Sports Fan News

NASCAR Racing has become one of the most popular sports in America and its popularity is increasing every year. For those of us who are NASCAR fans we completely understand why it has increased in popularity, but many others don’t understand why. To those non-NASCAR fans, they ask, “What is there to love about a sport with just left turns?”.

So why is NASCAR racing so popular? It is hard to say, but I think that there are several reasons that come up over and over. This article will explore why NASCAR fans love the sport so much..

The first reason that NASCAR racing is so popular is that it is easy to follow. My wife has watched football all of her life, but to this day she does not truly understand the rules. However, the rules of NASCAR racing are fairly easy. As with any race, the NASCAR driver that finishes first wins. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Over 100,000 NASCAR fans show up at the racetrack every week to watch their favorite NASCAR drivers race toward the Sprint Cup. But many million more fans have a Sunday ritual of watching television on raceday. This doesn’t even count the many more who gain access to BUSCH races, qualifying sessions, and practice sessions. There are also many race fans who make big weekend events out of races with tailgating and barbeque grilling.

The second reason why NASCAR racing is so popular is because NASCAR has done a great job making it a family sport. Husbands, wives and children all love to watch the races together as a family. A husband may like Tony Stewart, a wife Dale Jr and the kids liking Jeff Gordon. This is one of the biggest reason why NASCAR racing has seen an increase in popularity. It is a family sport. Both kids and adults like racing.

Another one of the many reasons why NASCAR racing has seen an increase in popularity is because of the drivers. Most racers seem like your average guys. They don’t come off as primadonnas like in baseball and basketball. Many NASCAR drivers started racing around dirt tracks and come from normal upbringings just like the fans of the sport..

NASCAR is popular for many different number of reasons. One article can’t describe in totality why millions of Americans tune into watch a NASCAR race. However, the results speak for themselves. NASCAR is the fastest growing sport in terms of popularity in the United States. It is showing no signs of leveling out in its grow of fans.

Brian France, NASCAR chairman stated on Monday that chain officials will decrease the changes and clinch the sport instructions of the past during this season. He admitted two months ago that NASCAR was not connected closer to the nucleus fans sufficiently, especially after bad TV ratings and a decline in the audience attending the tracks for a second consecutive campaign.

The newspaper USA Today informed about the big losses NASCAR had in TV ratings and that this situation arose in the sports followers who profile an age of 55 and older and the constant changes meaning the sport’s interest has decrease.

“Change is good to a certain point and we’ve got all the change that the sport can stand and needs,” France said.

Some fans commended France’s declaration and questioned to the management of NASCAR last fall, saying: “We’re just… hoping something is going to make us interested and happy.” “That gives us hope, gives us promise, which remained critical of the series. We don’t see anything more than they can change right now.”

France faced numerous questions last year for the reason that the sport’s playoff scheme hadn’t formed a seal close since Kurt Busch won dramatically the title in 2004.

As France hasn’t produced big modifications, it doesn’t imply that the sport is not moving forward. For example: NASCAR top two series have new names this campaign. Also; the Car of Tomorrow was used only in half of the races last year, now it will run in every race this season. There will be also new drivers, mostly rookies this year.

However; on Monday NASCAR stated just slightly changes to take place. Some of the changes are that the teams will not be assured to classify despite initial good positioning instead the spot will classify them collectively at the end of the campaign. Moreover; The Cup teams will obtain only 200 tires (50 sets) for trying at non-NASCAR sanctioned tracks. Also; the teams can’t spin tires back to the pit wall during a stop. And the squads can’t push a car on pit road more than three pit stalls. The fines taxed by NASCAR will go to charity instead of the teams in the end season fund distribution.

Mike Helton ;NASCAR president stated officials are coming across of having more races starting at about a similar time. Meaning that the majority of Cup races could start before noon Pacific time and early afternoon in the East. NASCAR had moved the opening times later in the day so less races began before noon in the West. Also; some officials continue to examine increasing the bare minimum age for the drivers of the Sprint Cup from 18 to 21.

As NASCAR hopes to decrease major changes during the coming years, they are optimistic this can help the sport to boost popularity and fans crowds in the tracks. “We’d like, for the foreseeable future, next two years or three years, to have minimal changes and that would include the schedule,” “But we’ll have to see.” France said.

Who would’ve thought that anyone would pay to watch other men drive around in a “circle” at high speed? Well, when you think about it, its sounds a little silly doesn’t it? But when you play the high velocity, plus the cool cars, the drivers, etc, it all gets a little more exciting! Nascar which is the American version of the Formula 1 (which I personally love) is the second most watched sports ever. At any point in time during a Nascar Nextel race or a Daytona 500, there are more than 180,000 individuals who pack the stadium to watch the event. It is watched by more than 80 million people on TV alone. That’s a fact!

When a sport such as this is so big, the sponsors have to be even bigger! Nascar in particular has a wide range of sponsors from electronic, communication, soft drink, beer, food, and even auto companies. I don’t think you will ever find a company that doesn’t want to be associated with Nascar, and the reason why is super simple. One word. Promotion. Not only will they be sponsors of one of the most popular sports in the country, but their name will be seen by millions of people across the board.

The Nascar Brand -

Take a look at some of the cars you pass today on the street, on the road, on the highway, in parking lots, and you will see that out of every 15 cars, at least 3 cars will have some sort of a Nascar advertisement. Have it be the word Nascar or a number from one of their favorite drivers. Branding doesn’t just account for cars and automobiles, there is all kinds of Nascar fan memorabilia out there for the new comer fan to the die hard fan. Nascar is literally, everywhere!

Nascar Merchandise -

You can find plain t-shirts, baseball hats, pants, warm up outfits, jackets, automotive products, flags, kitchen and bar items, bathroom items, jewelry, holiday items and much more with the Nascar logo and design imprinted on them. And that’s not all you can also get team and driver specified items, with the number of the driver/car, names of the driver and or crew, owner of the car and much more. Another cool thing to look into is finding items that your favorite driver might have worn personally during a race such as a helmet, gloves, t-shirt, or baseball cap.

Nascar for just men? I think not! -

A lot of people think that Nascar is just for men, or mostly men anyway, they don’t realize that more than 40% of Nascar fans are women and that number is going up higher and higher each year! In this case, women’s accessories and products are a big point in merchandising sales as well, not just men! Nascar is soon to be the number one sport brand any day now, so what are you waiting for? Isn’t it about time you got some for yourself?!? This is one of the few times I’ll tell you to follow the leader! Go check out some Nascar stuff now!

So does NASCAR driver physical conditioning matter? Some would debate that NASCAR drivers are not athletes but one must consider the conditions inside of a NASCAR stock car race vehicle. The interiors of these cars are not designed for driver comfort with air conditioning and surround sound. Everything about a NASCAR stock car is focused on speed—not on comfort. So NASCAR driver physical conditioning must be such that it builds a driver’s endurance to withstand some harsh conditions and G-forces. And, the NASCAR driver physical conditioning is very similar to athletes in other sports except different areas are built up.

The temperatures in the driver’s cockpit of a NASCAR race car can reach around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine this temperature with a 500-lap race at 200 mph along with lack of air flow and you will see that NASCAR driver physical conditioning to build in endurance is critical. Plus, a NASCAR driver will need to steer and maneuver a 3,400 pound vehicle around curves, other cars, and over bumps. This can cause a lot of impacting against the driver plus just the strain of controlling the steering wheel. Then there are the G-forces that will result from banking turns at speeds close to 200 mph causing pressure on the driver’s torso as it presses against the side of the vehicle.

Oxygen is a problem too. Since the cars are very aerodynamic so as to increase speed, the air is guided around the car but does not reach the inside. The driver’s cockpit is not pressurized like an aircraft. So, the driver has to be able to process what oxygen he gets very efficiently. Therefore, NASCAR driver physical conditioning will include aerobic exercises so as to optimize the processing of oxygen by the body.

Part of any good physical athletic training is the proper amount of nutrition and rest and NASCAR driver physical conditioning is no exception to this. By including the proper amount of nutrition and rest in NASCAR driver physical conditioning, the driver can maintaining alertness and quick reflexes which are crucial to a safe drive. Not getting the proper amount of rest can cause a driver to make mistakes which at 200 mph could be dangerous and even fatal.

Without the proper nutrition and rest in NASCAR driver physical conditioning, a driver can become confused and disoriented during the race. This is especially true when combining the lack of air in the cockpit mixed with carbon monoxide fumes and tremendous G-forces (which cause disorientation as well). G-forces can also affect vision but proper nutrition and vitamins combat against their effects.

NASCAR driver physical conditioning also includes weight training but not in order to build mass. The weight training performed by a NASCAR driver is to build up strength for steering and breaking. It is also so that the driver’s body can withstand the abuse from bouncing around and getting slammed from excessive G-forces.

NASCAR driver physical conditioning separates those who can make it for an entire racing event and those who would wear out during the qualification races. It is very important and the sport should be taken just as serious as any other professional sport.

A good organization supports charity and NASCAR does just that through its NASCAR foundation. The NASCAR foundation has a program where for a $30 donation you can join in on the NASCAR track walk. The Home Depot, one of the nation’s largest retail home improvement centers, is a major sponsor of the promotions and holds charitable events with proceeds going to the Foundation. But who does the Foundation support and what kinds of events do they hold to raise funds?

One thing they do is sponsor auctions where the proceeds go to one of the foundations supported by the NASCAR foundation. For example, on September 17, 2007, they announced bidding on Jeff Gordon full-sized and autographed fiberglass auto body. The proceeds from this auction go to the Jeff Gordon Foundation which supports pediatric medical care of children with serious and life-threatening disease.

The NASCAR foundation holds the Blood and Marrow Drives at different tracks each year. The donations help out the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and the Hendrick Marrow Program. Other charities of the NASCAR Foundation are:

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation

This is a foundation run by the wife of the racing great who died in a race car crash in 2001. Dale Earnhardt was concerned about education, children, and wildlife and his commitment lives on through this foundation.

The Kyle Petty Charity Ride

Kyle Petty is the son of the King of NASCAR Richard Petty and he sponsors a motorcycle ride across the USA for the Victory Junction Gang Camp as well as other children’s charities.

Victory Junction Gang Camp

This is an organization with the mission of helping to enrich the lives of children with serious illnesses by providing them a camping experience in a medically-safe environment. It was founded by Kyle Petty and his wife Pattie in June 2004. The couple also donated the land that the camp stands on today. The camp is interesting because it was built with a racing theme and all the look of a NASCAR race track. The camp takes cash donations and there are volunteer opportunities. It is also gives a quilt and a teddy bear to each child who stays there so they are always looking for donations of these two items to replenish their supply.

NASCAR Auto Donation Program

There are many ways to donate to the NASCAR foundation. One way is through the NASCAR Auto Donation program. Here, you can donate a vehicle and then any of the proceeds that the NASCAR Auto Donation program gets from the proceeds in an auction are given to charity. All donations are fully tax deductible.

The NASCAR Day Telethon

This was a telethon held on May 18, 2007 across from Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Speed Channel, NASCAR, and Sirius radio broadcasted this telethon event through the end of the Craftsman Truck Series Race.

There are many other charitable organizations supported by the NASCAR Foundation but it is obvious that NASCAR cares about contributing to the community which is probably one of the reasons why this sport is becoming increasingly popular.

Nascar has faced a lot of criticism for a lot of things over the last few decades. We can attribute the criticism to the popularity of Nascar. Apart from the environmental impact of Nascar which has led to criticism, there are other technical reasons as well. One of the reasons is the oval shape of most Nascar racing circuits. Driving enthusiasts have severely criticized the difficulty of these race courses when compared to the extremely difficult twisting and turning race courses of Formula 1. They say that it involves going round and round for 500 miles and nothing else.

Some courses of the Formula 1 put up to 5 or 6 G’s of stress on the body of the driver. This is totally absent in Nascar. But Nascar has denied these allegations and countered by saying that there are certain race series in which road courses are included. But again it is for a very small percentage of the race. Nascar has also brought to light the fact that even the Indy racing league uses mostly oval tracks.

The Grueling Season

The grueling racing season of Nascar is also a reason for its criticism. While a Formula 1 race has 22 cars in its beginning, a Nascar Nextel cup race has 43. Add the 36 point races for the entire series, and the session becomes extremely hectic. The drivers are left with just a few hours to practice. Some of the drivers have even quit the sport because of their inability to cope with such stress.

Drivers who have been reasonably successful in road racing circuits have been unable to duplicate that success record in Nascar. The prime reason is the difference in the entire structure of the two.

The Cars

The technology behind the cars is another reason that Nascarhas faced so much criticism. The cars are mostly fitted with accessories from the 1950s. The carburetors, cast iron engine blocks and most primarily the use of leaded fuel have triggered huge criticism against Nascar. The reluctance of Nascar to add safety devices has also aggravated the criticism against them. The use of this equipment places more emphasis on getting an undue advantage rather than focusing on the skill of the driver.

The Business

The last thing that has received flak from critics is the Nascar business structure. The majority of revenue generated by the entire Nascar racing goes towards the France family, as they control most of Nascar . Many say that the drivers do not have a voice in Nascar and it is like a dictatorship. The penalties and fines that Nascar levied on its drivers for using foul language in the media have also been a reason for criticism against it.

Make no doubt about it, NASCAR is a business and is run like any other major corporation. NASCAR is a family-owned business with Brian France as the third-generation CEO. Brian France is the son of Bill France, Jr., who passed away at the age of 74 in June of 2007.

The current President of NASCAR is Mike Helton. What is interesting about Mike Helton’s appointment as President of NASCAR in the NASCAR organization structure is that he is not a member of the France family. He was named as President in the NASCAR organization in 1999. That was a year that would see much change in the NASCAR organization in terms of safety because of the sudden death of Dale Earnhardt on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 and it was because of this incident that NASCAR would begin to head numerous initiatives for the safety of drivers and fans.

The very nature of a family-controlled organization means that the family will control most of the proceeds. This has been a criticism by some who think NASCAR should be a joint owner-player type of profit sharing model. Other critics have made assertions that the NASCAR organization could do more for driver safety. And there have been accusations that the NASCAR organization is too monopolistic in its policies. But millions enjoy the sport promoted by this business and advertisers love the exposure they get. Plus, the championship prizes seem to be attractive to many drivers.

NASCAR is not publicly-traded on the stock exchange however its major sanctioning body is International Speedway Corporation which is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under stock symbol ISCA. ISC owns as well as operates 11 motor speedways plus is a major promoter of motorsports. Bill France’s sister Lesa France Kennedy and his uncle Jim France is the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Board/CEO respectively.

Although not an organizational structure per se, NASCAR organization structure is built around three main events which could be thought of as three main lines of business: 1) The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2) The NASCAR Busch Series, and 3) The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

And a fundamental part of the NASCAR organization structure is the promoters. Promoter sponsorship has drawn some criticism from the fan base because more and more it seems that NASCAR is more about commercials than it is about racing. However, in order for NASCAR to stay alive as an organization it needs the sponsors. Ticket sales alone will probably not bring in the revenue needed to stay healthy in business.

The Nextel Cup Series is the most prestigious of the NASCAR organization. This series starts with the Daytona 500 at the beginning and consists of 36 races in 19 states and on 22 different tracks.

The second premier event in the NASCAR organization is the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. This event started in 1996 and was previously known as the SuperTruck Series. Its roots come from a display of a NASCAR-style pickup truck at the 1994 Daytona 500.

And the last premier event in the NASCAR organization is the NASCAR Busch Series which is considered to be like the minor leagues of NASCAR.

The original concept of a NASCAR race car was that is was supposed to be composed of stock parts—parts you would buy in an auto parts store. In some respects that is true but not totally. The race car is a high performance racing machine designed to withstand high G-forces when banking on turns. Let’s look at what makes up this vehicle.

The first component most are interested in is the engine of a NASCAR racing vehicle. This engine actually is very close to that which you have in your car (provided you have a big engine) but it is customized so that it can withstand high temperature and torque. All parts in the engine of a are machined to within very tight specifications so that there is a minimum of friction. The carburetor is designed to let in the volume of air and fuel mixture required to sustain high speeds for lengthy spans of time. There are no fuel injectors in the race cars engine.

The first modification to the NASCAR vehicle was to smooth out the ride. Early races were run on tracks that were very bumpy and this causes a lot of damage. Today, the NASCAR vehicle is basically a body molded from sheet metal on a frame supported on the inside by bars made of sheet tubing. The vehicle is not a stock vehicle any longer as each component is hand-crafted and assembled. The car is built with safety in mind while giving it the ability to maintain speeds approaching 200 mph. Driver comfort is not the focus.

The NASCAR vehicle at one time was able to reach speeds in excess of 200 mph and that all changed in 1987 when Bobby Allison’s race car flew into a section of fence at the Talladega Speedway in Talledega, Alabama. Fans were injured in the stands and NASCAR took action to restrict the speed of the vehicle through what is known as a restrictor plate. This also gave birth to the term “restrictor-plate racing.”

The physics of the restrictor plate have to do with reducing air intake into the intake manifold of the engine. Less air will result in lower combustion thus reducing horsepower. The restrictor plate is a sheet of metal with four holes bored in it at precise tolerances. The plate is then mounted between the intake manifold and the carburetor. After that, the NASCAR vehicle should not be able to exceed speeds of 200 mph.

It would seem like the restrictor plate would resolve the safety problem but many professional drivers have been asserting that it creates more potentially unsafe situations in a race. If you think about the difference between a motor scooter and a motorcycle you can see where a restrictor plate could create problems. Many times a motor scooter has an accident where a motorcycle could have avoided it because of its increased ability to accelerate (a motorcycle can accelerate quicker to avoid an oncoming threat). It is the same complaint among almost all of the racers with restrictor plates. They have identified situations where the cars bunch up and the driver only has one choice and that is to slow down. Speeding up to avoid the congestion is not an option because the other cars may be at the restrictor plate limit too.

But as for now, the restrictor plate is a requirement in the race car vehicle on the majority of tracks.

Have the thundering roars and zipping speed of stock car racing been your passion? Is there a certain driver who has the competitive qualities in a person that you admire? Do you look forward to each NASCAR race with a fervor that surpasses all of your other activities? If so, NASCAR collectibles may be the ingredient that’s been missing in your life to keep the feeling alive 24/7.

Think about it. Does your life take a dive in excitement after race day is over? You may well feel a void sensation after the stock car contest is over and have a longing to bring back the action. Deep down there’s an empty feeling that needs a proverbial shot-in-the-arm to get the juices flowing once again. This is precisely when NASCAR collectibles are needed. They kick-start memories of racing that make our lives more sharp and electric.

There is an expansive menu of NASCAR collectibles. This means that there is bound to be something appealing to each stock car racing fan out there. There are die-cast cars for specific drivers, furniture, authentic race memorabilia, and home décor items. There are tons of other items for the more budget conscious shoppers such as rugs, mats, pillows, clocks, throws, and blankets.

Treasured racing thoughts can be awakened also by the multitude of clothing options available as well. There are various types of shirts, jackets and other apparel for men, women and infants that can remind everyone of what you’re all about. You can advertise your enthusiasm in no uncertain terms by wearing something that speaks your mind about what turns you on. Why not take a stand for what you live for?

StockCarUSA.com believes that your life needs a little boost of enthusiasm now and then. Consider NASCAR collectibles as a way to make the week in-between races more tolerable for you to bear while waiting for the real rush. Take a victory lap every day whether there is a race going on or not!

Despite the popularity of the sport, NASCAR has often been described by critics as a White man’s sport. With the exception of a few trailblazers, such as ESPN NASCAR analyst and former NBA All-Star Brad Daugherty, most coverage of racing includes very few faces of color or women.

However, NASCAR diversity has been at the top of the sports agenda for the past six seasons as a result of its Drive for Diversity initiative. The program seeks to develop minority and female drivers and crew members and give them the opportunity to compete against established NASCAR talent.

One such individual taking advantage of NASCAR diversity is 19-year-old racing sensation Michael Cherry, who is in his second year in the Drive for Diversity program and recently received sponsorship from Nationwide Insurance.

“It’s an honor to support Michael Cherry as he works his way up in NASCAR,” said Nationwide agent Carlo White. “This sponsorship is a good opportunity for Nationwide to support diversity in racing, and that’s something that is very important to us. Michael is a very promising young racer and will be a great representative of the Nationwide Insurance brand.”

Despite the efforts of Nationwide, NASCAR diversity has become a critical issue since fired NASCAR employee Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million lawsuit against the racing league in 2008, claiming racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

Grant, a Black female, said of her NASCAR experience: “I loved it. It was a great, exciting, adrenaline-filled job where I worked with fast cars and the best drivers in the world. But there was an ongoing daily pattern [of harassment]. It was the nature of the people I worked with, the people who ran it, it trickled down from the top.”

After Grant filed the lawsuit, NASCAR spokesperson Ramsey Poston emphasized the dedication to NASCAR diversity and a zero tolerance policy for any form of harassment. “As an equal opportunity employer, NASCAR is fully committed to the spirit and letter of affirmative action law,” Poston said. And they are optimistic that the Drive for Diversity initiative and Nationwide’s sponsorship of Cherry will accomplish their goals of diversity.

“We’re pleased to see Michael, and promising young drivers like him, earn the opportunity to take their racing careers to the next level,” said Max Siegel, CEO of the managing group in charge of the diversity initiative. “The goal of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity initiative is to create meaningful opportunities for a wide range of drivers to compete in NASCAR. Nationwide Insurance will be a great partner for Michael because they have a proud tradition of supporting NASCAR and diversity in general.”

Cherry, a Valrico, Fla. Native, finished fourth in the point standings during his rookie year in 2008. He will race for the Addis Motorsports at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway. Cherry said, “It’s truly an honor (to) represent Nationwide Insurance. The addition of their sponsorship to our Addis team and the Drive for Diversity initiative really makes this an unbelievable opportunity for me. I definitely plan to make the most of it.”

In addition, the world of auto racing plans to make the most of NASCAR diversity and become a sport everyone can enjoy and celebrate.