to undertake this task.
I started the first actual 'database'
on April 7, 1997. Originally, I started developing it in Access 2.0.
It has been a work in progress every since.
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