Vitriol on NASCAR

I find it interesting that there are TWO seperate threads at the same time about the pros and cons of NASCAR. Yet, I've never seen such arguing over F1 Grand-Am, NHRA, ALMS races. All those sactioning bodies have their share of problems with rules/competitiveness, bone-head driver moves, etc...yet, mention NASCAR, and its 'YOU'RE AN IDIOT!!" time from people who usually don't go off the deep end. Why?

People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule.

The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

And while I am not a NASCAR fan, and I was born and raised in NJ, I find that this anti-NASCAR, anti-Southerner sentiment goes hand in hand with the Liberal destruction of America.

I like NASCAR, I can't stand to watch F1. I don't agree with a lot of NASCARS questionable rules but in all I like the series.

Haters will be haters regardless.

triumph5 wrote: I've never seen such arguing over F1 Grand-Am, NHRA, ALMS races....Why?

Maybe they're not doing as much wrong (or doing more right) as NASCAR.

At least NASCAR drivers know how to turn, albeit in only one direction, but at least that's one more direction than the NHRA guys. ducks for cover

I don't really like NASCAR. I like the drivers, for the most part, and respect three wide 200mph racing, but it's so bleedy boring.

I love all road course racing, so I will watch it when they race at a road course, but it is irritating that a caution at road america lasts 3 to 5 laps....its a 4 mile circuit people. you should have that cleaned up within half a lap. especially when it is just someone who spins.

I will admit even I make fun of it.

BUT Maroon92has a very good point, these guys are going three wide a 200mph. Thats insane! Any driver error or twitciness is amplified at those speeds im sure...

The cars themselves arent as "old school" as everyone thinks they are either... Ive heard from respectful people/sources that the cars, though carb'd arent any less advanced...

I just wish it was as it was in its infancy. Cars that were sold to the public and hopped up.

It's because of the lack of skill required to drive in a circle as compared to other forms of racing plus the Bozo the clown circus atmosphere.

I ignore all the ovals, tri-oval, superspeedway ovals, and all other tracks that just go left. I find it boring. I find the cars stupid. To me NASCAR is the WWE of racing. The drivers no doubt have a lot of skill and if I could earn a living turning left, I'd sign up for it in a heartbeat.

The road courses I like in theory, but it's like watching a cross between a road race and a demolition derby. I gave up on both the race at Road America and the one at Infineon this weekend, because if I wanted to watch PIT manuevers I would tune into to COPS or Americas Dumbest Speeders. I think NASCAR is racing for non-race fans.

NASCAR is to racing what WWE is to wrestling. It's called "entertainment" and you can't really argue with the money they've made.

carguy123 wrote: It's because of the lack of skill required to drive in a circle as compared to other forms of racing plus the Bozo the clown circus atmosphere.

That's not really true, it simply takes a different skill set. When we went Nascar racing we had just won championships in IMSA, so we weren't exactly skill-less, but I can assure you that Nascar was a ton more difficult simply because the competition is greater, and the cars are more difficult to set up. It also takes a lot larger appendages as well. Driving an oval is more difficult that you can imagine, especially without burning off your tires and brakes, and in no way shape or form can a driver make up for a substandard setup. In road racing, you can take a bad car and make it work somewhat ok.

Also, don't underestimate how hi-tech these cars can be. Most see wind tunnel time only surpassed by F1.

Not that I enjoyed Nascar very much, but it is extremely difficult for all involved.

If they all didn't have people that liked them they wouldn't exist. One mans poison is another mans pleasure.

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Is that a busch beer carton on your head in your avatar?

I really, REALLY don't have to say anything more

I KEED, I KEED!

1988RedT2 wrote: NASCAR is to racing what WWE is to wrestling. It's called "entertainment" and you can't really argue with the money they've made.

First you're off about the "Liberal destruction of America" and then you say something smart like I've quoted above.

What are you? A wack job or a smart guy?!

There are two reasons for me. First is that watching the roundy roundy stuff on paved surfaces bore. Second is the general atmosphere. It seems like most people are watching it to get drunk and see crashes and possibles fights not for the actual racing.

I also think a lot of people don't think that the cars are very high tech which is something I used to think but at closer look it takes a lot of engineering to get these cars to win.

carguy123 wrote: It's because of the lack of skill required to drive in a circle as compared to other forms of racing plus the Bozo the clown circus atmosphere.

LOL!

I wish I still had my Chevelle circle track car to test your theory with you. At Spartan Speedway I would run consistent 23.50s while good driver in my car was putting down 23 second laps That is in a toilet bowl. Expand the distance in the toilet bowl out to a 1 3/4 mile tri-oval and put us in a Cup car and I am certain there would be much more than a .50sec difference.

Most people listen to the drivers whine about grip at specific points in a corner and the crew fixing it with a "round of wedge" a "track bar adjustment" or a "tire pressure change". The issue people have with the cars is just HOW sensitive they are to these minor changes. They think because they look big and ugly they shouldn't be so much on a knife edge. The real science to me is the fact that they can take a great driver like Juan Pablo Montoya and put him in one of these and make him look awfully average.

My pet peeve with NASCAR is the spectacle they make of it. I enjoyed it more before Fox got their hands on it, before DW was commentating, before the silly rules "lucky dog" and the like. Back when ESPN did the coverage and they weren't dumbing it down.

I don't deny that it takes skill, but it just isn't intersting to watch most of the time (or at least put it on mute so I don't have to listen to "boogity boogity boogity...."

Xceler8x wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: NASCAR is to racing what WWE is to wrestling. It's called "entertainment" and you can't really argue with the money they've made.

First you're off about the "Liberal destruction of America" and then you say something smart like I've quoted above. What are you? A wack job or a smart guy?!

Flying in the face of the prevailing wisdom which stresses complete ignorance in all but one narrow focus of expertise, I've always taken pride in being a "jack-of-all-trades," so I will deny membership in neither group.

HiTempguy wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Is that a busch beer carton on your head in your avatar? I really, REALLY don't have to say anything more I KEED, I KEED!

Bud Light. And I don't think there's a single red-blooded American male will turn down Bud Light!

Osterkraut wrote:

HiTempguy wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Is that a busch beer carton on your head in your avatar? I really, REALLY don't have to say anything more I KEED, I KEED!

Bud Light. And I don't think there's a single red-blooded American male will turn down Bud Light!

I will turn that piss water down forever. For the same money I can get PBR.

Brotus7 wrote: My pet peeve with NASCAR is the spectacle they make of it. I enjoyed it more before Fox got their hands on it, before DW was commentating, before the silly rules "lucky dog" and the like.

You're right. They should ban the "lucky dog" rule and go back to scoring only when the cars crossed the start/finish line. The races would be so much safer.

Osterkraut wrote:

HiTempguy wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Is that a busch beer carton on your head in your avatar? I really, REALLY don't have to say anything more I KEED, I KEED!

Bud Light. And I don't think there's a single red-blooded American male will turn down Bud Light!

People drink that stuff? I thought it was a cleaning detergent or something.

96DXCivic wrote:

Osterkraut wrote:

HiTempguy wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: People look down on NASCAR because of it's perceived fan base and drivers. So it's a popular target for ridicule. The ignorant Southerner is about the last "politically correct" stereotype left, and NASCAR features heavily in southern culture.

Is that a busch beer carton on your head in your avatar? I really, REALLY don't have to say anything more I KEED, I KEED!

Bud Light. And I don't think there's a single red-blooded American male will turn down Bud Light!

I will turn that piss water down forever. For the same money I can get PBR.

I said red-blooded American male. Not some soccer-watching dandy!

And watch out, the hipsters have pushed PBR into a pricier class.

As someone who races both circle track and autox's (soon adding hillclimbs) each one takes a very different approach and skill set.

I think I have an advantage due to my autox experience (trophys would seem to bear this out) but it was still a learning curve to go roundy round quickly.

I just get a kick when people say something takes no skill or that they could do it. Such-and-such car handles poorly, or that it takes no skill to do this-or-that. Have you done it? If not, how would you know?

Find how many people have complained about the Viper or NSX handling poorly at its limits and I bet you it'll be far more complainers than the actual number of cars ever built. (I'm implying many/most have never even driven one, especially "at the limits"). Or how many people who criticize hockey players for taking short shifts before a line change, that "anyone could spend a minute out there."