[Quality88]

Originally Posted by nascarfan24

no i'm not
everyone knows it!
name some drivers that came into nascar in the 90s and weren't from the south!

Snooker, you form your own opinion. The southerner thing might fly with some fans. Most people thinks he is an arrogant a$$. Kasey Kahne is not from the south and is winning and people like him other than his fans. Most Gordon fans are just fixiated on Jeff and think he is God and make their own opinions on why he is hated. It's different from fan to fan... personally I have not seen anyone dislike him from winning so much. I've seen hated for the reason I hate him, because he's has an higher than thou attitude. IMHO

[LSC9901]

Since the original question is about why do you watch NASCAR I'll add my two cents. I've always watched it to get my fill of excitement from behind the wheel. When they started with the in car cameras it made my watching that much more enjoyable. From there I went to racing sims for PC's and even got to do a drive around Charlotte Motor Speedway. To a degree I get a rush watching the accidents. I also get a thrill out of watching the team effort from the pits. Not just the over the wall crew, but all the calculations that go into the effort. Some of the network chatter is also of interest .... some of it.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by nascarfan24

name some drivers that came into nascar in the 90s and weren't from the south!

Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Steve Park and the Bodine brothers quickly come to mind.

[nascarfan24]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki, Steve Park and the Bodine brothers quickly come to mind.

oh your good!
but they haven't had as much success as Jeff
and with that comment i vote we end the jeff conversation!

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by nascarfan24

oh your good!
but they haven't had as much success as Jeff
and with that comment i vote we end the jeff conversation!

I know you wanted to end the conversation, but I have this urge to school you a wee bit. Naturally, none of those guys has had the success of Gordo, but Alan Kulwicki did become the 1993(?) Champion as an owner/driver. I dont think it had ever been done, nor has been done since. It is possible he could have had one or two more, but he had an untimely death.

Oh, and I stand corrected when I said Mark Martin. He is definately southern being from Arkansas. I was thinking of his roots in ASA which was based in the mid-west.

[Curves24]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

• It's "American made" - at least up to now
• It's "team" - probably more so now then in earlier times
• It's the only sport that has time for the national anthem on TV before every event
• It's the only sporting event that openly and clearly prays to the Christian God & Savior
• It's tailgating to the nth degree
• It's the only sport that clearly and grandly acknowledges our armed forces before every event
• The automobile, the open road, etc. is part of the American dream and is more ingrained in the culture than perhaps any other country in the world
• When they come to the green and you're in the stands the goosebumps are invigorating
• It gave us Dale Earnhardt
• Driving a car is highly "relate-able" to near everyone
• The fans are great
• etc.
• etc.
• Ya gotta love it

Wow that sums it up for me too, but I have to add the anticipation and adrenaline rushes I get!
It is ALMOST better than _ _ _ (j/k)

[24fAn4eva]

What about the fighting, the wives crying on top pit boxes, wives climbing up pit boxes to fight other wives, the weekly reminders of the legends that help pave the way for what it is today, the traditions, the camera angles that remind you of the smell of high octane being exploded, and the blast of wind that slaps your face when the cars past, or just the fact that when the green flag drops some of the best drivers in the world are fixing to tie up in a round and round of none stop DRAMA . Thats, why!

[drnascar48]

The reason why I watch NASCAR is because my dad got me started on watching when I was five. Then my father died when I was 8 year old. After he died I just kept on watching NASCAR on television. The other reason why I watch NASCAR is because their a hole alot excicement and it fun to watch. The third reason why I watch NASCAR is because I understand the sport. It it the only sport I understand. My last reason why I watch the sport is because when my father was live he worked at Hendrick Motorsports. Those are my reason why I watch NASCAR.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by snooker

Your kidding , right ?

snooker I'm going to try to give you a word of sanity. Race fan's in general love to bash(hate is to strong of a word) most other driver then the one's they support. It started right from the first time a bunch of guys raced each other. Then if someone did something the driver or fans didn't like, well you had a true red-neck reaction. Sick as it is we have more fun when we have someone to blame if something happens to our guy. Jeff was that outsider so hench a scapegoat. And I think if you look at other sports you will find the same type of reactions. #1 for this girl is the Pitt-WVU game. I have no reason to hate pitt other then its a tradition. So pick you a driver, pay attention to what a pit crew plus the motorsport has to do, add in the driver and you will see its no more simple then what a coach and team has to do to win. Driver fast, turn left. Love it.

[snooker]

Thanks everyone on your suggestions , I think I would need to view it live myself with the crowd to get the real excitement that use's feel, I have guys here thats all they talk about and yeah Dale is missed with these guys here too but , Though I have one friend who like Jeff , I think he like him because he has made alot of money from betting on him , Infact he love Jeff +$$$$ , The other guys don't LOL -$$$$

[lilsexy08]

At first I didn't care for it until I actually went to a race! It was so cool! Now I can't get enough, its addicting! I would rather be at a track every weekend and camping out! Nascar is just awesome!

[oncea3fan]

well I grew up watching my dad race figure 8, so it's 2nd nature to me .

but the real reason............whatch the last 30 laps of dover a few week ago. that is what hooks me, plain and simple good hard close racing.

[gobrianvickers]

i was a die hard wrestling fan for three years until i saw dj win the pepsi 400 a few years ago. the announcer kept saying
" four fresh tires "


so i guess i was intriguied by pit stradegy .

[Cincyreds14]

Originally Posted by snooker

Hey all ... I'm curious as to why people watch NASCAR ? I know its pretty gutsy to drive those cars at those speed but to watch a car go around and around , I just can't get into it , So what is it that has you glue to this sport ? Thanks

I really dont watch it to much but personally i like watching the wrecks

[victorie]

Originally Posted by snooker

Why is it many seem to dislike Jeff ? But isn't 48 his partner ?

Um, most fans dislike Jeff Gordon (not to be confused with Jeff Burton!) because Gordon is a pretty-boy who won way too often in his early years but still feels he has to complain about other drivers now that he's not doing so well anymore. I can't find a lot of fault with his basic skills, but his attitude and (like some others) his driving *practices* leave something to be desired, to put it mildly.

The fun thing about watching Gordon and JJ wrecking each other is that many of us feel it's some sort of poetic justice, maybe?

In the larger picture, I used to be one of those fans of other sports who asked my NASCAR-fan friends, "Why do you like to watch cars drive fast around and around in a circle?"

It didn't excite me the first few times I checked it out, and I didn't "get" the allure. But then a dear friend began talking about the races and was clearly happy to be getting more chances to see them "play," so I decided to give it another try in 1994. Amazing! I got hooked right away and began watching every week.

In 1995 I picked Terry LaBonte as my favorite driver -- and he won the Cup! The next year I picked Dale Jarrett -- and he won the Cup! That added fuel to the fire, and I was definitely hooked then.

I've enjoyed it ever since, and have often tried to explain to those who ask why I, a fifty-something lady with gray hair and granny glasses, love the sport. Well, I'm a gearhead at heart, love driving and appreciate fine cars of many different types, rode motorcycles for almost 30 years -- and have worked on my own vehicles quite a lot in the past. Hands are too painful for that now, but I still appreciate great driving!

The many tracks NASCAR races are held on offer a variety of different types from short track to road-racing style to the "big ovals." Some drivers excel on one type but not on others. Some are skilled on almost ANY track.

What fascinates me most, though, is thinking about just how talented these professional drivers really are, that they can drive almost 200 mph in VERY close quarters, bumper to bumper, and still avoid crashes as well as they do while demonstrating some amazing skills at the wheel.

I love NASCAR less and less the last couple of years, however, as the sport seeks to draw in a wider audience. I heard recently that the growth spurt of NASCAR has apparently ended, and in fact that viewing is falling off somewhat. I suspect many who tried it did NOT enjoy it that much and went back to the other sports they like better.

I happen NOT to like the prayers before the races -- or at least the televising of them, since not all NASCAR fans are Christians and it sort of puts off viewers like agnostics or those of other faiths. But I enjoy hearing the national anthem and seeing the color guards, the military flyovers and respect paid to those who serve, which I think most Americans can get behind as well.

NASCAR fans, like those of any other sport, can include some who get obnoxious and rude, even throwing things on the "field of play" when they are angry about something or at someone. But most of them are just regular folks who like cars and enjoy the adrenaline rush from the high speeds and daring driving. NASCAR pros have a lot of courage not required in many other sports, though some of them are too reckless or drive dangerously, even deliberately causing crashes -- but they usually pay for it eventually.

I was glad to see any business other than beer or tobacco being the primary NASCAR sponsor (not that I love the telecom industry, but still...) when Nextel took over the Cup races a couple of years ago. NASCAR is trying to shed some of its "bad" images from the past and embrace more people as fans, but it's still the diehard car lovers IMO who will always be the strongest fan base of the sport. People like my brother, who is a lifelong gearhead, restores old cars, rides and works on Harleys, and with his best pal drives to a couple of races every year in their motorhome, towing a trailer with their bikes on it! He says the live races are something you have to "be there" to imagine -- the biggest "party" he's ever experienced, though some of them do get a little TOO "rowdy" over the long weekends!

Does that help explain it some? I agree with those who indicate some folks just might not "get it," but I was one who once didn't, but now does. Watch a few races, get to know the drivers and their crews, listen to the usually good announcers who help explain aspects of the sport, and I'll bet you'll find it's more FUN than you would have guessed.