America’s “New” Sport

The first time I watched a NASCAR race was three years ago. I couldn’t understand the fuss about watching cars turn laps…after all that’s what we normal citizens do on a daily basis.

However, over the past year or so it has become one of my favorite sports. And make no mistake, it is a sport, with as much if not more sophistication and strategy than hockey or baseball. It appears that I am not alone when it comes to the widening of NASCAR’s audience. I would’ve thought that Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise would’ve been enough to make anyone a fan, but maybe it takes a hockey strike and perpetual scandals and sissy bickering in the Major Leagues to turn people to a sport which has tradition, thrills, and fire.

This was especially apparent when watching the race at Darlington this past Saturday night. Here, Mark Martin, the 50-year old racer for Hendricks Motor Sports won on a fast and furious race track, overshadowing his younger opponents. It was great to see and it brought a smile to my face, something baseball has failed to accomplish all season.

I also continue to be astonished at the family traditions embedded in NASCAR, going back to Richard Petty, Dale Waltrip, and even Dale Earnhardt (before his father’s death)…not to mention the curious groundhog affectionately named Digger which pops up intermittently during each race.

NASCAR made no secret that its goal was to increase its fan base by making the sport more family oriented and entertaining. the architects have succeeded, as the fan base for NASCAR has eclipsed that of Formula 1 racing. NASCAR has even become associated in the political arena, becoming a demographic specifically targeted by Presidential candidates.

And since there is a race pretty much every week (and you can walk away for an hour and come back and still be entertained), people should continue to stay tuned and those who aren’t involved might consider this new trend. It is after all quite American and it feels good to be a part of it all.