[Lefty Noob]

Thought it would be cool to hear everyone's story about when and how we all became NASCAR fans. Me, I just happened to catch - quite by chance - the 1985 or 1986 Daytona 500. I don't remember which, but it was on CBS at the time. Something about it really clicked with me, and I started watching more and more. Before you know it, I'm hooked.

How about you folks? How did all of you become NASCAR fans?

[Team Yates]

I started watching races because of my pop-pop (Grandfather). Back then, they only showed the Daytona 500 live and some tape delayed "chosen" races. He watched all types of races, Sprint, Cart/Indy, etc., so I was brought into the racing "bug" very young. We were watching Cale, Bobby, Donny, Richard, Jr. Johnson, etc. on the NASCAR curcuit at the time I first started watching racing. And my pop-pop was always a FORD man, so that has passed on to me also, that's why I'm Pro Ford!!!! He had taken me to some races when I was very young like Sprints, etc., we never got to a NASCAR race, in fact I never got to go to a NASCAR race until 1995. Even though my favorite driver Davey is no longer with us, I still continue to follow, sometimes lately, I wonder why!!!

[24/8/48fan]

My best friends father did local A.M. radio broadcasts from Thompson and Stafford speedway up here in New England, and previous to that he was involved with the old Westboro speedway which is now a B.J.'s and Stop & Shop. He would take us along with him to these events, long story short he ended up with free tickets to Loudon and I saw my first live NASCAR race and was hooked.

[Bob Tanner]

My parents were race fans and I was practically raised at a race track. We attended the local races every week and the man who ran the garage my father took our car to had a stock car which he raced.
Being from just outside Indianapolis (Anderson, IN) and being just 30-some miles from the track, and it being the 50's when guys actually worked on their own cars, hot rods, fast cars, and racing were a way of life for me.
I went to the Brick Yard for the first time in 1952. We vacationed in Daytona in 1958 and I saw my first NASCAR Race. The only way I could follow NASCAR was reading a monthly magazine (Mechanix Illustrated) which at the time had an automotive editor (Tom McCahill) who devoted space each month to NASCAR.
I joined the Navy in '61 and was in Chicago until '67, where I saw stock car racing on a grander scale (O'Hare Stadium, Raceway Park, Santa Fe Speedway, Illiana Speedway (IN), Slinger Speedway and Hales Corners Speedway (WI)
Returned to Anderson in '67 and was involved in helping Rex Robbins get ASA going. I ran several ASA events in '68 (It was still a more or less local series; Rex didn't turn ASA into a traveling series until early in the 70's and then I was busy trying to figure a way to see the next dawn, in a little place named Cam To) but realized that watching races and actually running were two intirely different things. As Clint Eastwood said, "A man has to know his limitations."
Went back into the Navy in 69. Followed NASCAR when I could but spent a lot of time stationed overseas. I corresponded with NASCAR HQ and talked them into sending me a official race results sheet after each race along with whatever writeup the Daytona paper did. This was primitive, but it beat the Hell out of coverage by Stars & Stripes (The quasi-official military daily newspaper).
Retired from the Navy and located in Southern Alabama, primarily for the weather but secondarily for the proximity to NASCAR. Then NASCAR took a hard left turn and I continued to go straight... Now I follow the administration of NASCAR Cup and its mechanics much more closely than I do the actually racing. My main interest is now with the CTS. I sincerely hope Brian France never realizes that CTS exists; he'd find a way to screw it up, too.

Gawd! That was boring and much too self-serving. I apologize, folks.

[Quality88]

During the days of Awesome Bill (although I knew who the King was). I got hooked on all types of racing. Nascar was the one that really hooked me. Fender banging, door to door racin. Man I miss those days.

[oncea3fan]

my father ran a 55 chevy in the figure 8 class at the local speedway(Dorsey speedway in howard co. MD.)so I was always around stockcars growing up, my dad stopped racing dirt when I was about 10, then went drag racing til I was 14. then he stopped all together, we would whatch all kinds out racing on the weekends.

but I remember whatching a race at I believe was northwilksboro.
where the yellow and blue #3 raced really hard again the green #26 I think.

I was hooked and Dale was my driver, evan though he didn't win the day.
my buddy picked up on the #11 bud car with DW driving.

[Smoke842]

I was a huge NBA fan, watched every single game on tv. I was watching an NBA game when Dale died. I watched the race the next weekend to see what they would do specially for him, I watched his memorial service on Speed. Been watching ever since.

I didn't know the difference between Ricky Rudd and Ricky Craven, imagine that. Which Ricky was it that hit the wall, I'd ask my friend that was really into it. Now he's not into it as much and he tells me he created a monster. I don't watch NBA games anymore, they are way too boring.

You never know what will happen in a race rite up until the last lap! I love that.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Because of Bud Lindeman. Thanks Bud and please, drive safe, all the professionalls do.

[wardfan]

damn, how can you explain it. It's just something about cars. By the way I like watching the back in the day on speed because back in the day you could tell all the different cars and when you were rootin for a chevy, by damn you could tell it was a chevy. Not like the cars that all look alike today and you can only tell the difference if they show a shot close enough to read the name on the bumper.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by wardfan

damn, how can you explain it. It's just something about cars. By the way I like watching the back in the day on speed because back in the day you could tell all the different cars and when you were rootin for a chevy, by damn you could tell it was a chevy. Not like the cars that all look alike today and you can only tell the difference if they show a shot close enough to read the name on the bumper.

Would someone please tell me what meaningful benefit to actual auto racing was gained by NASCAR getting involved in the race car design business?
What did we get from it? The soon-to-be-despised NASCARmobile (a.k.a. Car of Tomorrow) which will finally get us politically correct, "every thing's equal" mediocre racing.

Hey Dude! Where's my NASCAR?

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Would someone please tell me what meaningful benefit to actual auto racing was gained by NASCAR getting involved in the race car design business?
What did we get from it? The soon-to-be-despised NASCARmobile (a.k.a. Car of Tomorrow) which will finally get us politically correct, "every thing's equal" mediocre racing.

Hey Dude! Where's my NASCAR?

Try your local race tracks. Not only will you find some good racing, but with support they may not close. Off road also is a blast. A weekend in the woods watching 4 wheel challenge isn't to bad either. And thank you lord we still have motorcross. Lifes too short Bob, don't let all this crap get you down.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

Try your local race tracks. Not only will you find some good racing, but with support they may not close. Off road also is a blast. A weekend in the woods watching 4 wheel challenge isn't to bad either. And thank you lord we still have motorcross. Lifes too short Bob, don't let all this crap get you down.

The truck series has been discussed, as was the USAR Pro Cup, ARCA isnt bad, and also, coming back here with people who share your anxiety will help.

[3wide]

I like all racing. Nascar stood out as being the most competitive and having the best characters. That's what hooked me.

[Kasey Kahne 9 fan]

my dad started Fatasy Racing with his buddys I saw the 18 Small Soldier car loved it watched since then

[LSC9901]

I like many others got fired up with racing way back in the late 50's and early 60's at the local track. They used to run the old cars from the 30's & 40's on the short dirt track. Sadly that track folded and then I was forced to watch drag racing. After a short stint in the Navy where Bob and I brought peace to the world I would try to catch whatever race that the "Wide World of Sports" would show. Generally "taped earlier" ... sometimes a week or more older. As it became more popular on TV I became more exposed and interested. Went to the first Busch race in NH. Took longer to exit the parking lot than it took to run the actual race. Been to Bristol and Charlotte and have enjoyed every minute of every race whether it was in person or on TV. Even though I don't like the direction NASCAR is nowing going in I still get my blood pressure up watching and cheering for my drivers.