What is interesting about NASCAR?

Question

I've never seen a race and I know nothing about cars. What should I watch for when I see my first race on TV?

Answer 1

Race fans don't watch racing for the wrecks. It is about competition, drivers and teams doing something the rest of us can't do--drive 180+ mph a few inches for other guys doing the same. It is also about strategy--when and wether to "pit" for gas, tires, adjustments, etc. The pit crews have to perform at peak levels to get their driver valuable track position or make up time. They can change 4 tires, dump 22 gallons of fuel in, make adjustments, clean the windshield and assist the driver in less than 15 seconds. Every team employees multiple engineers now, as well as sophisticated computer systems for tracking fuel consumption, car performance, everything.

Like the others said, observe the teams and pick one, two or a few to follow. You will notice, however, that some drivers get more attention and media coverage--some because of their name, some because of their previous success, and some because they are boneheads on the track! Some people choose by sponsor, some by what car manufacturer's "car" they drive, what team they drive for, etc. Anyway, don't be too surprised if your guy does not get much attention.

As someone else said, watch for the celebs, too, as well as a military presence at each race (flyovers are awesome).

You can discuss racing/drivers/cars on various Internet forums--there are a lot of very nice, knowledgeable race fans out there, many if them are new, also.

Billions of dollars are spent by 75,000,000 NASCAR fans and various sponsors every year on the sport so it is more popular than some people want to admit.

The best thing is seeing a race live and taking in the atmosphere in the grandstands and vendors row. Even your local track or seeing other forms of NASCAR (Trucks, Busch series, Dodge weekly, etc) can be interesting, informative, and addicting.

Give racing more than one chance. Hope you enjoy it! 75 million of us do!

Answer 2

What is interesting is to see how what was once a southern sport-with northern Detroit iron-being very close to actual production cars go from win on Sunday-sell on Monday to what it is now.

The cars have no real resemblance to the types which they emulate-and use rather antiquated technology, while intense technology designs them, and intense technology is used everywhere around them. I see the boom in Nascar as happening about the time of "Days of Thunder" and the boom of Country music in America.
It is the largest motorsport, $ wise(we are speaking of generated revenues-not expenditures) and exposure wise. So hyped that it is not possible to escape it's exposure-in fact it is perhaps the only motorsport many even know of.
The competition, while intense often takes a backseat to the hype-which is a shame due to the effort put in to make them run and drivers who drive about 800 hp on very narrow tires.
Still, the hype is what pays bills, and now Nascar has become an enigma. A fascination for some, a pariah for others-it is here to stay.
Why? because we,as Americans buy hype-and then we buy the hyped "merchandise" along with it.

It is not an entry aspiring sport, much like F1, only a few can realistically aspire to ever compete in it...but it gives the perception that it is or can be...or one can relate to the drivers..maybe since they are American and it is an American sport. You should watch all forms of auto racing possible and folow which forms you like best.....trouble is, you will have atough time catching anything other than Nascar(or Nascar lifestyle shows, or related dirt track or circle track racing) most of the time.

Answer 3

It's all about the action, seriously. Once you really understand it, you can watch it and see every little detail. It's just like watching any other sport. Baseball is just a guy hitting a ball. Hockey is a guy hitting a puck. Basketbal is just guys throwing balls around, get my drift.

So on first glance, NASCAR is just cars going in circles. However, it's at 180mph, only inches away from competition, and it's for 3 to 4 hours.

If your going to watch your first NASCAR race, I suggest the Daytona 500. Cars runing at 195mph+, 3 cars wide, within inches of each other, on a track banked steeper than any roof on a house, it's nuts. And if there is a big wreck (the big one) then your in for one fun sight.

There are some tracks that people consider snoozers, but those tracks are getting better.

Suggested races to watch:
any bristol race (lots of action)
any Daytona or Talladega race (3 wide racing)
Infineon or Watkins Glen (If your a road racing fan.)
Martinsville (a flat short track)
Darlington (always a good race)
Atlanta (always fun racing)
Dover (always a good show)
Indianapolis or Pocono (offers a unique racing style)

Answer 4

I think the question should be what's not interesting about NASCAR. It is my favorite sport, and has been for the past 5 years. The hardnosed, door-to-door racing, the brutal wrecks, the off-track controversies and fights, and the overall atmosphere of being at a racetrack where 43 of the world's best drivers compete against each other make NASCAR very interesting. It's good on TV, but it's even better in person. I highly recommend attending a race because once you go you will be hooked!

Answer 5

Racing is interesting because of the Door to Door racing doing nearly 200 miles per hour at less than 6 inches apart. the smell of burning rubber, the smell of the exhaust. the wind off the cars as they pass you, Especially at Richmond Raceway. Want to see what makes racing interesting go to Richmond Raceway and during the race start walking from turn 4 to turn 2 and when the cars come at you, you are at the same level as the car that is comming at you at about 150 MPH the only thing that seperates you from the cars is 24 inches of concrete and as the car passes you get sucked to the fence. That is Exciting!!!!!!

Answer 6

The real interest is getting to know the different drivers and picking a favorite. Watching cars go round and round isn't all there is. Plus, if you go to an actual race as I have, you get much more from it vs watching it on TV.

Answer 7

There is the action of the race.The technical aspect of the race as 43 teams prepare there cars for competition.The "chess game" of when to pass when to move to pit ,How many tires top off the tank?
There are so many factors to the race the naysayers don't understand and want cars to wreck.The non tech fan cheers for their favorite driver(s) and hope the competition wrecks.This is not the race.
Television has brought racing to the masses.The media has glorified a few drivers.But to feel a race or to live a race go to a race and watch it inperson.

Answer 8

For me it's finding a driver that I like and rooting for them. I love to keep track of where my guy is at, how cautions could help him, etc. Besides rooting for people I think that the side-by-side racing is really entertaining, because at any one moment someone could screw up, and it could change the whole race. Even then it's fun to root for someone, because then you find yourself yelling for them to hurry up and pass the guy.

The crashes are interesting, unless it's "your guy" in the crash, then it's not so fun. I'm really not a huge fan of crashes, because first off I always feel bad for the guy (unless it's Jeff Gordon), and also usually my guy is in it :( They do make things interesting strategy wise though.

I know nothing about cars either, but it's pretty easy to understand the basic lingo when the announcers are talking. You can also look on the NASCAR website, they have a glossery.

Anyway, Daytona (the start of the season) is on Feb. 18th!

To one of the posters above,

Yes, NASCAR does release gasses into the atmosphere and all that, HOWEVER: They use low-immession fuels, and if I'm not mistaken I think that they're going to start running on something similar to E-85. Besides, it's only 43 cars, not having NASCAR isn't going to make any difference.

Answer 9

First of all, I personally think it helps if you have a favorite driver because you have someone to watch for which makes it more interesting. Then you could watch for stuff like what groove each driver is working best in, which cars are working best, and stuff like that.

Answer 10

Absolutely nothing. Stick with F-1 for "real" racing. Atleast in F-1 they make right turns. Unless of course you like watching slower cars drive around in a circle for 500 laps.