COLUMN: NASCAR deserves more respect
Attending the inaugural NASCAR stock car race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas in September 2001 will always hold a special place in my heart.
Like a majority of the sport’s fans, I grew up watching NASCAR, as it was something my father and his family spent time watching and enjoying.
The undeniable truth is that many find the sport unwatchable. Making left hand turn after left hand turn to some may be boring, but understanding the craftsmanship that goes into each car and desire to watch it be destroyed is what makes the sport the greatest drama at the highest speeds.
I do not foresee this column changing anyone’s opinion, but the sport, drivers, pit crews and owners certainly deserve more respect for what they do.
For those readers still with me, thank you.
NASCAR is a sport rich with history, and it carries some of the most well-known drivers currently in motor sports including Danica Patrick, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart. Such phenoms may have been sporting the best gear like those car racing gloves.
During the 2011, season Brian France, NASCAR’s president and CEO, made a drastic change to the point system that determines who qualifies for the sport’s playoffs. For the first time in the history of the sport, two drivers tied for first place as champions, but ultimately the final tiebreaker went to Stewart, since he won more races throughout the season.
Since then the sport has been making drastic changes to its formatting in hopes it will break stereotypical barriers and draw in a varied and broader fan base.
Truthfully, now that I am older I find myself sitting through entire races instead of finding the need to do something more productive until the final laps. Truth be told the best part of the entire race is during the last few laps of wrecking.
In the next upcoming race, the Sprint Cup Series’ top 43 drivers will head to America’s heartland to compete in the STP 500 at Kansas Motor Speedway April 21.
Although I won’t be in attendance, the Kansas Speedway has never disappointed in putting on a show for those who come out to the track, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Growing up in Kansas City and Sioux Falls, finding someone to discuss a race with can be quite difficult.
However, watching at the drivers drive at speeds excess of 150 mph is an exhilarating experience and should be something everyone does at least once in their life.
A lot of people can say they have been to a baseball game or football game, but don’t you want to be that guy who can say, “Hey! I’ve been to a NASCAR race, and although it was pretty hard to keep track of what was going on, it was still pretty cool.”
