About 98% of the population thinks that NASCAR is just a sport for rednecks and hillbillies. Others don't even believe that it is a sport at all, just simply "driving a car while making left turns". Most of them say this without ever attending a NASCAR race. Don't get me wrong, many NASCAR fans are rednecks, but many of us aren't. And I guarantee there is much more to know about the sport than you have ever thought.
I have attended about seven NASCAR races in my life. I started watching NASCAR when I was in middle school, and have been hooked ever since. At the races, I have sat in the cheap seats, the expensive seats, and even in the pit box. At almost every NASCAR event I have attended, I have met at least one incredibly successful non-redneck fan. What many people forget about NASCAR is that is funded by major corporations such as Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, and Xfinity. Being funded by these major corporations brings the leaders of these organizations to the track, and many of them become long time fans of the sport. Most people, once you finally get them to a race, realize the energy and chaos that NASCAR runs on, and have a blast. Because NASCAR is not just the cars and drivers, it's the fans. People that save their income for an entire year to take their family to Daytona. Complete strangers that will walk half the racetrack to find you a water because you couldn't find one.NASCAR fans are usually incredibly kind and interesting people if you give them a chance.
Also, there are many elements of the sport that cannot be seen by the average eye. The way that machine and man intertwine in this sport is like no other. Drivers work through brutal conditions for hours without any sort of break (including a bathroom break!). Even if the driver is competing at his absolute best and makes no mistakes, there can still be problems. Because unlike other sports, the driver must also depend on the car. A flat tire, a brake malfunction, or a blown engine can ruin a race for a driver and possibly ruin a multi-thousand dollar car. And then there is the other cars and drivers to worry about. And the stakes are extremely high if a mistake is made. One small move outside the line can cause a massive 12 car pile up ending in injury or even death.
If you're one of the 95% that have no idea what NASCAR is truly about, I hope that this article inspired you at least to learn more about the sport. But whatever you do, form an opinion of your own. Too many people think lowly of NASCAR because that's what they have been conditioned to do. So go to your first NASCAR race. Grab a footlong corndog, a beer, and chat with the people in the seats next to you. Who knows what kind of story they have.
