This Day in Automotive History March 1, 1921 – Proprietor of Watkins Glen International is born February 28, 1975 – AMC Introduces the Pacer February 27, 1951 – Italian auto designer Walter de Silva is born February 26, 1725 – The inventor of the automobile is born February 25, 1899 – The first recorded death of an automobile driver February 23, 1958 – Juan Manuel Fangio is kidnapped February 22, 1970 – Plymouth Superbird gets first NASCAR win at Daytona 500 February 21, 1948 – NASCAR is founded