As most of you know I am a sports fan – ok a big sports fan. Even if you didn’t know that, you could tell by looking at my license plate or walking into my office.
Being a sports fan I have had the privilege of going to lots of events. Yes I have been to the World Series, NBA finals, Stanley Cup finals, World Cup and all-star games in baseball, basketball and hockey.
I have been to non-traditional sporting events like the OP Surfing championship in California. In addition, I have been to a number of pro volleyball tournaments as well as major golf and tennis tournaments.
I have been to literally hundreds if not over a thousand events. But…I have NEVER been to a NASCAR race. Living in Boston, I had only a handful of chances to go, but now I live in Texas less than 15 miles away from Texas Motor Speedway and still have never gone. I am not sure why. I know this: I want to go. Here are a few stats:
- Currently over 75 million people or one in three US adults are NASCAR fans
- NASCAR is the number-two sport on television in the US and is broadcast in over 100 countries in 21 languages.
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The sport has over $2 billion in licensed product sales annually, making NASCAR a consistent performer among all major sports. I didn’t know 60% of the fans are male and 36% of the fans have families with kids under 18 – so I qualify for both of those groups.
I hope to go to a race this year.
- What am I missing?
- Please describe the races and the experience.
I look forward to reading your comments.
Rhonda Ellis says:
What are you missing?? Lots!!! Like any other sport, I am sure there are those to whom NASCAR just has no appeal. I for one, am not really interested in Indy racing for instance. Why not? I don’t really know. After all, it is cars racing each other, right?
I think what makes NASCAR so special are the personalities that are involved. Each driver and even car or team owners have their own personalities that come out during and even in between races/events.
That makes for some real interesting stuff both on and off the track.
Then, you have things going on like the Championship. Each week they race for the win. But bigger than racing for the win on Sunday is amassing enough points to be the one at the end of the season with the most points (whether you won the most races or not) and thereby becoming the season Champion. Now, that’s a nice big trophy and paycheck!
For some it is the sheer act of racing. Doesn’t matter what track it is, just can I win this race and how many can I win regardless of what track I am at. For other drivers, it is a win at a certain track that has become the focus. For instance, winning at the Daytona 500 or at Bristol or Darlington as different tracks hold different meanings for the drivers and different “bragging rights”. Some tracks have been given nicknames by the drivers like “The Lady in Black” ’cause they seem to chew up cars and drivers and winning there means you have conquered it. Some drivers have a goal to collect all the trophies. Each race has its own trophie. At, Martinsville for instance, the trophy is a Grandfather clock. At the Brickyard in Indianapolis, the trophy is a golden brick.
Each track also requires different set-ups in the car as far as engine, chassis, suspension. Just depends on how the track is laid out (oval, road course, tri-oval, etc.) as to what kind of set-up you need to try to win. Some teams and drivers are better road corse drivers than short track drivers. Is it a super-speedway? Some are better at that or enjoy that more.
Mostly, though, it is sheer horsepower and the beating and banging that makes it so fun in my opinion. Yeah, alot of people say its just turning left and going as fast as you can but you have to admit that there’s something about the sound of those engines and watching two cars fight back and forth to try to be the one that crosses the line the last time around, FIRST!
Brian Ottum says:
Ditto for me, Merrill. I’ve been to the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, Baseball All-Star Game and hundreds of other sporting events. I have never been to a NASCAR race, despite living 34 miles from the Michigan International Speedway. After the experiencing the fans that come through my town on their with to/from the race, my interest in attending a race is zero.
Kelley Styring says:
I went to my first NASCAR race because I had free tickets and I always like a good freak show, so decided to check it out. I was surprised. I LOVED it — for about an hour. First, the cars go so fast that when they pass your turn they are a huge colorful blur. Better than anything you remember from the 60s. Psychedlic. Then, there is the noise. It is SO loud that your ribs actually vibrate in your chest. It reminded me of a space shuttle launch. The reverb moves your whole body, the stands, everything shakes. That’s pretty cool. Then, there’s always the chance for carnage. But after an hour, it’s a bunch of guys going around in circles and people in the stands spilling beer on your shoes. My point — check it out, once.
Rhonda Ellis says:
Okay–so NASCAR is for some but not others. No problem. I can accept that. Nothing is for everyone.
Meanwhile, I will always love the sound of 43 seperate 700+ horsepower engines (motor alone mind you, as in fuel only…no stupid nitrous!!) roaring at the same time. But then I am also a big fan of classic muscle cars too so comes natural to me.
On to Phoenix this weekend boys!!! Let’s go racing!!!