For many, NASCAR hats and caps are fascinating items, both for collecting and for everyday wear, and are just two of the reasons for the craze for buying NASCAR gear and collectibles. Among the other items and forms of memorabilia available are die cast cars, modeling those driven by the famous drivers such as Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt - Senior and Junior - and apparel such as jackets, caps and snapbacks

Little did Big Bill France know what he was starting when he organized stock car racing into a proper regulated sport - or maybe he did know. Until the late 1930s, stock car racing took place as a series of unofficial meetings, still redolent of the early years when the sport was nothing more than exuberant rivalry between drivers evading the federal revenue agents around the mountain roads and foothills of the Appalachians with trunks full of moonshine.

It is said that the very first race took place in 1937 at the aptly named Stockbridge in Georgia, but many dispute this as being a myth. Whatever its origins, and the part played by the bootleggers, the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing was born in 1948 as an amalgamation of drivers and manufacturers formed by the major racing figures of the day.

Those that collect NASCAR hats and other memorabilia naturally prefer to get their hands on any gear or mementoes from these days onwards, and while they sometimes appear in yard and garage sales, the genuine articles are more likely to be found in antique stores and online. However, they can be very expensive to buy, and many prefer simply to collect modern-day gear that is available on eBay and occasionally from Amazon.

For example, take Dale Jarrett NASCAR hats. You will find hats in any sports store with the name Dale Jarrett on them, and you can also buy them online at eBay for under $10. But is that what you really want? Most people would prefer something better than that, particularly if they were collecting memorabilia, and while a monogrammed ball hat is good, it would be a lot better to have an authentic NASCAR hat than any old hat with a logo or name printed or embroidered on it.

Most genuine stock car fans would probably prefer a vintage NASCAR hat that had been worn by a real driver, and if that's you then where can you find these hats, caps and snapbacks? It can take a long time hunting round memorabilia stores, although you might strike lucky if you can get within touching distance of a driver during practice, or even near his home if you are lucky to live in the neighborhood. Many stock car drivers get annoyed when approached in that way, but might let you have one of the old caps he has finished with.

It is far easier to stay at home and surf through eBay. You can often find pretty good deals using online auction sites, and as this page was written there was an authentic NASCAR hat on sale for $129.97 (eBay 'Buy it Now' price) of year 2000 vintage, signed by Dale Jarrett and coming with an SP Certificate of Authenticity. There are many more where that came from, and you can find a wide range of NASCAR gear online, including monogrammed jackets and ball caps.

As previously mentioned, some fans love to collect die cast NASCAR cars that represent some of the great stock cars driven over the years, from Cup series to the Daytona. Others like to give them as gifts to their kids, hoping it sparks off an interest in stock car racing. Dads like nothing more than taking their sons along with them to races - or any sports events in fact, such as ball games or hockey.

You can find a massive choice of die cast cars online on both eBay and Amazon, at an equally wide range of prices from just a few dollars to a few hundred for the larger scale model stock cars. However, it's the gear that most go for because it has a practical use as well as a nostalgic one. Most NASCAR gear on sale is new, with car manufacturers and models printed or embroidered on it, but you occasionally come across something genuine autographed by the driver.

There are two forms of these: new items signed by the driver as part of a sponsorship deal, and the genuine vintage NASCAR hats, helmets, snapbacks and jackets, that may be either used or new, and again signed by the driver, but this time not just to receive payment for doing so but because it had actually belonged to them.

Irrespective of which of these you collect, wear or even just purchase as a one-off as a gift for somebody, you will find a wide range online where eBay or Amazon is a lot more convenient to hunt through than mall stores, auction houses or flea markets. If you are looking for NASCAR hats, then surf the net - you will find a good selection that should offer you what you are looking for.

For more information on how to get great prices for NASCAR Hats and snapback caps and details of other stock car racing collectibles check out NascarHats.com where you will find a range of new and old collectibles and apparel to suit your needs and your pocket.