NASCAR: Sports Done Right…5 Reasons Why You Should Watch
NASCAR racing has emerged as one of the most exciting professional sporting events available to the sports fan. For those who continue to hold that NASCAR is a fringe sport or has not watched racing, consider the following:
(1) NASCAR is the most dangerous sport…even with the best of automotive safety and technology 43 drivers risk serious injury or death at every race. Certainly NFL and NHL has the potential for head and spine injury but the stats don't lie, per event racing has the most risk for serious injury. It goes without saying, fans don't want to see a serious injury in any sport, especially one that could be life threatening, but let's face it…the common denominator of all contact sports such as NFL and NHL is the violence, the big hit and the raw emotions of the athletes. It is something that we as fans can identify with. Similar to the big hit, the wreck in racing is a big factor in the excitement of going live to a NASCAR event. The real excitement isn't the wreck; it is the potential for the wreck. In most events the racing is side by side at speeds up to 200 mph. Although admittedly not as exciting as going live, today's television broadcasts of NASCAR do an excellent job of capturing the excitement and intensity of the sport.
(2) We have players and teams we cheer for and players and teams we cheer against…the good guys versus the bad guys…hometown versus the rival town. The same thing is true in NASCAR racing. It won't take long to identify who you like and don't like either by car, sponsor, color, number but especially by driver. Today's racing is fortunate to have very diverse group of drivers many of whom come from simple beginnings and are easy to like or dislike. The magic of sports is to feel as though you are in the game or the event and that in some small way you have a say in the outcome through your support. Those same qualities that create loyalties for certain cities and that we pass on to our children hold true in racing as well. Going live to an event is amazing to see what looks like an all star game…43 corporate teams 43 colors and in the stands 43 different sections of fans intermingled cheering for or against each other in relative harmony.
(3) NASCAR is the fastest growing sport of all major sports and has been over the past 20 years. Today, NASCAR events are second only to NFL in television viewership. In addition, the NASCAR Sprint cup or main race run on either Saturday night or Sunday afternoon (weather permitted) is the highest attendance of any sporting event routinely selling out at approximately 150,000 people per event. That is 50,000 more people than the Super Bowl…every Sunday! Even with the unfortunate death of NASCAR's biggest name, Dale Earnhardt in 2001, the sport has not only survived but maintained record growth.
(4) One of the biggest differences in NASCAR versus that of other pro sports is the lack of individual arrogance. While the drivers are incredible at what they do and get paid quite well for what they do….they just doesn't have the arrogance and immaturity of today's professional athletes. You know what I mean, today you can't watch a football game or basketball game without unsportsmanlike celebrations for doing something good or pouting or quitting for doing something bad. It is no surprise that these millionaire children have paved the way for the next generation of selfish behavior as it is now commonplace with the gifted collage players as well. Many of the NASCAR drivers came up through humble beginnings and seem to be more appreciative of the opportunity and role model responsibility in sports today.
(5) NASCAR is the longest season of any sport. We all hear the argument of the grueling season of baseball or basketball having to play several days a week for 6 or 7 months without much contact a year versus the high contact of a football season for 1 game a week for 5 months. Consider however, what takes place in NASCAR season. There are 36 races from February to November every year and in between there is continuous race practice and testing every week searching for a competitive edge. This gives the fan a sport to watch almost year round without the ups and downs of the dreaded off season.
In conclusion, please know like many of you…I am a huge sports fan of all sports and have been since I could walk. I am however growing more and more disenchanted with the attitude of today's athletes coupled with the parody of today's teams. NASCAR has been very innovative in the marketing of a rather exciting sport while keeping the greed out of it. If you are tired of all the what is in it for me attitude and simply want to watch something you can get excited about cheering for normal people who crafted their skill and made it to the top, then come to NASCAR and you will see what all the fuss is about.
Nascar Bob
(1) NASCAR is the most dangerous sport…even with the best of automotive safety and technology 43 drivers risk serious injury or death at every race. Certainly NFL and NHL has the potential for head and spine injury but the stats don't lie, per event racing has the most risk for serious injury. It goes without saying, fans don't want to see a serious injury in any sport, especially one that could be life threatening, but let's face it…the common denominator of all contact sports such as NFL and NHL is the violence, the big hit and the raw emotions of the athletes. It is something that we as fans can identify with. Similar to the big hit, the wreck in racing is a big factor in the excitement of going live to a NASCAR event. The real excitement isn't the wreck; it is the potential for the wreck. In most events the racing is side by side at speeds up to 200 mph. Although admittedly not as exciting as going live, today's television broadcasts of NASCAR do an excellent job of capturing the excitement and intensity of the sport.
(2) We have players and teams we cheer for and players and teams we cheer against…the good guys versus the bad guys…hometown versus the rival town. The same thing is true in NASCAR racing. It won't take long to identify who you like and don't like either by car, sponsor, color, number but especially by driver. Today's racing is fortunate to have very diverse group of drivers many of whom come from simple beginnings and are easy to like or dislike. The magic of sports is to feel as though you are in the game or the event and that in some small way you have a say in the outcome through your support. Those same qualities that create loyalties for certain cities and that we pass on to our children hold true in racing as well. Going live to an event is amazing to see what looks like an all star game…43 corporate teams 43 colors and in the stands 43 different sections of fans intermingled cheering for or against each other in relative harmony.
(3) NASCAR is the fastest growing sport of all major sports and has been over the past 20 years. Today, NASCAR events are second only to NFL in television viewership. In addition, the NASCAR Sprint cup or main race run on either Saturday night or Sunday afternoon (weather permitted) is the highest attendance of any sporting event routinely selling out at approximately 150,000 people per event. That is 50,000 more people than the Super Bowl…every Sunday! Even with the unfortunate death of NASCAR's biggest name, Dale Earnhardt in 2001, the sport has not only survived but maintained record growth.
(4) One of the biggest differences in NASCAR versus that of other pro sports is the lack of individual arrogance. While the drivers are incredible at what they do and get paid quite well for what they do….they just doesn't have the arrogance and immaturity of today's professional athletes. You know what I mean, today you can't watch a football game or basketball game without unsportsmanlike celebrations for doing something good or pouting or quitting for doing something bad. It is no surprise that these millionaire children have paved the way for the next generation of selfish behavior as it is now commonplace with the gifted collage players as well. Many of the NASCAR drivers came up through humble beginnings and seem to be more appreciative of the opportunity and role model responsibility in sports today.
(5) NASCAR is the longest season of any sport. We all hear the argument of the grueling season of baseball or basketball having to play several days a week for 6 or 7 months without much contact a year versus the high contact of a football season for 1 game a week for 5 months. Consider however, what takes place in NASCAR season. There are 36 races from February to November every year and in between there is continuous race practice and testing every week searching for a competitive edge. This gives the fan a sport to watch almost year round without the ups and downs of the dreaded off season.
In conclusion, please know like many of you…I am a huge sports fan of all sports and have been since I could walk. I am however growing more and more disenchanted with the attitude of today's athletes coupled with the parody of today's teams. NASCAR has been very innovative in the marketing of a rather exciting sport while keeping the greed out of it. If you are tired of all the what is in it for me attitude and simply want to watch something you can get excited about cheering for normal people who crafted their skill and made it to the top, then come to NASCAR and you will see what all the fuss is about.
Nascar Bob
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