[rave20]

Crashes, clashes, driving styles, (or for you ladies) charming smiles: What is it that draws you to racing? What could possibly make you watch cars make only left turns for four hours when you could be doing ANYTHING else? AND what draws you to cheer for your favorite driver? Why is he (or she) your favorite?

[LSC9901]

Competition !!!!!

Years ago when I first became interested in NASCAR the entire scene was different. Most races were not carried on TV live. The ones that were carried were obviously tape delayed. Sometimes more than days or hours. It was a real treat when the Daytona 500 was broadcasted live. That seemed to be the turning point. Fan numbers grew as more races were televised. The cars themselves have gone through a transformation also. Way, Way back they even raced convertables. Can't even imagine that. The bodies were actually stock bodies with true metal fenders, regular glass in the windows. As time went on the teams found ways to tweek up the cars and sometimes get an unfair advantage. NASCAR then stepped in and created rules governing all the specs for cars. Seems like it has, in someways, gone downhill as far as justice being dispensed. That's another story.

I think my all time favorite driver would be Mark Martin. I cheer for several drivers/teams but always have that hope that Mark will win the championship. For me he has been a great example of a good sport, both for the public and for other racers.

One thing that has really made the sport of racing as big as it is is TV and good broadcasting. Notice I am not going on a tangent about DW and crew .... yet !! If it weren't for good broadcasting, watching them go fast and turn left would be somewhat boring.

[Souporscotty]

I'll be honest. I hate to see anybody get hurt, but you just can't beat a good wreck.

[TN_Gal]

Who cares what they look like...anyone who roots for someone because of their physical appearance needs mental help....

I like NASCAR races for the racing , chasing, passing, and yes crashing. But it's like the reverse for me....the thrill of the race is heart pounding for me...heck, I take a Klonapin about hour before the green flag. Actually, when we get a caution for a glove or a wreck is when I can breath easy. No I don't like crashes that hurt people....

Now maybe I need the mental help for the way I picked #17 to be my main man.....does it help he's not ugly?...heck yeah...BUT I didn't pick HIM ..I picked the car. I didn't know squat about NASCAR, and hubby was watching it. Well he's a Dodge man, mainly Newman, Kahne and back then Bill Elliot. And with both of us being Aires there is a lot of competition in our house. So I had to pick someone to root for (against the Dodge boys) Well I drove a Ford Taurus back then and I kept squinting my eyes and sheeeeeeet there's a Taurus with DeWalt on the hood. And I have rooted for him ever since.

Sidenote...bought me another Taurus last year...very good car

[Smoke842]

I like it when the underdog wins, few and far between now, though. Yes, I have my favorite drivers and I like when they win, but that win that Johnny Benson had a few years ago was so cool.

Also I like when the drivers have their little tiffs with each other. So funny to watch. Like when Gordon pushed Kenseth. I like to see emotion, not just flat monotone interviews with no feeling. And when they win, I love excitement like Junior's win a few weeks ago. Sometimes the drivers don't even seem excited, like they want us to think that they expected to win and it's no big deal.

[LSC9901]

More and more so the underdog wins will be far and few between. Like any other sport the dollar is taking control of who will win. I see it as about 5 teams now have a real lock on the top 15 places. They are the multi car teams with the big bucks major sponsors. When you get an independent or 1 car team in the top 15 it is almost like a victory for the little guy.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by rave20

Crashes, clashes, driving styles, (or for you ladies) charming smiles: What is it that draws you to racing? What could possibly make you watch cars make only left turns for four hours when you could be doing ANYTHING else? AND what draws you to cheer for your favorite driver? Why is he (or she) your favorite?

I don't just watch the cars go round and round, I'm there in the car. Exscapism for more fun in life. I love speed, have since I was a child. I think I inherited it from my father. I picked my driver because I liked the way he drove and would like to be riding with him. I picked Kasey before I ever saw what he looked like. Cute little guy, couldn't done better.