I'll try an answer your question from a slightly different prospective
i.e. not F1 vs. NASCAR. I've only watched racing for about 4 months
now, actually this years Talladega was the first NASCAR race I ever
watched. Having moved to ***ia recently you can't go anywhere
without seeing NASCAR paraphernalia. You NASCAR aficionados of years
and years may disagree with my observations, but bear in mind my
prospective.
1) Obviously the e***ment of close races and lead changes.
Watching the prerace show for Talladega I was expecting multiple car
pile ups based on what was being said. I found the race exciting just
seeing how close they were and the fact that they didn't wreck. I
know most found the race boring - not I.
2) I haven't seen or heard of any NASCAR racers on *** esp.
while racing. Would a Darrel Strawberry get multiple wrist slaps by
NASCAR? I doubt it. Just too dangerous to allow that sort of thing.
3) To my knowledge there hasn't been instances of NASCAR racers
hiring people to gun down pregnant girlfriends. Why would I want my
kid growing up thinking these types were heroes anyway?
4) For some reason the occasional brawls in NASCAR just don't
bother me compared with the never-ending fights of Hockey. If you
want a fight watch boxing.
5) Football has been my favorite sport since my pre*** years,
but I'm losing interest fast. Who do I root for? Players who trade
teams constantly? Hell teams seem to change cities more than racers
change cars (I know an exaggeration). I suppose I could root for the
team mascot.
6) Do I have to mention the lack of purple haired idiots and
pierced body parts? I thought not.
7) As a hard core conservative the semi-independence of NASCAR
and the racers attracts me. Shucks it's not even politically correct.
At an energy conference recently somehow racing got brought up. Some
female type bemoaned the wasted land space and energy spent on racing.
The discussion deteriorated when I asked how much energy the cosmetics
industry used (not that cosmetics could help this particular one much)
and wondered how much land area for shoes do we really need.
Well I could write more but I think you get my drift. I can't wait to
see my first NASCAR race in Richmond this Sept. My brother, who lives
in Daytona and doesn't follow NASCAR, actually WALKED to the last race
to see DE Jr win. The dirty dog.
Regards
>Someone asked this question (why is NASCAR popular?) a week or so ago
>and there was a flood of the usual NASCAR hating posts.
>NASCAR does not deserve the abuse I've seen heaped on it here. It's
>down at the level of the folks who say we all like racing because of
>the crashes.
>I like NASCAR because:
>1. Half the field have cars that, properly set up and driven, could
>win the race. And sometimes the underdogs have the perfect race and
>win.
>2. The complicated strategy of setting the car up (for long runs?,
>for short runs?) and then adjusting it in pit stops to match the
>conditions during the race.
>3. The need to race the traffic as well as the track.
>F1 lovers seem to be NASCAR haters. Of the more popular forms F1 is
>my least favorite. We now have a whopping six cars that could win the
>race, up from the usual four (or two). And three of those drivers are
>second class citizens who know they are suposed to let their teamate
>finish ahead of them (even if Mika hasn't quite figured that one out
>this year). I'll still watch a F1 race on occaision, and going to
>Monza last year was a pretty neat experience, even if it was a lousy
>race.
>Some credentials: I like all forms of racing. I've attended many
>races:: F1: Watkins 1964 , Phoenix about 1990, Monza 2000, CART
>(Denver about 1991), NASCAR (Richmond 1997), IRL, Busch, World of
>Outlaws, Trans-Am (outside Montreal circa 1970), vintage, local stuff.
>I raced SCCA for 10 years. I sim (badly) GPL, NASCAR4, and GP3.
>I'm a serious motorsports guy. And I like NASCAR. I'm amazed that
>someone could hate NASCAR with a passion and like racing.
