The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR is a great southern tradition that mixes the history of Appalachia with the technology of the world's greatest engineers. Or as you may know it, that pointless "sport" where the cars only take left turns. If I can't convince you otherwise, leave this article now and live your life to the fullest. Godspeed!
Now that we have weeded out the weary, I often hear two common arguments from non-NASCAR fans:
1. "All they do is go around and around in circles; it's pointless!"
2. "Isn't this a waste of gasoline, resources, money, etc.?"
My response to the first argument is that NASCAR offers so much more than just the racing. The borderline anxiety of seeing those cars race by at 100+ speeds, bumping' and grindin', and competing like bats out of hell. The atmosphere of a hundred thousand fans congregating behind tailgates and campers, waiting for the procession into the raceways. But most importantly, the value of family that the history of NASCAR instills within us all.
My response takes us back the hills of early 20th century Appalachia, back between the hollows where sunlight never venture. By the torch of the pale moonlight, the men of the night work as if live depends on it. Their life did depend on it; they were dirt-poor and only had one gift from God to make a living: moonshine. And who distributed this moonshine from the pinewoods of Charlotte to the country bars in the outskirts of Nashville? Young men, blazin' down backroads at ridiculous speeds with the cops on their hides and trunks full of potential riches. If they got caught, their family suffered from starvation and poverty. The drivers did it because they had to support their family or go to jail trying. And the root of family has persisted throughout the years as the symbol of NASCAR: the Earnhardts, the Waltrips, the Buschs, the Wallaces, and many more. So you ask about the drivers who didn't get caught? Yeah, they were still poor, hungry, and starving but some of them came on to become the first legends of NASCAR on the beaches of Daytona and the hardtop of Charlotte Speedway.
-NASCAR attracts about $3 billion a year in sponsorship money–more than twice what the NFL earns
-The average value of each team is about $143 million with average annual revenue of nearly $100 million
-Sponsors include big names like DuPont, Lowes, Home Depot, Best Buy, Target, McDonald’s, Shell, Goodyear, Sunoco, 3M, Caterpillar, Burger King, FedEx, Miller, Geico, Farmer’s, NAPA, Stanley, M&M’s, Mountain Dew, U.S. Army, National Guard, Budweiser, Bass Pro Shops, Kroger, GoDaddy, Menards, and Mobil.
1. Pick Your Favorite Driver.
Loyalty must be chosen to find the races competitive. Pick a driver who shares common interests with you, check out YouTube for their personalities, and most importantly, find out who their enemies are. Better yet, why don't you ask them yourself? The NASCAR social media community encourages constant interactions with drivers and teams because they understand the importance of driver loyalty. For example, most drivers have weekly Q&As on Twitter or live Periscopes. Need more criteria? Check this tips out:
-How old are they? Pick a driver who won't be retiring in the near future.
-What's their racing number? Sometimes that's all it takes to build loyalties.
-(Addressing ladies & some men reading this article): Are they good lookin'? It doesn't hurt for the driver to look good in victory lane even when he is all sweaty and covered in champagne/beer shower.
2. Learn the history of NASCAR.
I gave a very brief perspective of the birth of NASCAR, but there is so much more to discover. Luckily, you have the power of the Internet to know about everything there is to know, but also consult your primary resources. Ask a older relative about their favorite drivers, moments, and memories from NASCAR seasons past. Additionally, the NASCAR Hall of Fame resides just a short drive away in Charlotte, North Carolina. The experience is a phenomenal history lesson with chances to observe historic NASCAR memorabilia and even simulate some of NASCAR's most complex racing aspects. Want a quick taste my favorite NASCAR lure? Enjoy: http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/12...
3. Make plans to attend a NASCAR race weekend.
Knoxville sits near some of the greatest racing tracks in the history of NASCAR: Charlotte, Martinsville, and Bristol. If you want a taste of some better long track racing, pack the car for Florida to check out Daytona or Talladega. Invite your friends and family, make a weekend out of it, camp out, spend time away from your devices and instead the presence of the people you love. That's what NASCAR is all about: love, happiness, good times with friends and family. (Plus there's beer, wrecks, fights, arguments, good looking women, and great food but we can leave that all for another time).
