Could i please get an explanation as to why NASCAR drivers are athletes?

Question

-You command mechanical equipment that supplies most of the energy. In cycling, you provide your own energy and drive.

-Yes, you drive in intense conditions, but that does not warrant you as an athlete

-Yes, you have to draft and take turns very quickly, but that does not make you an athlete.

-You do not lift anything, you do not run, and you do not do anything that an average human being could not do (Apply pressure on a pedal and turn a wheel)

-Yes, some of the drivers can do backflips. Congrats, but what does that have to do with the sport?

-It does take skill to drive in those conditions, but put me in a stock car with enough experience, and I guarantee you I won't come in last, unless I crash

Answer 1

From the Webster's Dictionary:

athlete: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Driving a car at close to 200 mph for several hours (with the only breaks being 10-15 second pit stops), all the while sitting in an insulated fire suit and helmet in temperatures exceeding 130 degrees, certainly qualifies a NASCAR driver as an athlete according to Webster. As another response pointed out, it does take a tremendous amount of upper body strength to hold the car steady in a turn, which is why most drivers undergo weight training. Now, before we start to hear the "NASCAR is not a sport" replies:

sport : a source of diversion; physical activity engaged in for pleasure; a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in
(also from Webster's)

You stated "put me in a stock car with enough experience..." Under the same definition, if you had enough experience, or training, then you would be considered an athlete as well.

Answer 2

In 1958, the Florida sports writers voted Nascar driver Fireball Roberts 'Professional Athlete of The Year'.

That was 49 years ago. Where have you been?

Do you honestly consider professional golfers athlete's? I'm not dissin' golf but come on, the caddy requires more physical athleticism than the guy swinging the club.

Sure, drivers aren't running or lifting things, but one of the things I would consider athletic about them is the mental strain of having to concentrate intensely for 3-4 hours or die.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said there's times that he's so mentally drained after a race he has to sit and try to remember the way home!
Which reminds me, he drove the last 60 laps last week with no power steering! Try driving 120 plus miles in race conditions, yes...turning left every half mile, without power steering. Do that. Imagine that. Then think of what a golfer does, or what an outfielder does. Big difference.

I understand your arguments and I understand why you and others try to make that argument. But the point that you wouldn't come in last and that anybody can apply pressure to a pedal is somewhat ridiculous.
I played baseball for 8 years. How come I'm not in the big leagues? I can run, lift heavy things, throw a free throw, tackle people, dive for a lob, and yes, even drive a race car. But I couldn't do that on a professional level.

I think most people don't run everyday or hit a baseball or kick a soccer ball everyday or tackle somebody etc. but most people probably ride in a car everyday and this is why your asking this question.

One last thing, have you ever seen a pitstop live? That should be an Olympic event!!!

Answer 3

because it is a demanding sport. in a 100+ degree car cramped up for 5 hours. it isn't like being in a passenger car.
running at high speeds take more strength to turn the wheel to get throw the turn well.

it's more of a mental tough sport. you have to be metally tough. the drivers have to be watching everything constantly and if they lose concentration for a split second they could wreck, or wreck someone else. plus at restrictor plate races they are cramped up sometimes 20+ car packs and the slightest mistake causes a 15 car pileup.

Answer 4

The g-forces inside the car make your body 5 times its weight making it a workout and intense to even move inside the car, those clutches weigt alot more then a street car too lots of leg musscle being used there note g-force also. NASCAR is a team sport think of pit crews look how much excerise they get changing 75 lb tires and lifting a 3500 lb car in under 14 secs also holding a near 100 lb gas can. Think how much sweat the body is forfilling with all that work then imagine it 40 times worse as these cars on average heat up to 140 degrese. And you tell me its not a sport, in racing you get more excerise then almost any other sport

Answer 5

I will give you the benefit of a doubt and take your question at face value. Here's why:

1) Manuevering a car at high speeds requires catlike reflexes. One false move and you're on your roof.
2) It requires incredible focus. If your attention shifts you may find yourself in another driver's bumper, or in the wall.
3) Stamina. Others have addressed this: but you need strength to manuever an uncooperative car, and enough smarts to hydrate your body so you don't pass out from the incredible heat.
Hell- let's out it this way- if the did one of those competitions where athletes from all sports competed in various skill drills- I'd take the likes of Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and company any day of the week. Most of them excelled in other sports in high school. In fact, even old Michael Waltrip runs marathons.
I'd like to see Tank Johnson try that!!!!
You think you can race? Jeff Gordon could kick your *** driving backwards!

Answer 6

I already answered this question for you yesterday. It has to do with the fact that they drive with all that heat and with the G forces, and it takes skill and training to do that and have to be in good condition to go through it all.
And the most important reason they are athletes is what you your self said, ENough Experience which you do not have and would never make it, or you would be in the sport already.
Now go back to Formula 1 and leave us Nascar Fans alone.

Answer 7

Here is a naysayer.
Why does a football coach wear a baseball cap?
How many races have you driven?
Have you followed theroutines of most drivers?
Derrick Cope,AAA baseball player
Dale Jarrett,Golf,could quailify for PGA card
Mike Waltrip,runs marathones
Mark Martin,Lifts weights
Carl Edwards,rides bikes(mountain)
Tony Stewart Is a hunter and fisherman.
Jeff Gordon, Is an accomplished suba diver.
This scatches the surface.
And yes I've driven a stockcar in the 70's,not on the NASCAR level but weekly racing program.

Answer 8

Every day I see another headline about professional "athletes" caught using steroids, or cocaine, or charged with rape, or found guilty of other criminal behavior you'd expect from ghetto thugs who have single-digit IQs and seven-digit incomes. Please do NOT associate professional race drivers, in any series, with such filth. (No, racers aren't all angels, but the level of outright criminality is vanishingly small.)

I personally don't care if you want to call them "athletes" or not. Top drivers have skills on a level which I don't have despite some experience, the "average human being" does not dream of approaching (I know, because I see him all the time on the highway), and YOU clearly do not even begin to comprehend.

There's no accounting for taste, though, and apparently you'd rather watch the steroid-inflated thugs. That's fine. Surely there's a forum where you can go to discuss them?

Answer 9

You try strapping yourself into a 3500 pound car in temps that sometimes exceed 130 for 4 hours straight with no breaks or no time outs. Add to that the mental strain of running 180 mph just inches from another car doing the same. I have been racing local short tracks for 20 years and I am exhausted and mentally drained after just 50 laps or about 30 minutes. It takes massive concentration, eye to hand coordination, and stamina. You lose so much bodily fluid that your weight can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds after a long race. Yes my dear racers are athletes. They work every bit as hard as any baseball or basketball player.

Answer 10

Check this out... THEY ARE ATHLETES...PERIOD. They are not playing games like some "other" sports! (Don't start hating in me or dissing me for what I am about to say, just consider it for a minute...OK? OK!)

They call it a Football GAME, you attend a baseball GAME, that was a good GAME of golf, you played a soccer GAME, etc...(need I go on?) Volleyball game, badminton game, all of these PLAYERS are considered Athletes, right?

Have you ever, even one time, heard ANYONE ever refer to a "GAME" of racing? (not a video game), or a Nascar "GAME"? or anything even refering to playing NASCAR or the race PLAYERS, or even something similar? Therefore, where is the athlete in "PLAYING" anything else? I REST MY CASE!

It IS a sport, the participants are ATHLETES, and I mean no disrespect to any of the "games" I mentioned, only wanted to prove my point.

Unfortunately, only those with enough presence of mind and intelligence to understand the depth of the SPORT, will ever know what those of us who love NASCAR already know.

may the NASCAR FORCE BE WITH US

OPERATION CLEANUP RULES!!!!

Go Jr.>>>>