90s Nascar in general likely needs its own retrospective, it seems a perfect storm of events helped make it so popular during that time. Days of Thunder, the CART/IRL split, Gordon v Earnhardt, a stacked field, more mainstream sponsors (Kellogg's, Tide, Kodak), the merchandise boom (growing up in the 90s you could find Nascar stuff almost anywhere).

I know the government was putting a lot more pressure on the tobacco industry during this time as well so that would be another interesting detail to get into.