What makes auto racing (ie, NASCAR) interesting to watch? How did you become a fan?

Question

I know racing is a time-honored pastime for spectators and gamblers. But what makes it interesting to you? As an outside observer I see people staring at cars going around and around a crowded little track on TV and I wonder, "how can this be interesting?" Yet obviously it captures the attention of millions of my countrymen.

So I am curious. What hooked you? Why do you care who wins a race? Is there a dramatic back story to your favorite driver that found its way into your heart?

Also, do different things happen in races that vary the action up and make it interesting? All I can think of is: a) Someone passes someone else, b) Someone drops out of the race due to technical difficulties, or c) Someone crashes. Is there more to the in-race action? What dynamics am I missing? Is what happens off the track (between races) more interesting than what happens on the track? Is that where the drama that keeps you interested occurs? Thanks for your input.

Answer 1

Everything you said makes it interesting,I love going to the races meeting other fans. I was a Richard Petty fan and when he retired it was Jeff Gordons first race and I liked him and started to pull for him in 92.Nascar Rules !!!!!

Answer 2

I can see your points, as I used to share many of your views, but what got me hooked is when I found out about the personalities of not only the drivers, but the announcers, the team owners and so on. People of a type usually choose certain drivers to root for. You can easily tell the difference between a Tony Stewart fan and a Jeff Gordon fan, for instance.

As to what makes one race more interesting than another: each track is at least slightly different than all the other tracks on the circuit, so the cars have to be set up so that they can survive the whole race. That is part of the fun. Some crew chiefs are much better than others at setting up their strategy. Watching how things unfold is most of the fun.

New fans usually cheer when they see wrecks, but the more seasoned fan is less likely to do so. Safety has been highly improved over the past 7 years, so there are few injuries anymore. Now, the big deal is paying attention to the implication on the points race. You see, each driver is given points for the race based upon where they finish and if they led at least a lap during the race. At the end of the season, the guy with the most points is the champion.

Yes, there are fun points during any race where someone will make a wild pass, but I also enjoy watching the pit stops just as well. You see, all parts of the race have strategy, much the same as any other sport. You can be the best driver in the world, but if you don't have a great pit crew you are very unlikely to ever win a race. You certainly will never win a championship with all the different facets figured out.

Once you get to know the tracks, you will likely choose a couple favorites that you enjoy watching. For me, Bristol, TN and Infineon are fun to watch. It is so much fun watching the cars racing around the high banking of Bristol and Infineon is one of only 2 road races they have on the circuit. It's fun to watch them turn left AND right and change elevations.

Going to a race is far different than going to any other sporting event. Lots of race fans will arrive for a Sunday race on Thursday or Friday before the race. There is always a lot to do, visiting vendor booths, making new friends by camping out, meeting drivers... just the atmosphere as a whole. NASCAR can become a lifestyle if you want it to. It's generally wholesome entertainment. You can be a casual fan (with just a bit of education) or you can get really into it. Many people collect various fan gear, etc., but you don't have to do that to enjoy the experience.

Answer 3

You are one of the few people to ask this question that seems sincere so I will give you my take on it. I started to really get into NASCAR in the mid 90s when I started to get in on a racing pool at work. It was $5 a week and there were 10 people in it. They would flip cards (Ace-10) for your weekly number (0,1,2...9). The payout was based on the number of the winning driver (If you had 4 and Jeff Gordon won you would get the $$ because his car ends in a 4, and so on). I would watch to see how "my cars" were doing at first. Then you get into the different pit strategies with fuel and tires and all the other stuff going on that affects the outcome of the race. It is such a team sport that the drivers are just a part of the formula for success on the track. Then after awhile you learn the different driver's tendancies, strenghts and personalities. The thing that really makes it exciting is that you never know until the last lap who might win. You could have a wreck coming out of the final turn or some equipment failure that can happen at any moment. The lead usually changes a lot and it's interesting to see how different drivers deal with the constant change. Cars that are dominant early in a race can go to junk halfway through it or fall off at the end. The battle between drivers, crew chiefs and teams is what makes it complex and interesting. There are physical and psychological battles that play out every week and you never know which way it will go until the end. It's so much more than going around in circles once you get beyond just the action during green flag racing. With 43 drivers it's the whole gammit from heroes to villians with conflict and eventually resolution. It's an emotional roller coaster that I don't get from other sports I watch and it rarely ever gets boring to me.

Answer 4

Great question!!! I'll just give you my short version of why I LOVE NASCAR. I was born into racing, my dad raced the figure 8 when I was little, he also raced planes. I raced stock cars and destruction derby. There is so much more to it than cars just going around in a circle. Try holding one of those babies on the track going 185 plus. Those guys now are in such good shape. I love the speed, unless you have done it, you have no idea. I can watch the race and FEEL the speed. So speed hooked me and the adrenalin rush. I care about all the drivers except one LOL and I like to see Dale Jarrett win. Someone PLEASE give him a real car!!! I like to know about all the drivers background. That gives each one a special place in my heart. As far as passing goes...you NEVER know what's going to happen. Exciting stuff!!! Crashes now are cool, mostly the drivers come out of it a-ok. The old days were much different. Again, great question. BTW, I picked out my casket already, yup, it's NASCAR!!! Wish I could remember the web-site!

Answer 5

Ive always watched racing. My dad liked the open wheel stuff so he always took me to Indy for qualifying every year and the 500 a few times. He didnt watch much else though. I started watching other types of racing because I really didnt care what it was as long as it was good racing. I ended up following some of the open wheel guys to NASCAR. In some ways the Indy car races were not always as competitive (IRL has very good finishes) and when they split I lost interest in it. NASCAR is usually a close race and in most years several teams with good chances to win, more cars closer together than the open wheel stuff and you can bump not not automatically take out both cars. Like any type of racing you have to learn the different strategies, rules for that series, and people involved. Without that knowledge I would agree it may be less interesting.

Answer 6

I use to make fun of my buddies when I would come over and they would be watching nascar until one day they said put in $5 and pick a car. So the only thing I looked for was #1 it had to be a ford since that is the kind of truck I drive and #2 the sponsor which happened to be something I used. Then I basically had a reason to watch and it was alot of fun going for your driver and cheering against your buddy's drivers. Then the more I got doing that I started understanding everything else about the sport so now I am hooked. The thing I like the most is going to a live race with a camper and friends staying at the track and tailgating all weekend.
Now I like it all betting or not but I do admit if you put money on a car you will start doing your homework on which drivers does good at certain tracks.

Answer 7

The status of my 5 favorite drivers: 1. Bill Elliott: Semi-retired (retires fully next year) 2. Rusty Wallace: Fully retired and working at ESPN 3. Terry Labonte: Fully retired (attempts a race every now and then) 4. Ricky Rudd: Fully retired 5. Jeff Burton: Active So yeah I still watch NASCAR even though four of my original five favorites will be retired for good by next year. In fact I've come up with a new top five: 1. Jeff Burton 2. Mark Martin 3. Kasey Kahne 4. Three way tie between Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson & AJ Allmendinger 5. Marcos Ambrose

Answer 8

Great question!! My parents started watching Nascar in 1999. I was wondering what the hell for?? It was just a bunch of cars driving in circles. I was over their house and the race was on and I noticed a M & M's car. I was hooked from that moment on. My dad got season tickets the next year and we have been to every Michigan race since. It is a totally different experience being there!! The people are something to watch for sure!! The sights, the sounds, just everything is very exciting. After you have been watching for a while , you kind of get to know who is who. Who you like, and who you don't. We also do the fantasy racing through yahoo. That makes it even more fun!!

Answer 9

You definitely need a favorite driver for it to be interesting. I was watching by chance the first Daytona 500 that Jeff Gordon won with my Grandpa on a big screen TV at my aunts house and thought it was pretty cool.
When i went to work later a coworker said this win was a fluke and this young punk just got lucky and wouldn't win any more races. With me being near the same age this fired me up with the "young guy vs. older guy" competitiveness. I've been pretty much hooked since then.
I was given some infield passes to Atlanta 4 years ago and really loved the atmosphere of being in the pits and hanging out with my buddies who camp there every race. I much prefer the infield compared to sitting in the stands.
Of course most of my buddies are Earnhardt fans, so it keeps it interesting to say the least. Which they are pretty cool and we have a lot of fun backing our favorite racer without making it personal.
It is interesting to keep up with the Monday through Saturday work that makes Sunday racing possible. Again it helps to have a favorite and start keeping up with them and you will start to find other drivers you like.

Answer 10

In person, it is fantastic! I saw my first race in Darlington in 1976 and I was hooked. You can watch whomever you want, and you can pick where the good racing is taking place not where the TV camera goes. The passing takes strategy and crashes are part of the sport. The speeds are upwards to 200 mph on some tracks. i think that most people I know either like it or hate it. There is always a lot going on between races, too.

Answer 11

I have family members who were into car racing, which naturally had me gravitate to it as a child; especially watching late model stocks at a small track in the area.

I personally don't have a favorite team or driver & am not a hater, though I wish Bill Lester would finally receive the sponsorship $$$ to make a full year's Cup races. It is a shame that such a talented driver has to continually scrape by in finding the financial backing to compete.

I have driven WOO sprint cars on dirt and I go into every race as a spectator hoping that there are no accidents of any kind. I want a clean race without the drama, maybe because I respect what it has taken the drivers to make it to the show.