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NASCAR Mania
These NASCAR races every Sunday are getting me mad. I will admit that I've only followed NASCAR for six years, a relative novice compared to those who grew up wearing Dale Earnhardt tee-shirts to school and having a couple of beat-up cars in the backyard. Many of my friends have been following NASCAR since they could walk, and they thoroughly understand the ins and outs of the sport.
But I've become a NASCAR fan, thanks to my friend Lonnie and his Dad Larry. I'm learning the sport as I go, but sometimes I have to wonder if this is really car racing. Yesterday's version of the Food City 500 at Bristol, Tennessee was more like up-scale bumper cars than professional racing. In the final few laps Kurt Busch bumped my man, Matt Kenseth, from behind to take the lead. Then along comes NASCAR's pride and joy, Jeff Gordon. And Gordon gives Kenseth a bump from behind, a move I perfected at the Clinton County Fairgrounds while driving bumper cars when I was ten years old.
Most of Sunday's race was a series of caution flags. The men would drive around the track ten or twenty laps and then there would be a flat tire or guy bumped into the wall or a spinout for no apparent reason. The last count I heard was 18 caution flags. That's not racing. Bumping into cars on purpose isn't racing. Seems like more and more NASCAR is looking like a bunch of high-priced bullies who bend the rules and get away with it. I'm about ready to find something else to do with my Sunday afternoons.
Comments
Don’t lose faith so quickly young NASCAR Jedi. The NASCAR fan is one of the most loyal and dedicated of all sports fans. They are fans for all reasons…the slick cars, associated sponsorships, manufacturers, the “young-gun” drivers, the exciting racing, and, obviously, the crashes. A dedicated race fan watches all types and levels of racing from their local class racers, to IRL, to Busch, to NASCAR. Sure, fans come and go as with any sport. After all, you can only watch something go in circles for so long, especially on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It’s all part of the excitement of being a NASCAR fan.
The NASCAR faithful have grown exponentially over the last 10 years, as have the prices of a ticket to one of these cherished events. Obtaining a ticket to a NASCAR event has been likened to that of obtaining a Superbowl ticket to some, because the NASCAR series only visits a venue once a year, twice in some cases. Local fans will pay top dollar to see their favorite “guy”, “car”, or “manufacturer” in person. A legion of gypsy fans has even developed, where folks live in motor-homes for weeks on end and follow the circuit. Like the commercial says, “ they tailgate for three days, not three hours; they cheer even though they can’t be heard.” Racing has changed a lot since the Saturday nights of past at Airborne.
Posted by: Kern | March 30, 2006 9:54 AM
Foxy, the slam bang NASCAR short track racing starts all the way back to the local tracks like Airborne Speedway. The "rubbin is racing" ideas were born there, and will always be part of the show.
In fact people like Ricky Craven and Kevin Lepage were local heros out there in the North Country, before making the big time.
If you haven't yet, take the trip to The New Hampshire Speedway, and watch a Busch race. I did, and many of the stars of today's Nextel Cup were racing that day!! Earnhardt Jr. Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart were 3 that come to mind from that event. I have yet to make it to a Cup event, but hope to someday.
I have watched NASCAR for 30 plus years, and have seen some events pretty much wreck free. Believe me, those guys don't look to wreck, but if someone won't get out of the way, and second is the first loser, a driver has to do what he can to be first!
Posted by: Steve P | March 29, 2006 10:16 AM
Well Fox,that's what keeps people going back to watching the races. That is what makes people like or dislike certain drivers. This I can understand. What I don't understand is drivers put on a probation term. What is that for them?? Why is it that some drivers get fines and probation vs. other drivers get fines, probation & point deductions. Well, in Gordon's case, ya, NASACR wants to see him in the Race to the Chase. That's the big "news maker", why or why not Gordon or Jr. makes the Chase. Hopefully NASCAR can get consistent with their rulings.
LSR
Posted by: lonnie barrier | March 29, 2006 7:50 AM