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Mr 5 0 · 12-01-2001, 01:44 PM

Unit5302

I have to agree with everything you stated.

NASCAR has become like pro wrestling; a show.

Yes, I still admire the drivers that risk their lives and must possess excellent skills to get a race car around the track at 150 + mph but the connection to the regular racing fan that roots for 'his' car to win is long gone from NASCAR.

The big, big bucks, endorsements, fake cars that are hand-made and don't even look like anything on the road, engines that are, as you said, out of date and the general rules hassles that never end all combine to make NASCAR more like F1 racing which is exactly the opposite of what it started out to be - and was - for many years. Oval track racing in something approaching stock cars that folks could relate to and get behind.

The very first 'NASCAR' races around 1950-51 actually were run with near-stock Ford V-8's, Hudson 6's and Oldsmobile V-8's (the 'hot' cars of the early fifties).

Of course things change (like safety regulations) but right now, NASCAR is about as far away from it's origins as it can get. A bunch of talented drivers getting huge money to drive wildly expensive race cars and pretend it has something to do with everyday automotive reality.

At least the drags don't pretend the six and seven-second cars are anything but expensive race cars, custom built for a specific purpose (quarter-mile et/speed). You can still go to the drags and watch the 10, 11 and 12-second cars and know that your car could run those times too with some hard work, some cash and lots of planning.
Big difference from NASCAR.

Hey, if folks are into NASCAR, that's cool. I just can't relate to it anymore. I would rather watch the local guys race modifieds at the local track, having a ball doing it and giving spectators something to relate to.

What was the old car-makers line about NASCAR? "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday". Yeah, right.
Try buying anything you see running in NASCAR.
That's the difference, to me. If the spectator can't relate to the cars, I don't see the point.
Maybe some folks can get excited about rooting just for a driver, but I relate to what he's driving and a NASCAR Ford or Chevy isn't anything I can care about.

I'll take drag racing, thanks all the same.

12-01-2001, 01:44 PM	#5
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Unit5302 I have to agree with everything you stated. NASCAR has become like pro wrestling; a show. Yes, I still admire the drivers that risk their lives and must possess excellent skills to get a race car around the track at 150 + mph but the connection to the regular racing fan that roots for 'his' car to win is long gone from NASCAR. The big, big bucks, endorsements, fake cars that are hand-made and don't even look like anything on the road, engines that are, as you said, out of date and the general rules hassles that never end all combine to make NASCAR more like F1 racing which is exactly the opposite of what it started out to be - and was - for many years. Oval track racing in something approaching stock cars that folks could relate to and get behind. The very first 'NASCAR' races around 1950-51 actually were run with near-stock Ford V-8's, Hudson 6's and Oldsmobile V-8's (the 'hot' cars of the early fifties). Of course things change (like safety regulations) but right now, NASCAR is about as far away from it's origins as it can get. A bunch of talented drivers getting huge money to drive wildly expensive race cars and pretend it has something to do with everyday automotive reality. At least the drags don't pretend the six and seven-second cars are anything but expensive race cars, custom built for a specific purpose (quarter-mile et/speed). You can still go to the drags and watch the 10, 11 and 12-second cars and know that your car could run those times too with some hard work, some cash and lots of planning. Big difference from NASCAR. Hey, if folks are into NASCAR, that's cool. I just can't relate to it anymore. I would rather watch the local guys race modifieds at the local track, having a ball doing it and giving spectators something to relate to. What was the old car-makers line about NASCAR? "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday". Yeah, right. Try buying anything you see running in NASCAR. That's the difference, to me. If the spectator can't relate to the cars, I don't see the point. Maybe some folks can get excited about rooting just for a driver, but I relate to what he's driving and a NASCAR Ford or Chevy isn't anything I can care about. I'll take drag racing, thanks all the same.