Bill France Racing, Inc., established in 1953, signed the initial contract to secure land for construction of Daytona International Speedway on Nov. 8, 1957. Thus, Daytona International Speedway Corporation (now International Speedway Corporation) was born.

Today, International Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events nationwide.

ISC currently owns and/or operates 13 of the nation's major motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona International Speedway in Florida (home of the Daytona 500); Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama; Michigan International Speedway located outside Detroit; Richmond International Raceway in Virginia; California Speedway near Los Angeles; Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas; Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona; Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, Illinois; Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida; Martinsville Speedway in Virginia; Darlington Raceway in South Carolina; and Watkins Glen International in New York. In addition, ISC is a limited partner with Group Motorisé International in the organization and promotion of certain events at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.


ISC also owns and operates MRN Radio, the nation's largest independent sports radio network; DAYTONA USA, the "Ultimate Motorsports Attraction" in Daytona Beach, Florida, the official attraction of NASCAR; and subsidiaries which provide catering services, food and beverage concessions, and produce and market motorsports-related merchandise under the trade name "Americrown." In addition, ISC has an indirect 50 percent interest in a business called Motorsports Authentics, which markets and distributes motorsports-related merchandise licensed by certain competitors in NASCAR racing.
 

Included among the events conducted by ISC at its facilities are:

• Stock car and/or truck races sanctioned by NASCAR, Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and International Race of Champions (IROC);
• Open-wheel events by the Indy Racing League (IRL);
• Sports car races by the Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand American), International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and Sports Car Club of America (SCCA);
• Motorcycle events by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA); and
• Go-kart races by the World Karting Association (WKA).
  
  
  The development of a permanent racing facility in Daytona Beach, FL, took shape in 1955, as William H.G. France began negotiations with city officials to construct a state-of-the-art 2.5-mile high-banked speedway. Ground clearing began for the mammoth project on Nov. 25, 1957, and dream became reality when the first Daytona 500 was run on Feb. 22, 1959. The world's most diverse racing facility is now recognized internationally as the "World Center of Racing."
  
  France, however, had visions of an even bigger and faster speedway. Therefore, on May 23, 1968 construction of a new superspeedway began on a 2,000-acre site in North Central Alabama. The first race was held at Talladega Superspeedway on September 13, 1969. The 2.66-mile high-banked tri-oval is recognized internationally as the "World's Fastest Speedway."
  
  Darlington Raceway was acquired by ISC in 1982. Darlington opened in 1950 and is known as NASCAR's original superspeedway. The track "Too Tough To Tame," steeped in tradition, has undergone numerous improvements and renovations under ISC ownership.
  
  Watkins Glen International was added to the ISC family in 1985. ISC assumed full ownership of WGI in 1997. Watkins Glen is the home to numerous road-racing events each year including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
  
  Also in 1997, ISC acquired Phoenix International Raceway, "The World's Fastest One Mile Oval," and created Kansas Speedway Corporation (KSC) a wholly owned subsidiary of ISC, to develop a 1.5-mile oval motor speedway in western Kansas City, Kansas. The facility was completed and opened in 2001.
  
  In 1997, ISC also purchased a 40 percent interest in the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The state-of-the-art facility is located just south of Miami. In 1998, ISC purchased an addition 5 percent and owned 45 percent of the facility, with Penske Motorsports, Inc., owning 45 percent.
  
  In 1999, the company merged with Penske Motorsports, Inc., adding four more tracks: California Speedway in San Bernardino County, Michigan Speedway near Detroit, North Carolina Speedway near Rockingham, N.C., and Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, Pa.
  
  With the merger, also ISC held a 90% interest in the Homestead-Miami Speedway, however acquired the remaining 10% in 2001.
  
  Also in 1999, ISC formed Raceway Associates, LLC, in an effort to build a motorsports facility in the Chicago area. Raceway Associates, LLC, is a limited liability company owned 75 percent by the Motorsports Alliance (a company owned 50 percent by ISC and 50 percent by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation) and 25 percent by the nine former owners of the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. In addition to owning the Chicagoland Speedway that opened in 2001, Raceway Associates owns Route 66 Raceway; a 240 acre motorsports complex that includes a state-of-the-art drag strip, a 3/8-mile clay oval and a road course test track.
  
  On December 1, 1999, ISC acquired Richmond International Raceway (RIR). Located approximately 10 miles from downtown Richmond, Virginia, "The Action Track" is a moderately-banked, lighted, 3/4-mile oval speedway known for its close, side-by-side racing.
  
  In 2004, ISC acquired Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Located near Greensboro and Winston-Salem, Martinsville is one of only two one-half mile tracks on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series circuit. Also in 2004, ISC sold the assets of North Carolina to Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
  
  In 2007, ISC purchased the remaining 62.5% interest in Raceway Associates it did not already own.
  
  ISC also owns DAYTONA USA, "The Ultimate Motorsports Attraction," which opened its doors to the public on July 5, 1996. The attraction, located at Daytona International Speedway, educates and entertains visitors about the history of racing in the Daytona Beach area through interactive exhibits and displays.