Why do you like NASCAR? Im genuinely interested?

Question

Being European I have never really watched NASCAR until this year. I didnt have any channels that allowed me watch it until this year. And when i got access to them i thought "sweet...more motorsports to watch". I love most forms of motorsports but as much as i thought i was going to like NASCAR i cant even begin to see the attraction to it. All the overtaking moves are identical(fair enough there are lots of them but i wouldnt call any of them exciting, i never hear the commentators get excited unless its the last few laps), the cars arent particularly fast compared to F1/indy, there are no spectacular venues/corners like Spa, monaco, laguna that just take your breath away and 9/10ths of the race is irrelevant because they will bring out the pace car with 50laps to go and any advantage you gained is wiped out. If its tight contact racing you like surely touring cars is more exciting? And if its the speed indy is way faster.

i have no doubt that it would be cool in person, how could 43 700bhp machines passing all at once not be but on TV you dont get that...and the main thing that i think it misses compared to other motorsports are the race long battles between 2/3 drivers. Ive looked at what ive been told the best nascar battles ever are on youtube and they really dont compare to Villeneuve/arnoux, schumacher/hill, piquet/senna because the passes are all identical. That said the finish of last years daytona was pretty cool.

Answer 1

If you ever went to a race you would understand! You can get your whole family envolved and it just kind of takes over.Nascar is really a way of life to most of us. Nascar Rules!!!!

Answer 2

Thank you for being so respectful with your question. You are struggling to find a reason to like NASCAR just as I am struggling to find F1 interesting. I totally understand what you are saying but I will give you why I like the stockcar racing better. First and foremost is the number of competitive cars. I've watched several F1 races now where the top 4 or 5 cars finished in the EXACT order they qualified. To me qualifying is by far the most exciting part of the events for an F1 race. You only have 4-6 cars that are even capable of winning. I realize that the cars themselves are technological wonders but only the elite teams seem to have access to the most advanced technology available. There are very few passes that occur and the lead only changes during pit stops. I'm not saying the drivers don't have immense skill it's just that many drivers will never compete no matter what their driving ability is. Now, NASCAR cars are balanced all wrong, too heavy and they run on narrow wheels. It doesn't make for as flashy of a race but it sure can get exciting. With the poor handling, relative to F1 cars, there is the potential for many more spins and wrecks. This brings out many more cautions and the opportunity for different pit strategies. This is where the races are often times won and lost. If you keep watching, and believe me it's taken many people a long time to get past the round and round monotony of the races at times, you will start to see why the pit stops are so exciting. For me it's the thrill of never knowing if a driver will be able to close the deal with 10 or 15 laps to go. Can they avoid a wreck? Do they have enough fuel and good enough tires? Will they hit some debris? And there are many exciting passes that you will miss if you get bored and don't really watch the whole race. The visual part of it is not going to compete with or compare to F1 but the talent of NASCAR drivers is way underrated due to the poor handling of the cars. The drama, in my mind, is WAY better. It's an emotional roller coaster that makes you feel so many different things in a short period of time. You may not ever be it's biggest fan but if you keep watching I think you will find things to keep your interest. It helps to learn more about the drivers and teams to find a driver to cheer for.

Answer 3

I can understand why it would be hard for someone outside of the US to see why NASCAR is so interesting to us. It's like if an American went over to Italy or somewhere else where soccer is big. If I were that American, I would have a very difficult time seeing the interest in soccer or any sport unfamiliar to me for that matter. As far as racing goes, I have no interest in Indy, F1, or anything other than NASCAR, and I too have tried watching the others. But to finally try to answer your question, NASCAR, to me, is just more personal. You feel like you get to know the drivers more than you can in other forms of racing. The drivers can connect to the fans better, and that is what allows the fans to feel like they have formed a tight connection with the driver, which allows them to basically love them (you know what I mean). They form a favorite and stick by them until the end (if they are true fans).

You are at a disadvantage, however. Most people who are NASCAR fans grew up exposed to it. If you have never experienced it, it probably is hard to develop an interest in it. I was introduced to NASCAR as a child and have been a fan since. Unless you know what makes it interesting, you can't understand it. And even when you understand what makes it interesting to you, it is difficult to explain it.

So my advice is to just find someone that knows about NASCAR and watch a race, or even attend one if you can. Maybe you'll experience what makes NASCAR so exciting to us Americans, and maybe you can explain to others better when you do.

Answer 4

Well, this is a complex question to answer. NASCAR really is a regional sport that was spawned in the foothills of North Carolina and the dirt tracks of neighboring South Carolina and Virginia. Up until the late 80's and ealry 90's NASCAR was very much a "Southern" phenomenon with little to no national media coverage. While the races were televised nationally, almost all of the races were run in the Southeast until this time and there was a minimal fanbase in other parts of the country. The vast majority of the drivers were from small, rural towns in the South, so almost every single fan could relate to "their" driver as someone they had a great deal in common with. The close relationship between the fans and the athletes is what initially drove the popularity of the sport... that and there is just something about that much horsepower that will make your heart beat a little faster.

Around this time, (late 80's) the "owners" of the NASCAR series, the France family decided to see just how much money they could make. Sponsors soon realized just how many "rednecks" there were and how much money these "rednecks" spent on anything from beer, to soda, to laundry detergent, to candy, or even various pharmaceuticals. They began to push NASCAR into larger and larger markets, to appeal to larger and larger groups of consumers... to help appeal to this "new market" of consumers, they decided that they must RE-VAMP the image of the sport.... become as politically correct as possible, employee drivers not only from the north, but the midwest and western regions of the country, international drivers and of course, women drivers. Also, they needed to sever ties with RJ Reynolds tobacco Company who had only been a loyal sponsor for 30+ years. (Without RJR, NASCAR would have dried up a long time ago, some other sanctioning body would have taken it's place, but RJR POURED money into NASCAR). At this time, they decided that NASCAR was no longer a Southern tradition, but an "international motorsport" to coin a phrase. Tracks like North Wilkesboro and Rockingham were deemed "unwothry" for competition... (meaning these tracks could not draw 150,000 spectators). Nevermind that without THESE types of tracks, NASCAR would not even exist. More and more, NASCAR has fippantly told its original fanbase, "We don't need you anymore." I still watch NASCAR on occasion, but it has lost 75-80% of its appeal for me. IMO, it has become nothing more than the WWE on wheels. Go get 'em Mean Gene and Hulkster!

Answer 5

I personally like the cars. Sometimes in other types of racing, the cars can be confusing to track, but I rarely have that problem in NASCAR (special paint schemes not withstanding).

Also, you get to feel almost like you know the drivers. Some seem very down to earth and even goofy (Ward Burton, Michael Waltrip).

I'm from Texas (almost a foreign country) and I grew up, lived and breathed football, college football). When I first experienced NASCAR I was like (BORING) then I picked a driver and started watching it more and the more I watched the more I liked it. I guess it didnt hurt that I had picked Jeff Gordon (I wore 24 for football) And that was the year he won his first race (for all those who will accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon).

All I can say is pick a driver and keep watching.

P.S. It also depends on the tracks. I prefer the short tracks, hate the restrictor plate races and can tolerate the road courses. And maybe thats what you need to watch....road courses.

Answer 6

I love NASCAR because honestly you never know whats going to happen for one. At any point in time the leader, whomever it may be, could blow a tire, an engine or wreck. I started watching about 7 years ago and yes my favorite driver was #3. I swear you never knew what Dale Sr. would or could do. I dont particularly like Gordon but he can drive the wheels off of a car much like Sr., who some dont know taught Jeff much of what he knows today. If you watch him drive his car its almost the spitting image of watching Dale Sr. Same style.
If you have a favorite driver and he is running neck and neck for the lead I get goose bumps and yell my head off.
I do have to thank you for not being judgemental about NASCAR too. Many people think only rednecks/hillbillies are fans and that is far from the truth!!!!
WELCOME ABOARD.

Answer 7

Before I went to a race I thought NASCAR was the dumbest most boring thing on tv. Once I went to my first race in the Spring of 1994 at Bristol. . .I can't explain the rush. All of the fans are like this giant family. To see such a massive crowd stand up and sing the National Anthem together and pay respect to our flag. . . .the fly overs are amazing. . .the famous words "Gentlemen, start your engines". . .and then the vibration of the motors starting and the smell of the rubber on the track. . . .dear heavens it is almost better than chocolate and some other things too. ;) lol

Answer 8

It's better and more exciting to watch than football, baseball and any other sport. Nascar is the #1 sport. It can be boring sometimes, but most racing are just jammed packed with fun, and there are some tracks you know won't be boring (Daytona, Talladega, Bristol) The different tracks make it more entertaining than football and baseball who fields look the same every time.

Answer 9

Its more about the people involved than just the races. I tried watching an Indy race and there was no personality exposure when they interviewed the drivers. They were boring and a little snooty/preppish. Nascar covers all of the people involved on the teams. They talk to crew chiefs, have helmet cams running during pit stops and there seems to be more driver interactions.

Answer 10

Nascar is like the guy next door--your neighbor--the people are the most accessible in any sport that I have seen--You really need to go to a race to experience the feeling