In Talladega Nights, Ricky Bobby’s dad drops one of the few nuggets of wisdom he ever offers: “Do you know where stock-car racing started?” It’s played off as a joke in the film, but the truth is far better, stock car racing was basically invented by bootleggers who considered outrunning the law a full-time sport. Before there were sponsors, trophies, or perfectly groomed tracks, there were bootleggers tearing down dirt roads with the law on their tail. That outlaw chaos is exactly what grew into the NASCAR we know today.

Long before roaring crowds and million-dollar sponsorships, NASCAR’s roots were firmly planted in the backroads of the Southern US, driven not by fame and glory, but by moonshine. During Prohibition and well into the 1930s and ’40s, bootleggers running illegal liquor needed cars that could outrun federal “revenuers.” Ordinary looking vehicles were packed with hidden compartments, stripped of excess weight, and tuned with high-performance engines.

The men behind the wheel were just as essential. Moonshine runners had to be fearless, skilled, and able to control a car at high speeds on twisting dirt roads, often at night and often with the law minutes behind them. Drivers like Junior Johnson went from outrunning agents to outrunning competitors, proving that the best racecar drivers were forged in the hills, not the racetrack.

When these drivers weren’t hauling liquor, they began informally racing each other on makeshift dirt tracks across the Southeast. Crowds gathered, bets were placed, and the events grew from chaotic contests of bragging rights into community spectacles. But the sport had no rules or standards.

Enter Bill France Sr. In 1948, recognizing the sport’s popularity and its need for structure, he founded the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR. His goal was simple: create consistent rules, ensure fair payouts, and turn a wild, loosely organized pastime into a professional sport. Many early races, tracks, and even cars were funded directly by moonshine money, meaning the outlaw business didn’t just inspire NASCAR, it bankrolled it.

Sure, Prohibition ended ages ago, but NASCAR is still filled with moonshiner DNA. Its Southern roots, gearhead creativity, and “drive it like you stole it” energy trace directly back to those whiskey runners kicking up dust on forgotten dirt roads.

There’s been some wild progress in brain implants that let people control stuff with their thoughts, but they do come with one small catch… you have to let someone open your skull. The NAQI Neural Earbuds skip that whole situation entirely. No surgery, no sci-fi operating table, just earbuds that turn your face into a remote control. With built-in gyroscopic sensors, something as small as clenching your teeth can switch a light on or off, while a slight tilt of the head can adjust volume or navigate menus. It is a low-profile, non-invasive alternative that brings futuristic control into a much more accessible form.

The brains behind it come from NAQI Logix, who are building this for people who can’t rely on traditional controls, but also for anyone who’s ever been too comfortable on the couch to reach a remote. The earbuds use motion sensors and AI to translate micro-movements into commands, which means your face is now officially a user interface. It already picked up a 2025 CES Innovation Award, which is tech-world speak for “okay, this is actually cool.” With a commercial release expected soon, NAQI is aiming to move this kind of capability out of the lab and into everyday life.