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I just don't get it... NASCAR edition

J-Cat

Shared on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:32

I mean I GET it. Go fast, turn left. 

Well... okay I don't get it.

We are a sports household. I can explain the infield fly rule. I know the difference between a half back and a full back; I understand why the offensive line is important. I am subjected to more hockeytalk than one wife should ever be subjected to.  I will sit at the bar and watch UFC. I have been known to get interested in golf. I once had an indepth conversation in a bar about cricket.  Part of our Vegas vacations always involved the sports book, not because my man makes me, but because I want to.  I kinda "get" sports in general.

Except Nascar. Oh, It's fast. It's hard to do, it's dangerous. I understand that. The drivers may even be althetes. Sure. I concede those points.

I just don't understand why or how watching cars zoom by is so entertaining. And I do get that I am the one missing something. It's an insane popular sport in the good ol' US of A for a reason, but I don't understand the reason why.  It seems like it's just cars whipping by, you wait for something horrible to happen and there is a fiery blaze. Where is the entertainme... hm.... maybe I've answered my own question. But honestly... there must be more to it than that. But what?

Nascar fans. Please. Explain why it's Nascar is wonderful and why you love it. Now, don't put down another sport to make your case (i.e. the "Baseball sucks too..." argument) but explain the merits of your sport.  Remember: something being hard to do does not make it a good sport. Crabwalking a marathon would be hard to do.... but it would be a crap sport.

Comments

happ's picture
Submitted by happ on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:37
Despite having lived in Atlanta when I was growing up, I still don't get NASCAR. I love football, baseball, basketball, and even get hockey and soccer. I would probably like it if it were shorter, but I don't get sitting down watching cars drive in circles for 200 or more laps. I think what NASCAR needs is guns mounted on the hood. I would enjoy that.
TheDastard's picture
Submitted by TheDastard on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:46
If you really want to suffer...watch golf on TV. You will go back to NASCAR in a heartbeat.
ATC_1982's picture
Submitted by ATC_1982 on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:53
You need to go tailgating / be up front and watch the race.
Automan21k's picture
Submitted by Automan21k on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:07
I'm with you J-Cat....but I extend it to all sports, I was an athelete for far too long so I would rather compeate than watch anything.
hubristes's picture
Submitted by hubristes on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:19
I live in Atlanta now. The way it has been explained to me is that you have to go to a race. Once you see a NASCAR race in person you apparently have your eyes opened to it's mystical appeal. I dunno though, I haven't been.
KingDrewsky's picture
Submitted by KingDrewsky on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:43
NASCAR has one of the most interesting championship based on cumulative points strategies of any sport. So to enjoy NASCAR, you should follow specific drivers throughout the season. The drama between the drivers as they compete for points for each race can rise to soap opera levels as the end of the season nears.
Snuphy's picture
Submitted by Snuphy on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:45
Next time you pull into a parking space in a crowded parking lot, try to imagine your car and all the cars around it moving together at 180 mph. If you pucker, you should understand Nascar. There's also a lot more to it than going fast around some form of oval. There's actually a fair amount of strategy involved as well. Sometimes the guys changing tires have more to do with who wins a race than who drives the car. But until you sit thru a few races, pick up some of the jargon, come to terms with southern American accents, and get a better understanding of Nascar beyond the car speeding around the track, it's tough to enjoy. But for me personally, I raced dirt bikes as a much, much younger human. As a result, I enjoy watching just about anything race, especially if it has a motor. Nascar is one of the most accessible forms of racing for normal schmucks like me. It’s an interesting topic. I’ll add it to the blogs-I-want-to-write-before-my-kids-go-to-college list.
hilskie's picture
Submitted by hilskie on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:05
I never understood it either..my dad used to watch it all the time...ugh... There is a competitive edge with it, I guess...haha
jcotter13's picture
Submitted by jcotter13 on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:27
I never was a nascar fan until I went to my local short track to see a friend race in our local saturday night series. I've been a fan ever since. yes it's cars going in circles, but there's so much more to it than that. Like snuphy said, there's strategy involved if you take the time to learn the ins & outs. A couple of years back I got to do a ride along in an Iroc car around our superspeedway here in nashville. I was thrashed after 3 laps. I can't imagine going for 500 in one of those things. Although I must admith that I'd rather watch road racing like the American LeMans series, F1, or the speed gt challenge etc...
sicrik's picture
Submitted by sicrik on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:35
put weapon on the cars........then I'll watch!!!!
Snuphy's picture
Submitted by Snuphy on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:21
@jcotter – for my 40th my wife bought me a 8 lap package to drive the 1 mile tri-oval at Disney World. Driving a stock car is nothing like driving an everyday passenger car. It’s loud, you get the crap beat out of you, and it is intense. I can’t imagine doing it for several hours either. Yet I want to do it again.
Claude505's picture
Submitted by Claude505 on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:06
Two things that I think help a lot (both, I think mentioned separately above)... First, you need to find a driver that you like and that you start to follow. I have met Brian Vickers a number of times and pay much closer attention because of it. Also, going to a race will give you a much better appreciation for it... if for no other reason than seeing it on TV reminds you of the feeling/excitement of being at the race
BlowMonkey's picture
Submitted by BlowMonkey on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:23
F1>>>>>NASCRASH
FadeIntoBlack's picture
Submitted by FadeIntoBlack on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 22:28
Just like Drewsky stated, it is drama to highest extent but must be followed weekly to understand it. The undercurrents of tensions and personal relationships amongst teams and drivers is great. It sincerely is Days of Our Lives for men in real life. There is so much thought and planning and teamwork involved in a win that someone who doesnt give it a good watch for a few weeks wouldnt get it. Some just dont get it either way though, just like some dont get baseball or hockey.
Mortaw's picture
Submitted by Mortaw on Mon, 05/25/2009 - 16:37
BM is right. Crashes is all anyone wants to see. Trust me I used to work the races up here at Lowes Moter speedway. I got boring and HOT quick.
dv8withn8's picture
Submitted by dv8withn8 on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 11:33
If you want to watch REAL racing, go F1 or Rally. IE Something that takes talent and involves turning the wheel more than one direction. ^^

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