NASCAR racing continues to be a sport of personalities even though spoilers, tires, Texas downpours and a very loose track are the discussion topics applicable to the mechanics of the Samsung Mobile 500 that may run tomorrow. But the fan chatter is about Kasey Kahne going to Hendrick’s stable, Junior Motor Sports picking up Landon Cassil and a young ARCA Driver, Steve Arpin (trying to remember his name gives me a headache), Junior letting Kelly Bires go, and Scott Speed’s toga..
Jimmie Johnson‘s dominance of the sport seems to have fallen out of vogue as the lead topic as interest spans the forementioned chatter and Tony Stewart‘s first pole position in… in… He may not even remember since when. Greg Biffle is also among the favorites since he pilots loose race cars as a matter of instinct.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a story here due to a family matter which NASCAR fan support helped me get through with a little sanity intact. But I had to write to counter the banter that the sport has lost it’s focus. Dear fans, the sport has not lost it’s focus.
Sure we all like to see a great wreck as long as no one gets hurt but the sport has always been focused on the personalities and foibles (Did I mention guitar?) of those daring to drive sheet metal at breakneck speeds. If the sport was about speed alone we’d all get thrills watching satellites passsing in the night sky at thousands of miles an hour. No! It’s the men and women driving and servicing the cars that capture fan interest.
Wind tunnel tests, tire testing stands and seven post testing machines do not really have a fan following. Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., do. It’s always been the personalities of the sport that have the fan base.
If spoilers, tires, Texas downpours and loose tracks become the primary discussion topics, I may start watching Curling.
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Very well stated. I totally agree. Without the inter-twining of the people in the sport, we wouldn’t have a sport. If speed is your thing, go to Formula 1 or Bonniville.
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