Why NASCAR?

Question

This is just intended to be an honest question why NASCAR is so intriguing to everyone. I notice that this Auto racing forum revolves mostly around NASCAR, so I thought I would ask.
So, what makes NASCAR so much better to watch, etc. than all other auto sports? Please explain to a non-American born person living in America the attractiveness of this sport!!!
Please also defend why this is so much fun to watch... I understand that they are going stupidly fast, but it seems mostly repetitive.
Thanks!

First of all, thank you all for these answers! I have learned a new perspective!
I would also like to question, in response to some answers: sure NASCAR beats F1 being that the cars are more stout; now I would challenge you to consider other forms of motorsport, a few examples that are near to me: rally racing (lots of strategy, and many elements that are not included in NASCAR), hill climbing (tough for sure!) or any others!
Thanks!

Answer 1

All sports are mostly repetitive.

Still, I'll throw in my two cents. This year I've been following NASCAR, NHRA, F1, IRL, Champ Car, WoO, and sometimes ALMS! I love rallying, I'd cheerfully watch it too if it were televised here.

Regarding NASCAR, I'll second what others have said about the laid-back, friendly atmosphere, the colorful personalities, and the surprising complexity of a race, with 43 teams all making different adjustments and trying different strategies.

And I'll add that NASCAR excels at dramatic, close, on-track competition. The F1 world is still buzzing about the Japanese Grand Prix, which featured several exciting duels in the last lap. Well, that kind of thing happens in nearly every NASCAR race. Often the finish comes down to thousandths of a second. That also happens in drag racing, occasionally in the IRL, rarely in any other series.

And purely in my opinion, NASCAR cars *sound* right. I grew up around drag racing and muscle cars, and like the sound of a big rumbly V-8. All racing series have had to find ways to reduce speed for safety reasons; the open-wheel series all did it by mandating smaller engines. Now their tiny, high-winding engines sound like weed-whackers, or worse, dental drills. NASCAR did ban the big-blocks, but stopped the downsizing when they got to 358 cu. in., or about 5.8 litres. That's still big enough to have a pleasantly bone-shaking bass note. No doubt this looks very odd to a European!

Answer 2

Nascar has gained a lot of notoriety with the different sponsors and prime TV coverage. I would say why I watch is I grew up watching and have had the pleasure of meeting many of the drivers at different points in their careers some before they ever hit it big so I watch to see them. i also like a good road race and watch IRl some F1 and I got the chance to see a America Le Mans ace this year. so I would say a lot comes from the vast numbers of nascar fans out there and the increases popularity of the sport.

Answer 3

as usual you got a few stupid answers from an uniformed couple of idiots, but for the most part, i was surprised with the quality of answers so far....however, i odn't agree that f1 or irl is better racing.....the drivers are too snobbish and elitist...as well as the crowd...as shown by those fans who answered this question.....there is real strategy involved, it's not just going around in circles.....fuel mileage, tire strategy, when to lay back and when to go, how else could you be a lap or 2 down from the field and come back and win? when do you see that in the other series? in addition, the drivers, crews and owners even, are down to earth, accessable and love mingling with the fans.....the races are big, weekendlong partys and the fans are some of the best in any sport...there are no color, class or income boundries when you go to a race, and the rivalries are srtonger than in any sport i've ever seen.....although i do bemoan the fact that is it losing it's traditional southern usa roots, i also understand that is why the sport is becoming more widespread in it's appeal and scope....and as for all the f1 and irl drivers defecting....while i personally think they should have stayed where they were, it will only better the sport in the long run by broadening the fan base even more....anyone who doubts what i say only has to go to a race....escpecially a short track event like bristol or martinsville....and they will understand....

Answer 4

I think the largest part of the appeal of NASCAR is that here in the U.S. it is almost shoved at us as far as Auto racing choices. I personally do enjoy NASCAR but I enjoy all types of Motorsports. I have seen as many Champ Car races as I have NASCAR races. Would of loved to have seen an F1 race at Indy but that isn't happening now. NASCAR just gets the most TV time so we tend to talk about it the most.

Answer 5

Because it is way above F1, CART or IRL open wheel. Those cars are so fragile if the driver sneezes something might fall off. Road course is SO follow the leader boring. You have to grow up with the sport. It's native to the USA, began in the 1940's in southern states like Georgia and the Carolinas.

Answer 6

All I can say is go to a race, it changes everything..you will be hooked! Watching it on tv is ok but when you go to a race it just gets in you, it did for me and I love NASCAR! The sound of the engine, the smell of burning race fuel, man-and when you watch them on a superspeedway going almost 200mph it is awesome

88 in 08 AMP!

Answer 7

It's much like soccer or any ball sport. Repetitive, people hitting and kicking a ball, going back and forth across field. Seems strange that people would like watching that.

The above statement would come from someone who knew nothing of the sport of soccer or any of the teams or players.

Just because auto racing has a simple ending (someone finishes first and wins) doesn't mean those that don't get it know the rules, the teams or the players.

If you have no interest or understanding then it wont be interesting to you.

Answer 8

I am frequently annoyed by questions in improper categories. I just chalk it up to people who can read, don't read, don't care, don't think or what ever. I answer questions that interest me and dismiss those that don't and wonder why people bother to post badly. I don't even go to the NASCAR section as it doesn't interest me anymore than drag racing, now Formula One, That's racing!!!!!

Answer 9

it's the second most strategic sport in america behind football(american). there is just far more strategy involved in NASCAR than in open wheel racing. do you pit or stay out? do you take 4 tires? 2 tires? fuel only? what adjustments do you make to the car during a pit stop to make the car handle better? in a restrictor plate race do you purposely hang out in the back of the pack for most of the race like jeff gordon did yesterday to avoid the big wreck, and then make your move to the front with 25 laps to go? do you short pit?(that's pitting early, before the end of a fuel run. the purpose of this is to get fresh tires so you'll be much faster than the leaders on old tires, so by the time they have to pit, 10 laps or so later, you will have made up a lot of time on them, possibly giving yourself the lead. the down side of this is if there is a caution after you pit but before the leaders have to pit, you'll be trapped a lap or more down) i could go on and on. it's a thinking man's sport. a 200 MPH chess match. there's also the fact that the personalities in NASCAR are far more colorful and interesting than those in open wheel racing. and it's not only the drivers. america knows more and cares more about the crew chiefs (equivilent of a football head coach) and car owners in NASCAR than they do about the drivers in open wheel racing. in formula 1 for example, which is big in europe and south america, it's all about the car, who can build the more highly advanced machine. but the problem is, american sports fans couldn't care less about the cars, we care about the people who make them go. NASCAR gets that, that's why it so popular. i'll be at the martinsville race weekend after next, i can't friggin' wait!!!!

Answer 10

i prefer open wheel racing, but as drivers from f1 and the irl and champ car defect to the more well run racing league, then, of course, i will watch. montoya, villenuve, carpentier and franchitti have been favorites of mine for longer that i'd like to admit, and it just follows that i will watch whatever series they race in. nascar does seem to be more dialed in to the fans and the drivers are better at pr. there are more races and better sponsorship, therefore more money, therefore more viewers....... but the racing is not on par wtih open wheele. it never will be.