Nascar is not only for hicks! Now at one point (back in the 1968) that was true, but not anymore. I'm really tired of people calling me a hick just because I like Nascar. Nascar has elevated itself through the years. Did you know that their are an estimated 75 million fans of the sport? Companies such as Pfizer, Office Depot, Cingular, Nextel and Home Depot (my personal fav) have figured this out. In the 2005 Daytona 500 alone, DuPont was estimated to receive $9.4 million in exposure, second only to the Nike's $10.8 million value at the masters. If television networks are willing to write a check for, oh, say, $600 million a year, there must be more than a few people watching .Now, can you honestly say that all of those people are hicks? Think about all the sports in America: golf, hockey, baseball, soccer, swimming, diving, skating, college sports, rodeo and many more- yet only the NFL commands a bigger audience than Nextel Cup.
Racing is more than a bunch of nondescript cars going in a circle. Behind the wheel of every car is a colorful, interesting athlete, with strengths and weaknesses and a history. When you get to know the people and the stories behind the scenes, suddenly it all seems to matter. It's just like any other sport, at first you may not understand the rules, but once someone clues you in to the rules and a little background history of the players it becomes more interesting. I do understand that some of you may find it hard to sit and watch a race. Some even say the can't make it to the 10th lap before falling asleep or changing the channel. Now I'm going to admit something to you, if I'm not at the race in person I find it hard to stay awake myself. The sound of the cars make me fall asleep. LOL. That is why I usually record the race and watch it later. You can fast forward through the boring parts that way. I mean lets face it, the races are long. When I do go to a race my ass goes numb from sitting on it the whole time. Those stadium cushions you buy really don't provide must padding. My favorite part of being at a race is listening to the driver and their crew on the scanner, they say the darndest things. LOL. Some drivers have been know to sing in their cars as they drive (Kevin Harvick).
All in all I am a Nascar fan, but I'm no hick. I'm just a regular person just like Tom, Dick or Harry (okay I'm not a guy though). It really bothers me when people stereo type others. Hopefully I have helped you to understand a little more about the sport and it's fans. I can't take credit for all that I have written here, most of my information was received from an article I read in Indy Men's Magazine, Nascar - Lovin' it! Hatin' it! (April 06 issue).Well that's it for now, I hope it was worth it.
