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I think it's because people don't understand the sport.
Most think it's just a bunch of cars turning left. They don't understand the team work and the strategy involved -
In the pits - green flag stop or wait til caution; 2 tires, 4 tires or just Sunoco Race fuel; flawless stop or mistakes; make tighter, make looser; maintain pit speed, etc....
On the track - which row for restart; clear doors before passing; pass high or low; bump or be bumped; be in position for the lucky dog; save gas; which lane is faster; 3 wide, 4 wide; keep eyes closed when crashing, etc...
Sometimes cars are inches apart traveling upwards of 200 miles an hour working the wheel the entire race. It's a tough sport and you gotta love it to do it and love it to watch it. As they say, there's nothing more addicting than speed.
Yes, there is a lot of money in NASCAR but also a lot of giving away of that money. All the drivers have foundations and charities they support.
The track owners are another story. They are going to have to reduce ticket prices to fill tracks again.
All true. Some people have no appreciation for competitive drivng, and that's perfectly acceptable. But for them to continually hammer NASCAR, while speaking from a position of ignorance, is just silly.
I have no appreciation of baseball, and don't enjoy watching it live or on TV, but I don't tell everyone else that baseball sucks and is a stupid sport.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CouponJack
From my perspective there are alot of obvious reasons....
1. unlike baseball, football, and basketball (and hockey in the northern climates), if you're a young kid, you cannot go out and drive a car, so its very hard to 'participate' in the sport...
2. to many, its unwatchable on tv. I understand people will take issue w/that, but just look at the ratings on tv....NASCAR has very loyal fans (like hockey) though...
3. many people around the country view it as a low class "hick" sport that is popular in the backwoods....I'm not saying I feel that way, just hearing that throughout my life....
I went to a race and even tried to watch it on tv....can't do it.....again, this wasn't meant to start an argument or upset thin skinned people...just telling it from my perspective...
although the tailgating was fun....
1. But kids CAN go out and drive a go cart, like most of the NASCAR drivers did. Kids can't go out and play pro football, but they can start with peewee leagues. It's all about scale.
2. As I said above, some people just don't appreciate what it takes to race at that level. I've been told that racing can be very boring on TV and in person. My response was to ask "Have you ever watched baseball? 3+ hours of people standing around, crotch grabbing, and spitting, with about 30 seconds of actual action thrown in."
Yes, not every second of racing is exciting. Today's race at Pocono is a good example. The drivers are spread all around the track, and there's not much really happening. But show me a sport that is continuously active.
3. We're all born ignorant. Some choose to stay that way.
All true. Some people have no appreciation for competitive drivng, and that's perfectly acceptable. But for them to continually hammer NASCAR, while speaking from a position of ignorance, is just silly.
I have no appreciation of baseball, and don't enjoy watching it live or on TV, but I don't tell everyone else that baseball sucks and is a stupid sport.
1. But kids CAN go out and drive a go cart, like most of the NASCAR drivers did. Kids can't go out and play pro football, but they can start with peewee leagues. It's all about scale.
2. As I said above, some people just don't appreciate what it takes to race at that level. I've been told that racing can be very boring on TV and in person. My response was to ask "Have you ever watched baseball? 3+ hours of people standing around, crotch grabbing, and spitting, with about 30 seconds of actual action thrown in."
Yes, not every second of racing is exciting. Today's race at Pocono is a good example. The drivers are spread all around the track, and there's not much really happening. But show me a sport that is continuously active.
3. We're all born ignorant. Some choose to stay that way.
Great post
This race in Pocono is boring. For those who learning it a good to learn
things like making a wedge adjustment. Why a car is running loose due to the heat. Go Denny Hamlin!
A lot of people think they are to sophisticated to enjoy NASCAR, they assume it is just a bunch of rednecks watching a race and that's what I thought at first and i'm black but one of my white friends finally got me to go to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and I actually had a good time, people were cooking out and drinking and just enjoying life. so unless you've actually experienced it don't make any judgemental calls.
OK, I've been quiet about this too long, but I've gotta know - why is there so much animosity and ambivalence concerning NASCAR? It's just a motor sports sanctioning body, just like IMSA and CART and F1 and IRL and NHRA ... you get the point. Every weekend around the country there's a track somewhere running NASCAR races. Don't people like go to a local track for some good, clean, fun family entertainment on those summer nights when there's not much else to do?
I know that my dad thinks that too much of watching racing results in too many wanna-be racecar drivers out on the roads.
NASCAR has never been inclusive.
If they opened the races and the driving jobs to a wider range of people then people would be attracted to the sport.
Also the obnoxious (and some racist) fans don't help things.
All true. Some people have no appreciation for competitive drivng, and that's perfectly acceptable. But for them to continually hammer NASCAR, while speaking from a position of ignorance, is just silly.
I have no appreciation of baseball, and don't enjoy watching it live or on TV, but I don't tell everyone else that baseball sucks and is a stupid sport.
1. But kids CAN go out and drive a go cart, like most of the NASCAR drivers did. Kids can't go out and play pro football, but they can start with peewee leagues. It's all about scale.
2. As I said above, some people just don't appreciate what it takes to race at that level. I've been told that racing can be very boring on TV and in person. My response was to ask "Have you ever watched baseball? 3+ hours of people standing around, crotch grabbing, and spitting, with about 30 seconds of actual action thrown in."
Yes, not every second of racing is exciting. Today's race at Pocono is a good example. The drivers are spread all around the track, and there's not much really happening. But show me a sport that is continuously active.
3. We're all born ignorant. Some choose to stay that way.
No one I know "continues" to hammer NASCAR. The OP asked why the animosity.
There's no right or wrong answer IMO....if you like it fine, if you don't that's fine too...I could care less....
I think it's because people don't understand the sport.
Most think it's just a bunch of cars turning left. They don't understand the team work and the strategy involved -
Every so often the speedway will let car clubs drive on the track. I have friends that do it religiously in their Corvettes. It isn't just a bunch of left turns as you point out. It is very easy for the eye to continuously watch the wall & for the hands to steer towards what your eyes are looking at. The high speeds don't leave any room for error either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukesmom
In the pits - green flag stop or wait til caution; 2 tires, 4 tires or just Sunoco Race fuel; flawless stop or mistakes; make tighter, make looser; maintain pit speed, etc....
Those folks out there that think that this "ballet" doesn't take talent might be surprised to know that there's a school to learn all of this up in Mooresville.
NASCAR Technical Institute - NASCAR School | NASCAR College | NTI (http://www.uti.edu/Home/Nascar-Tech - broken link) Jeff Hammond Home Page
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukesmom
On the track - which row for restart; clear doors before passing; pass high or low; bump or be bumped; be in position for the lucky dog; save gas; which lane is faster; 3 wide, 4 wide; keep eyes closed when crashing, etc...
Sometimes cars are inches apart traveling upwards of 200 miles an hour working the wheel the entire race. It's a tough sport and you gotta love it to do it and love it to watch it. As they say, there's nothing more addicting than speed.
Well honestly for me its the wrecks. Otherwise racing is about as boring as watching golf.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dukesmom
Yes, there is a lot of money in NASCAR but also a lot of giving away of that money. All the drivers have foundations and charities they support.
The track owners are another story. They are going to have to reduce ticket prices to fill tracks again.
If NASCAR wasn't a popular sport why have tracks all over the country? Some people love it others hate it, but it fills a niche. If you've never been up at the speedway for a big race its definitely something to experience even if you decide to never do it again.
WOW did you just see that wreck in the Green- white checker, Joey Logano is p.o at Harvick
Congradultions Denny Hamlin! in Pennsyvania
if it a hick sport then there is Hicks up north
for those not familar with Green - White checker what is it equivalent to in other sports.
For those that think they are just going in circles same thing with track.
Go to one of the car shows at CMS and notice the embankment in curve
and especially Bristol.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
23,816 posts, read 34,799,150 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SunnyKayak
WOW did you just see that wreck in the Green- white checker, Joey Logano is p.o at Harvick
Congradultions Denny Hamlin! in Pennsyvania
if it a hick sport then there is Hicks up north
for those not familar with Green - White checker what is it equivalent to in other sports.
For those that think they are just going in circles same thing with track.
Go to one of the car shows at CMS and notice the embankment in curve
and especially Bristol.
LOL, Sunny, Pocono is not too far north of Philly & Dover is not too far southeast of Philly. So, yes, there are NASCAR fans up there
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Those folks out there that think that this "ballet" doesn't take talent might be surprised to know that there's a school to learn all of this up in Mooresville. 
