NASCAR or the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing has been an important part of American automobile history since its inception in 1948, some 73 years ago. It’s a thrilling sport to follow, more so because the cars look like normal street ones, adorned with sponsor colors and stickers, of course, and NASCAR decals.

To produce these race cars, carmakers make a special NASCAR trim of the stock car and put in high-powered engines. There a certain number of these cars that have to made for street use as well to homologate them for NASCAR – and of course, the power in these cars makes the race is almost as thrilling as the Formula One.

Of course, there are a lot of NASCAR rules that drivers do not quite get, or sometimes even follow. And finishes can get a bit confusing too. But the sport has is dedicated fans, who not only worship the drivers but also love the NASCAR cars. Today, there are plenty of female drivers In NASCAR to worship as well but for some, it's still all about the cars.

Here are eight such iconic NASCAR cars that were so powerful, they blew the competition away.

8 Dodge Charger Daytona: So Powerful, It Was Banned

Via Pinterest

The Dodge Charger Daytona decimated every car it competed against, with a two-door body and a 23-inch tall rear wing that made the car look as if it was about to take off. The car came with two engine options, the 7.0-liter Hemi V8 and the 7.2-liter Magnum V8; each making it run like an unstoppable beast.

Via Pinterest

At the Talladega 500 in 1969, it clocked a top speed of 200 mph. Eyebrows were raised and so were complaints of an “unfair advantage”. The car was deemed too powerful for NASCAR and banned, along with its sibling, the Plymouth Superbird.

7 The Fabulous Hudson Hornet: The Animated Hero

Via Reddit

The Hudson Hornet is not something the makers of the animated movie, Cars simply dreamt of. It was a real, true-blue classic hero, and what was even cooler about it was that it did not come from the machinations of the Detroit three.

Via Wikipedia

The Hudson Hornet was launched in 1951 by the Hudson Motor Car Company, and won 66 races from 1952 to 1954, setting a record that took years to break. With a total of 79 wins, it truly was one fabulous NASCAR car.

RELATED: A Detailed Look Back At The 1951 Hudson Hornet

6 Chevy Monte Carlo: The Winningest Of Them All

Via Pinterest

The Chevy Monte Carlo is the car that turned Dale Earnhardt into a legend and earned him the nickname, “The Intimidator”. His first Monte Carlo was a yellow and blue one because he was being sponsored by Wrangler Jeans. His second car was an all-black one, this time sponsored by GM Goodwrench.

Via Reddit

The Monte Carlo has remained Chevy’s NASCAR car from 1971 to 2007, and has a total of 396 wins to its name, making it the car with the most winnings in NASCAR, yet.

RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Chevrolet Monte Carlo

5 Buick Regal: The Royal Dominance

Via Pinterest

With 63 wins to its name, the Buick Regal won a few races early on in 1955, but it was in 1981 that its true dominance began. Everyone seemed to drive a Regal to their win, from the Petty’s to Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, and more.

Via Reddit

The dominant streak continued for 1982, so much so that Ford had to alter the Thunderbird and the Chevy had to spruce up the Monte Carlo to remain viable competition. The Buick is now selling in China, so should NASCAR also be sold there too?

RELATED: Here's What Made The Buick Grand National A Stellar 1980s Muscle Car

4 Ford Galaxie: Multiple Controversies & Wins

Via Pinterest

Despite the very impressive wins of the Chevy Monte Carlo, there were years at a stretch when the wins belonged to Ford. In fact, from 1963 to 1969, Ford won the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship, straight on.

Via Pinterest

Drivers like Dan Gurney, Ned Jarrett, and even Fred Lorenzen all raced Galaxies, which carried a gigantic 7.0-liter V8 to combat all that Hemi power. The cars came with plenty of controversies but were also champions, for a total of 199 wins.

3 Chevy Impala: The Best-Selling Chevy

Via Barrett-Jackson

The Chevy Impala holds the distinction of managing to move a massive million units in one year alone and is the bestselling Chevy of all times. And Chevy also holds the record of having the maximum number of NASCAR wins, period.

Via Pinterest

The Chevy Impala, one nameplate that has finally retired in 2020, has 152 wins to its credit and was a favored car of many of the NASCAR legends like Jeff Gordon and both Dale Sr. and Jr. Respect, Impala, respect…

2 Toyota Camry: The Japanese Entrant Storms In

Via RacedaySA

We cannot keep waxing eloquent about Chevy and Ford alone and leave Japan out of NASCAR. Especially when the Toyota Camry has 148 wins in NASCAR, coming in close behind the Impala, despite its 2007 entry. Today, most of NASCAR is dominated by Chevy, Ford, and Toyota.

Via EssentiallySports

And while Toyota is known for its reliability, its NASCAR participation makes it speed know as well, and there’s always the JDM favorite, the Supra to back upon for affordable performance. Toyota also sponsored two NASCAR races and all of this has added to its NASCAR fanbase. Especially since Kyle Busch is often seen in an M&M one.

1 Chrysler 300C: Finally, The Third Of The Three

Via Pinterest

The days of powerful Chrysler seem to be ever distant now, and it was only when these gorgeous and expensive cars were classics that they had tons of gumption. If the early ‘50s belonged to the Hudson Hornet, the late mid-to-late ‘50s was the time of the Chrysler 300C when Elmer Carl “EC” Kiekhaefer consistently won NASCAR races in his fleet of Chrysler 300C cars.

Via DetroitFreePress

Tim Flock won 18 races for the championship in 1955 but post 1957, cheating accusations forced Kiekhaefer to withdraw, even though nothing was ever proven. The 300C made for too powerful and elegant a car for the competition.

Sources: Hagerty, Autoweek

NEXT: 8 Most Badass Muscle Car Concepts Companies Ever Designed