I have never understood the popularity of Nascar. I'm not going to go into the whole "Nascar is for rednecks" thing but in all seriousness, it's guys driving fast in a circle. What's the deal? Also , what qualifies them as "Athletes"? Baseball, basketball, football, hockey...it seems like all of those sports require specialized skills and training but how hard is it to drive fast in a giant circle? We all drive fast everyday!! I'm not trying to criticize here...I REALLY want to know...why is it so popular and how/why should I get into it and be a fan?
2006-07-31 04:14:16 · 20 answers · asked by hotsauceg 2 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
I'll say it has to take some kind of physical endurance to last 5 hours in a 200 degree vehicle fully clothed with a helmet and fire suit on, and maybe some strength to fight off G-forces that are trying to force you outside into the wall or the guy that is less than an inch away from you, and maybe some sort of reflexes to make a split second decision as you are driving 180+ mph in Rush hour traffic with people blowing tires, losing control of their ride and fighting all of the same conditions around you.
Based on your "special skills" criteria, I think I just met them for you, so I say yes.
As for becoming a fan: I also was of the mind "NASCAR sucks" but someone told me to pick a driver and follow him for 1 season and you will see it in a different light. I don't cancel plans when a race is on, but if I don't have anything else to do I can sit and watch a race now. BTW if you go to a live event it will blow mind the people that go to these races (the Women are phenomenal) Its kind of difficult for your typical trailer park redneck to foot the 250 dollar a ticket (Daytona) tab. Give it a try and keep an open mind, you may like it.
2006-07-31 04:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by Pennywise 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's a sport and yes, these guys and teams are athletes.
Let's first talk about the mental focus that it takes. Driving really fast in a giant circle. Let's talk about that. You have a 4500 lb car that you are trying to manuever at almost 200 mph while you have another 42 cars in your space. These cars can be bumper to bumper and you have to be able to control your car and have the reaction if someone right in front of you spins out and loses control. You don't want your car to make contact with them or the wall. Most people can't handle heavy traffic at 70 mph...so yeah, uh-huh if it's SOOOO easy one must wonder why you are sitting on Yahoo Answers asking these questions instead of making the easy money driving a car in the circuit?? You say that most people drive fast everyday. Well, driving 70 mph (highway speed) and 200 around a track is two different things. Trust me, I've done 150mph and your car is not as easily controlled at those speeds, and it's not so much fun with traffic doing unpredicatble things, which is basically the same thing as 42 other unpredictable machines on the track. To boot I have air in my car and I'm not strapped in a stright jacket while I do it. Have you seen these guyys get out of the car?? They sweat profusely b/c the temps in the car get so wretched, and there isn't much in the way of airflow. Watch the in-car camera on a difficult track and you'll see the death grip on the steering whell trying to keep it in place.
If it was super easy there would not be such a high demand for good driver's right now.
The sport is mentally and physically exhausting. Driving a NASCAR car is a specialized skill.
Now let's talk about the teams. Can you change 4 tires and fill a tank of gas and even give a quick add of wedge in 14 seconds?? I would suppose not. These guys train in the gym to get this done.
Here's the thing.. you say you want to know why you should be a fan. All I can say it watch it a few times and start to follow it. You'll either get hooked or you won't. I can tell you why I love it and why I'm hoooked. Nascar is my drug, but what works for me..might not work for you, and most people I have made watch it get hooked. You definitley need an open mind and lose that attitude you have before you'd even begin to like it. Nascar is not just a sport it's a lifestyle and those that don't get it.. never will. It's not explainable and you can't put it into words.
2006-07-31 10:24:38 · answer #2 · answered by smokes_girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) They are ovals, not circles!
2) All fans are not rednecks! I love Nascar and I own a two story house, am college educated, am engaged to someone of no relation to me and all that other BS haters pitch out there!
3) Let's strap you into a car have you drive at almost 200 mph for about 4 hours and see how you feel then! Those guys (and girls) go through a lot of strain in a weekend! Some of them race 2 or 3 races each weekend!
4) They are athletes and it is a sport...motorSPORT!
5) It is a lot more than driving around and around! There are road races, too! In any race timing is a big issue, they have to time when and how they make their stops just right to stay up or ahead of the pack! Teamwork and communication are also important with the crew chief and pit crew for accurate stops, it is also important with fellow team mates!
2006-07-31 04:40:48 · answer #3 · answered by Jaylyn 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off, NASCAR drivers are most definitely athletes. They are driving around a track at an insane 200 miles an hour, under intense pressure from heat inside the car, and from gravity, all while maneuvering the car with precision and coordinating with both other team members and their pit crew. It takes an incredible amount of stamina and endurance, and most drivers lose from 5-10 pounds every race.
However, I would never consider NASCAR to be a sport. Some people find racing intense, I see it as a bunch of cars driving in circles for a couple of hours. Also, in my opinion, it relies too much on the cars to be considered a real sport.
Just my opinion.
2006-07-31 04:33:23 · answer #4 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES TO BOTH. The redneck thing is REALLY starting to get old! Hm, why is it a sport? Well, there are 43 cars driving 180+ miles an hour around a track. It's a very difficult sport & I don't understand why so many people say it's not difficult. WAIT! You said 'we all drive fast everyday!!' When's the last time you drove 200 miles an hour on a track with 42 other cars???? I'm guessing never. Most tracks are OVALS, but there are two road courses. There is a lot to it, the driver has to have a fast car, avoid wrecks, & use pit strategy. With what they do every weekend I think they can be considered athletes.
Why don't you read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR
If you want to try & watch a race here's the schedule:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2006/data/schedule.html
GO #8!!!!!!!!
2006-07-31 04:29:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
WHO ARE THESE IDIOTS WHO DON'T THINK NASCAR IS A SPORT????? These drivers have to be in top physical condition. You think you can get behind the wheel of a stock car and drive like these guys do? You are out of your mind. It does require special skills and training. I am not a redneck and I love NASCAR. Just give it a chance. You get to know the drivers, their personalities and unique driving styles just as you would a football player and how he plays the game. NASCAR is a sport and if you didn't know, it has more fans than any other sport....even football.
2006-07-31 08:59:02 · answer #6 · answered by GeminiGirl 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally for me, the drivers are athletes...some may not be as fit or athletic as some, but being strapped into a car, during the middle of the summer, at temperatures sometimes 125-130 degrees, endurance is something you must have....I have drove before at Nascar training school, and it's not as easy as it looks. During a long race, with high temperatures, drivers can loose as much as 11 pounds in a single race, that topped off to pulling g's most of us will never endure, factoring in driving 190mph 3-4 wide, takes talent.......As far as being a fan, it's just something you have experience. Television does not do the race justice, and actually attending a race, is absolutely an experience like none other......ONE huge party. You see people from all walks of life...from your "rednecks", to doctors, lawyers, white collar, blue collar.......you see it all.
2006-07-31 06:29:47 · answer #7 · answered by jeff c 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes drivers are athletes. The drivers need to work as hard or harder then the other sports. They need to control a car. They need upper body stragth to drive a hevy car for 2-5 hours durning a race. Yes Nascar is a sport. The drivers are driving loose or tight cars durning the race. Sometimes the cars won't handle at all durnning a race. Also they sometimes get asousted in the cars on a hot day.
2006-07-31 09:52:20 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not athletes and it is entertainment, not a sport. I speed in traffic every day, but do not consider that to be my excercise or athletic activity for the day. If anything, the cars would be the athletes, not the drivers. If the drivers would be considered athletes, they would be running aroung the track, not operating a machine. Operating a bulldozer is hard and tiring and youcan perspire while doing it, but it is not a sport, and heavy equipment operators arenot considered athletes. Nascar is for hooisers and rednecks, that is why the majority of fans defand it as a sport, because they do not know any better. If it was not for rednecks, then every other person would like it instead of busch beer drinkin, cut off jorts, sleveless t-shirt, and thongs wearing, cooler toting, truckdrivin, trailer drivin and livin, rednecks. Racing is big in the south, right. I rest my case.
2006-07-31 05:05:39 · answer #9 · answered by greencaddyman 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only the ignorant call it a "hick sport." Nowadays it is a huge business. Huge operations own 1 or more cars and they are supported primarily through sponsorships from companies ranging from Home Depot to Cheerios. Not many people have the physical stamina to survive 10 laps in the typical NASCAR race, nevermind the usual 300 to 500. It is that physically demanding and takes quite a bit of mental acuity to survive through to the checkered flag.
NASCAR is getting respect worldwide for it's competitiveness. Just recently, a driver from Formula 1, Juan Pablo Montoya, signed a long term contract with Chip Ganassi Racing to drive a stock car. He is starting at the bottom, but is showing a willingness to put in the time to learn the sport. He is a raw racing talent that could do well in any motorsport series. He chose NASCAR to further his career.
People who do not know racing, should not add their misinformed opinion to racing questions here.
2006-07-31 04:29:22 · answer #10 · answered by The Infidel 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋