CERAMICSEAL

Even the southern self described 'redneck' comedian Jeff Foxworthy joked that most Nascar fans dislike the very successful driver Jeff Gordon because he's too eloquent, can be easily understood and uses proper grammar. That in itself says it all.

Marietta 8

The appeal has got to have something to do with the rules of professional wrestling gettin too dang complicated!

I do however respect the talent of Gordon, Jr., Martin, and a bunch of others that have proven to be really great road racers. Rusty Wallace was quoted recently that he is looking forward to driving in the Rolex 24 after he retires this year.

Gohan

truemagellen, thanks for the cool pics

Air Force RX8

Actually Bruton Smith owns AMS and it is not in Atlanta, but south of Atlanta. He is well insured and has more than enough money to make the needed repairs without Atlanta taxpayers having to foot the bill it will be those of us that actually enjoy the mindnumbing sport of NASCAR and pay to go to the races that will be paying for the necessary repairs, and I will be going to the race in Oct to ensure that he keeps his pockets well lined enough that I will enjoy that for years to come.

Better the empty AMS getting hit by an F2 tornado where the owner can afford the loss than a trailer park full of people who cannot and would most likely have suffered loss of life as well.

Ajax

Well, my mistake then :b

NMShinka

WOW!! I'm a proud NASCAR fan of over 25 years. I thought all this "stereo-typing" of NASCAR was a thing of the past..but guess not!

NASCAR provides more excitement than those elitist F-1 drivers. Just so happens I've met many of the NASCAR drivers and they are certainly closer to "normal" folks than any other major league sport participant!

Cheers!

Air Force RX8

I enjoy NASCAR for the ability to go to a track and watch the whole race rather than a 2 or three second portion of the track. No other major sport out there gives fans as much access to the atheletes as racing.

Whether or not you care for "left turn racing" does not matter to me at all. Racing is racing I just prefer the type of racing that includes more American drivers than the rest. I enjoy the races at Watkins Glen and Sears Point (now known as Infineon Raceway) just as much as Lowes, Bristol, Dover, Atlanta, and all the other places they race.

From what I hear Toyota is ready to enter the mix with a car entry soon...

rockin

Yes Toyota is pulling out of IRL and will have a Bush or NASCAR team next year. Even thought Toyota can throw millions of dollars into NASCAR teams the ruling body will NEVER and I mean NEVER allow a Japanese carmaker to win a race. What FOX did to speedvision is a crime. Just a curious questions to all the NASCAR fans, if you were offered to drive a F1 car or a Chevy stock car or the manufacturer of your choice what car would you drive? I am not trying to belittle anyone who watches NASCAR but just wondering what the appeal is.

Air Force RX8

I don't quite know how to answer your question. I have not put in any track time, so I couldn't really speculate. I have issues with anxiety, so I do not see myself ever taking to the track in ANY vehicle. I'll stick to spectating and video games so no innocent people get killed.

Mikelikes2drive

i dont think a fan of nascar knows what f1 is even though their two best driver's (jeff gordon and dale jr.) dreams are becoming f1 drivers, but failed miserably haha

i wanna see nascar's best go up against the european teenage go-kart racers and see who wins... that would be comical and i bet EVERYONE in europe and america would pay to see that

Chrisbert

Toyota already has a Truck in the Craftsman Series, and word is there will be an Avalon (yep) based car soon.

truemagellen

brutally honest...I love it :D

F1 is the Creme de la Creme...Nascar is oversized go-carts and an uninspiring oval course

babylou

Do you mean when one of F1's greatest F1 drivers of all time, Ayrton Senna, was soundly beaten in the karting world championships by a NASCAR scrub named Lake Speed?

truemagellen

is 'Lake Speed' a **** star :p

KYLiquid

toyota races with the trucks, im dont follow any of the nascar stuff that close but I think they are starting to do pretty good.

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

I don't like Nascar......But I can't watch any form of motorsport except for the series formerly know as the speedvision cup. I don't have the speed channel, so I haven't been able to watch any. I like seeing production sports cars and sedans mixing it up....open wheel racing is boring, and Nascar just makes my head hurt.......

Rhawb

On a side note, do these companies really think naming racetracks/stadiums after themselves is really going to do anything? I mean, they changed Sears Point to Infineon raceway, which is devoid of any character and really hurts the image of the track, imo. On top of that, I don't even know what the hell Infineon is, nor do I care to find out. I think it's just a big pile of wasted money.

theCATALYST

this thread is funny. i am a fan of rally racing myself. "speed up, slow down, turn turn turn, OH $HET!" *car flies through trees*

Now THAT, is real driving, no restricter plates, and all that other crap used to make a dull race that much duller(is duller even a word?).

Dark8

I think it's funny that the manufacturer's even try to compare the track car to a real production car. The only reason I could ever watch NASCAR would be for the carnage. Seems almost as many green laps as yellow.

Edit: And why would NASCAR, who shuts down when it rains, put in a new venue in Seattle expecting 36 inches of rain per year?

GotBass

There were 12 or 15 Nascar drivers in the Rolex race this past year. They even moved the race closer to the Daytona 500 to attract more drivers and NASCAR fans to come out.

GotBass

If God cared at all about road racing in the US he would have given Michelin a decent rubber compound and Danica Patric would be in CART. Sorry, if you dont like oval track racing move to Europe.

Oh and NASCAR didn’t make the speedchannel change teir lineup. Commercials that pay for advertising in proportion to viewer ship is why they show NASCAR.

And Toyota will be in NASCAR in 2007 Penske and Ganassi will run them. Yeah two former big time road racing owners. They both race dodges, 5 between them.

And who would want to watch CART anyway is is all a ford vs ford shootout.

If you really want to know why people watch NASCAR it is because of the passing. There is more passing for position at a single race at Talladega then there has been in the entire 55 year history of Formula 1. Last week cars were 4 wide for the lead in a turn. Where does this ever happen in road racing. Racing is tight and the finishes are close. What was the best F1 race this season? San Marino. Why? Because when Alonso crossed the finish line he had someone in his rear view mirror.

PS I am a fan of all motor racing. But I hate it when I here "NASCAR is dumb they turn left and have not teeth" just as much as I hate "All them damn foreigners in their goofy looking cars”

Oh and the hillbillies are not beating their wives because Dale JR won for the first time this year.

rockin

The REAL reason speedvision is all NASCAR all the time is to get a return on the investment for the contract with NASCAR because they paid to much just like they did with the NFL contract. Buy showing every race 4 time they are hopeing to brainwash people into enjoying the sport and also get some additional advertisment in the process. I have no problem with NASCAR it is a free country and prople can watch the world championship of Curling if they want. The issue I have is they destroyed a great channel in the process. I just wish FOX would have made there own channel instead of changing a GREAT ONE.

Chrisbert

That is just it. Accesibility I guess. I have driven a "NASCAR" around the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Richard Petty school. It was pretty damn fun, and didn't cost a lot. I have had a hot lap with a pro who put it round faster than our cars were allowed to go. Scared the crap outta me being 2 inches off the wall at 190.

I've never been offered a hot lap in an F1 car, nor do I think I could afford to go to F1 track school.

Accessibility is key.

Spin9k

Racing is racing...the cars have to be prep'ed, be made track safe, and go fast...but I feel for the poor drivers who must have a (left side) crick in their necks and be methodically counting lap after lap until they can finally stop (what in my mind is entertainment insanity).

Whether the spectating public thinks it's boring is something again, but then I've learned I have no idea why people do what they do or like what they like. In the end, if it keeps some track facilities open for less commercial use, I'm all for people throwing money at cars going around in big circles Go figure

NMShinka

Well, spin, regardless of your dislike of what is now one of the most watched and attended venues in the world, I'm sure you don't mind the economic influx you're home state will experience this weekend.

Look, I realize that going around in circles might not be al that exciting to watch on the tube, but there is so much more to it than that, specifically with respect to the pit strategies. But hell, people watch bowling for cryin' out loud..wassupwithTHAT??? :D

I'd also like to inquire of anyone who is on the "thumbs down" side of this, if you've ever been to an actual event? A NASCAR weekend is truly an awesome event and the actual race is simply one element of it.