Not only was Strictly Stock the name of NASCAR’s premier division when it debuted with an eight-race schedule in 1949, but it was also the best way to describe the cars that defined the sport’s early years.

NASCAR mandated that cars competing in what is now known as the NASCAR Cup Series were to be stock production automobiles. However, in the interest of safety, competitors were allowed to use a belt to secure the driver’s side doors so they didn’t come open during races.