Nascar

[Perfectlap]

Its bigger in the North East than you think. They do races in New Hampshire, Pocono, Watkins Glenn and they all sell out better than any other motorsports event. Those NASCAR fans are in the closet for sure.

I suspect a big part of NASCAR fans have actually made it to their local track to watch the races and once you've done that you become a different type of fan: one that actually doesn't mind that it loses allot on the televesion screen.
As anyone who has watched a race in person will tell you its a spectacle like no other in all of sports. The sound of 50 (or whatever they have) cars roaring bumper to bumper must be as loud as it is fast. Well at least that's what my first experience watching an oval race was like

I suspect that its so popular because unlike F1 and LeMans its very competitive (everyone in the race is driving fairly equal machinery) and unlike open wheel racing or Sports Cars, most of the names sound familiar. The drivers are American not a bunch of Frenchies, Latin Americans and Funny talkin' Brittis dudes. That counts for allot because in this country we identify with the individual and not a team or a constructor. NASCAR seems to be driven by the personalities and traits of the different drivers and the fans could care less who makes their car.

THe road races they've held, although still too sloooow for my taste, have been interesting. Watching those way toooo heavy cars take fast corners is very entertaining...now pass me some beef jerky.

[prOk]

I used to hate on NASCAR as well, until I went to my first Daytona 500. You really don't understand what those drivers do until you see it in person.. countless current 'fans' I know feel the same way. My awakening came in 1982 and i've been a racing fanatic ever since (not just nascar).

I'm a big racing fan in general, IMSA, F1, Indycar.. you name it.. but far and away the most exciting is NASCAR mainly because there is actually on track action and competition is pretty equal. While other series are more 'finesse' racing, they also tend to be very boring and uneventful.. like in F1, odds are the polesitter for a race will not be challenged and they will win., unlike NASCAR where the lead is contested from start to finish. It's definitely more brute force racing, but it's so much more entertaining.

Like I said, having seen many forms of racing in person, nothing impresses it on you quite like seeing a pack of 40 cars doing 200mph nose to tail in person. Try it before you put it down. Be a fan of all racing, and don't judge it too hastily.

/b

[Adam]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/punkrokdood/motivator5f781c1be1d52c54995eb0edda.jpg
^Typical nascar fan

[Brucelee]

Shifting, braking, and turning in both directions is fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

I Hate the Series, but have profound respect for the Drivers. I do not consider it a form of MotorSport in any measure - I mean even Pickup Trucks..?? C'mon!

I believe it is the Modern equivalent of the Roman Games and the precurser of RollerBall!

It's purely a Gladiator Sport. Which is what makes it so popular among the Masses. But, as Socrates said: "Γεννητός έσομαι ηλίθιος" , loosely translated - The People are Idiots.

Those Cars (with look-alike Production Bodies) are simply too unstable at the speeds they attain (I mean they're within a Hare's Breath of CART, INDY and F1 Top Speeds). It's dangerous, but where's a Hillbilly gonna make that kind of dough 'cept with some Backwoods Still?

It's not about Skill so much as it is about who's willing to take the greatest Risk to please the Crowds. It's a Circus. All IMHO of course...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[Brucelee]

C'mon Jim, don't hold back, tell us what you really think!

[Perfectlap]

btw, I 'll doing a few laps in one of these Nascar boats as a passenger at a venue near Orlando later this summer(long story).

I hate to disagree with my forum members but NASCAR (including the funny looking pick up trucks) is VERY MUCH A MOTORSPORT. The precision needed to set a qualifying lap is no less dificult then any World Rally race. I think people really underestimate the finnesse involved in carving out the perfect line And they do this for 500 laps. That requires a surreal ability to focus and be to incredibly consistent.
Believe me if it was just about having brass balls there would be a heck of allot more guys linning up to collect a huge paycheck.

The top five positions in this Daytonna 500 shared $5 Milllion dollars. Not bad for three hours work. That kind of money is only paid out by F1 and they spend about 100X's what Nascar spend every year.

I understand why its popular with so many, I just can't figure out why so many of the drivers have names like Jimmmie, Ricky, Billy Bud or is Rickie Rudd?

[PAH]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

The drivers are American not a bunch of Frenchies, Latin Americans and Funny talkin' Brittis dudes.

Which is the reason why NASCAR is not particularly popular ouside America.

We have one oval in the UK, at Rockingham, and I have heard that it is in financial trouble because no-one is interested. European (and for that matter Antipodean) race fans like to see cars turn both left and right, use the brakes, and not rely completely 100% on the physics of aerodynamics for 3 hours. Plus, we don't like to see half the race distance carried out under a full-course yellow for the slightest accident. This not only applies to NASCAR, but also IRL.

I watched the first part of the Busch Series race from Daytona live on TV here in England, and didn't see one exciting overtaking move. My wife could not understand why I (not the huge crowd at Daytona) were the least bit interested in watching a pack of cars drive in a circle.

As for some of the tactics used in NASCAR - well, they can only be descibed as irresponsible and dangerous. The drivers are forced to do it because if they don't someone else will and go on to be more successful. I'm talking about bump-drafting. No other form of motorsport uses this tactic, because it would be banned. Maybe NASCAR will realise this soon, hopefully before a car gets bumped on a turn at 200mph, and ends up in one of those packed grandstands.

I'm sure the drivers are talented, no doubt about that, but why don't they show that talent more on road courses? Then there would be far more interest in the series.

I'll go back to wathing F1, CART, the British Touring Car Championship, Le Mans (looking forward to going there this June) and Australian V8 Supercars. That is real motor sport.

All in my opinion, of course..

[jbarrow]

Do you think NASCAR would be as popular if wrecks never happened?

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by jbarrow

Do you think NASCAR would be as popular if wrecks never happened?

It might even be more, imho.

[prOk]

I too miss the days when F1 was fun to watch Before Senna ) All forms of racing, although different, require talented drivers and finely tuned cars to do what they do. Just because one may not like a certain style of racing does not make it right to stereotype those that do.. I'm a nascar fan, and I know many others that are definitely not beer swilling mulletheadded rednecks from the trailer park as some here have so gracefully inferred. I won't offend your idea of what is fun and in return, try not to offend mine

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by prOk

... Just because one may not like a certain style of racing does not make it right to stereotype those that do.. I'm a nascar fan, and I know many others that are definitely not beer swilling mulletheadded rednecks from the trailer park as some here have so gracefully inferred...

Hi,

The problem with challenging someone's Political Correctness for using a Stereotype is that you have to actually acknowledge that Stereotype to do it.

Stereotypes do not apply Universally, they just apply in General...

What's that saying about People in Glass Houses...??

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[JackG]

MNBoxster wrote:

"The problem with challenging someone's Political Correctness for using a Stereotype is that you have to actually acknowledge that Stereotype to do it."

Wrong. He simply said you shouldn't apply a stereotype to NASCAR fans just because you don't like NASCAR. He then went on to tell you how he thought your stereotype was incorrect. No acknowledgement was there, and there was no accusation of being politically incorrect.


and wrote: "Stereotypes do not apply Universally, they just apply in General..."

Again, wrong. Stereotypes, when used, don't necessarily have to apply at all. I could say "All P-car owners have wives/girlfriends named Buffy, and hang out at the yacht club wearing a sweater tied around their shoulders". Does that now apply to P-car owners in general, as you said? Of course not... some hang out at the golf course and wear plaid pants!

and wrote: "What's that saying about People in Glass Houses...?? "

And what's that one about being silent and being considered an idiot, or speaking up and removing all doubt?

Cheers!

Jack <- no big fan of NASCAR

[Ronzi]

Ref: "Do you think NASCAR would be as popular if wrecks never happened?"

Absolutely not.
The wrecks are the only way the average fan has of knowing that those guys are really trying instead of just driving around in a circle for 3 hours and collecting a big paycheck at the end.
That's the big problem with F1 nowadays: not enough wrecks.

[blinkwatt]

I think we all should focus on ALMS instead of NASCAR. People who drive Mustangs,Camaros and Corvettes should watch Nascar. People who drive fully balanced cars watch ALMS. Too bad ALMS isnt stopping by the local Infineon Raceway this year,maybe I will head to Laguna Seca.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

I think we all should focus on ALMS instead of NASCAR. People who drive Mustangs,Camaros and Corvettes should watch Nascar. People who drive fully balanced cars watch ALMS. Too bad ALMS isnt stopping by the local Infineon Raceway this year,maybe I will head to Laguna Seca.

Actually, the Corvette has dominated the ALMS series from the get, dominating Saleens, Maseratis, Vipers and Aston Martins and anything else they throw at them. These cars among the fastest and finest handling cars in the world.

To my knowledge, they do NOT run NASCAR.