Is it bad to actually like NASCAR?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

I wish they would televise 24 Hours of LeMons and ChumpCar. Those would be a blast to watch.

Even better to just goto one of the races

[madfast]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

and of course WRC all need better visibility in the US.

no way. WRC is doomed. unless of course they bring back the lax regulations from the Group B days. right now WRC is as boring as F1 imo.

[blur]

The only reasons I don't like it is because it's always the only thing SPEED shows on tv, and a lot of the people who watch Nascar down south aren't gearheads or racing fans but just some brain dead idiots waiting for a crash.

[Spaceywilly]

My only real issue with NASCAR is that it takes all the good drivers and attention away from the motorsports that really deserve it. Because of NASCAR, Rally America or any other grassroots US racing league will never be successful and we will never get F1 or WRC TV coverage. Other than that though, I have no problem with NASCAR and I usually watch the races. People who say it's boring because it's just turning left don't have the slightest clue what they're watching. Fortunately there is bittorrent so I can't really complain, and SPEED does show F1 now.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by madfast

no way. WRC is doomed. unless of course they bring back the lax regulations from the Group B days. right now WRC is as boring as F1 imo.

The problem with WRC is the difficulty in televising it since it covers so much distance. I don't think it's dying as they are seeing more and more manufacturers entering the sport. The other issue is Sebastien Loeb. He's too good. Everyone else races for second.

I enjoy F1 quite a bit. The thing is, you can't JUST watch the races. The race is only half the event. Watch Qualifying and put the televised practice on in the background while you're doing something else. The practice is good for catching up on changes since the last race and any FIA drama going on. Qualifying is essentially F1 TT. It's a great format and really enjoyable to watch. And with the combination of KERS and DRS, there is tons more passing in the race and leaders need to work at keeping their position. That and keeping up with the technology and innovations is really enjoyable.

This year, I can't wait for F1 to see if the Ferrari and McLaren have closed the gap with RBR. And if so, can Vettel stay on top or will he self-destruct like Hamilton did? 2014 is going to be great to watch. Tons of new tech and new changes, which means opportunity for new and creative interpretations of the technical regs. Should be fun!

[TheRipler]

Originally Posted by madfast

the problem with nascar, for me, is that the races are just too long. i cant remember the last time i watched an entire race. instead i just tune in at the end.

I agree. If I sit down to watch a NASCAR race, I'll generally fall asleep, and wake up with 20 laps and 3-4 yellows to go.

About 4-5 years ago, I caught the Tony Stewart benefit dirt track race on SPEED. Had all the top drivers, and they ran heat races to a final. It had bumpin' and rubbin', V8 thunder, and all the slideways action you could ask for. It was THE BEST circle track racing I could remember. I wish they would go back to 20-30 lap 1/2 mile dirt ovals. That would be perfect.

[Draco-REX]

NASCAR might be more entertaining if it was a series of shorter sprints...

Not sure.. But it might help.

[Maxim]

I don't have anything in particular against the drivers and I recognize that it takes a whole lot of skill, but I absolutely hate the sport for what it does.

Because of NASCAR, I am unable to watch the forms of motorsport that I actually care about. F1, Rally, everything is bumped off of TV for NASCAR races. And they all look the same - a bunch of cars going in a circle with the occassional pile-up (which I am convinced is the only possible reason anybody would want to watch it in the first place).

It's visually uninteresting, repetitive to the point of nausia, there's no difference between the cars, and it keeps me from watching things that are actually cool. I suppose that means I'm disgusted by the fans too, since they're the ones who are keeping it so popular that everything else is bumped off the air.

I'll never understand why anybody would enjoy it - why would you care about a motorsport that has nothing to do with any car you can actually buy, that has the exact same thing happen during every race? I honestly can see absolutely no appeal in it at all. I'd have more fun watching a hamster run on a wheel. At least I can take the hamster out of his cage and pet him.


This is all just my opinion of course. If NASCAR didn't prevent me from watching the things I actually cared about, I'd have no opinion on it at all, I'd just ignore it. Kind of like drifting...I think it's ridiculous, but it's not so popular that it disrupts the things I actually enjoy.

Then again, this is coming from a guy who thinks it's hilarious that grown men would devote so much time to watching SOMEBODY ELSE play football. Makes no sense to me....either does loyalty to a team. You're not on the team...why do you care? You have nothing to DO with the team...why do you care? The sport has no practical application to your life....why do you care? Obviously my way of thinking is not the majority way.

NASCAR is like that....why root for a driver who's driving a vehicle that is functionally identical to every other car on the track, and has nothing to do with a real car that you might own? The only real difference is the driver.....and I'll never understand rooting for a particular athlete. Did the other athletes kick your puppy or something, that you don't like them equally? I mean, it doesn't involve you....where's the basis for caring about it?

NASCAR got it's start with illegal booze-running....and I certainly find it more entertaining to watch real-life car chases. Maybe they should just switch back to that.

[Lonewolf]

One of the funniest South Park episodes ever dealt with the subject of Nascar:

[switchlanez]

Seems like a formidable sport requiring mental and physical toughness but it's simply not appealing to me. It has the least visual dynamics compared to other motorsports as far as I can tell. Oddly, NASCAR reminds me of speed skating which is one of my all-time favorite Olympic events to watch!

Drifting is pretty dynamic. But even with that, I've never felt compelled to make efforts to attend an event (though some friends love the atmosphere, noise and smells).

[SLeRoux92]

IMO:

Isle of Man TT > MotoGP/World SBK > formula 1 > indy > drifting> nascar

nothing is more exciting than MotoGP or SBK if you ask me. let's face it, sure, nascar driving isn't "easy" like most say, but I also wouldn't consider it nearly as hard as taming a 200hp monster on two wheels while bumping elbows with other riders easily hitting 190mph and then getting on the brakes like no tomorrow until you rip through a turn at 80mph dragging your friggin elbow on the ground

[RWDJunkie]

Nope. Nothing wrong with liking NASCAR at all. And while I don't care for it, I'm not a dumbass. I can see it takes skill. Blasting around an oval at 100+ mph in a RWD car for hours on end has to be mentally and physically draining.

But I have to say that I absolutely HATE the way they advertise the sport -- commercials tend to show a fair amount of crashes (as if that's supposed to be the main appeal), victory donuts, and a lot of 3D NASCARS doing amazing arcade-like stunts on a roller-coaster course. Oh, I see! They're trying to make it look like that Speed Racer movie that came out a few years ago. Why? Because truth be told, it's not much of a spectator's sport. And for anybody trying to get into it, it's just too damn boring to watch. I've tried. I really have. And I've fallen asleep every single time. Maybe the length has a lot to do with it.

Bottom line seems to be that NASCAR is something that only appeals to the established, die-hard fan base who are knowledgeable on most of the drivers, and already know all the particulars of the motorsport itself.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SLeRoux92

IMO:

Isle of Man TT > MotoGP/World SBK > formula 1 > indy > drifting> nascar

nothing is more exciting than MotoGP or SBK if you ask me. let's face it, sure, nascar driving isn't "easy" like most say, but I also wouldn't consider it nearly as hard as taming a 200hp monster on two wheels while bumping elbows with other riders easily hitting 190mph and then getting on the brakes like no tomorrow until you rip through a turn at 80mph dragging your friggin elbow on the ground

But in Formula 1, you have up to 5g trying to rip your head off :O
Clarkson's neck was out after barely over 1g in a GTR

[SLeRoux92]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

But in Formula 1, you have up to 5g trying to rip your head off :O
Clarkson's neck was out after barely over 1g in a GTR

lol i agree, but once you see how close the damn ground is while doing those speeds on a bike, you get a whole new respect for racers

I've got big feet so I accidentally dragged the toe of my shoe doing like 80...scared the shit out of me