And I like it!! I am conflicted. What's up with that? Anybody else like that? Maybe it's the start of the season, or because I am still living in the cold and it's sunny and warm there or I am just desperate for anything automotive at this point............ at any rate after this I avoid NASCAR like the plague.
Kramer
HalfDork
2/20/11 12:35 p.m.
I grew up near Eldora Speedway, watching Danny Ongais and others who would race at a local short track when not racing in the biggest races in the US. NASCAR is very similar to short track racing in many ways (much more like that than F1).
People who don't like NASCAR probably don't understand or like short track racing, either. If they don't like it, fine. I just don't understand why it makes them feel better about themselves when they get a chance to show their ignorance and disrepect by posting their hatred on the internet.
This is the onlyone i watch also . Daytona is my local track ,so maybe thats the reason. I've spent way to much time over there watching different events .
I will say it was nice to see the USAF Thunderbirds fly over my house several times and then perform there version of a missing man formation for Dale .
I only watch the 500 too. Mostly out of family tradition. NASCAR has become too much like pro wrestling and not liking the new generation drivers. No character. I watch the pre-race to catch up on the previous season and then catch the race.
gamby
SuperDork
2/20/11 1:12 p.m.
In the same boat as the OP. I feel like I'm supposed to watch it. Granted, I'll be out visiting relatives for much of the afternoon, but I'll just let it build up on the DVR and catch the end.
ncjay
Reader
2/20/11 1:14 p.m.
I am and have been a circle track fan my whole life. The Daytona 500 is usually not one of the most exciting races of the season. I know and understand why Nascar gets no respect from many people, but they don't know what they're missing. Outside of a restrictor plate race, the speeds these cars are capable of are quite impressive, especially considering their low tech nature. Check out a race at Bristol, Martinsville, or Richmond and you'll really see something.
gamby
SuperDork
2/20/11 1:22 p.m.
I've caught a couple of the road course races here and there. Those are fun--I just never know when they're on (especially now that Bubba The Love Sponge isn't on Sirius anymore).
T.J.
SuperDork
2/20/11 1:28 p.m.
I try to watch the road courses. Other than that the only Daytona I tune in for is the 24 hours.
I could live without that damned animated gopher, though.
Oh Geeeez...................looks like I may have offended somebody. Didn't mean to. Just because I don't care for NASCAR doesn't mean it's bad or stupid, it's just my opinion which means nothing to anybody but me. I just don't have any interest in it after the first race. To each his own. No disrespect intended.
When they went to Suzuka about 15 years ago, now that was a sight. Most Cup drivers didn't go over there, although a few did. They were mostly driven by japanese drivers, but I was a kid and can't remember who any of them were, what series etc etc.
I enjoy a good battle just like anything else, and NASCAR supplies that from time to time, but not anywhere like it should be. Bristol and Darlington are probably my favorite two tracks, the road courses are always fun to weed out the really good drivers from the ones who can just turn left.
One of my favorite series is ARCA, who raced at Daytona during Speedweeks, but they also run alot of untelevised races like Salem Speedway in Salem, IN. They also run a road course in New Jersey, and two dirt tracks in Iowa, all with the same cars!!!!
Kramer
HalfDork
2/20/11 2:20 p.m.
Feedyurhed wrote:
Oh Geeeez...................looks like I may have offended somebody. Didn't mean to. Just because I don't care for NASCAR doesn't mean it's bad or stupid, it's just my opinion which means nothing to anybody but me. I just don't have any interest in it after the first race. To each his own. No disrespect intended.
Wait for it-someone is sure to spout off about how low-tech the cars are, or how stupid the fans are, or how untalented the drivers are. If, somehow, that person holds their tongue (keyboard), just go read almost every other NASCAR post. Their ignorance will be vile and rampant.
Nascar at Suzuka..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYhiL3QZXik
Montoya sure has quick reflexes...two times (so far) he's done an impressive job of saving the car in a near spin.
red5_02 wrote:
Nascar at Suzuka..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYhiL3QZXik
That was awesome thank you I especially loved the honda integra type r commercial.
Left and right turns.. OMG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjpp4Nfu7Ow
Funny. As a stock car fan and racer, Daytona and Talledega are the two tracks I watch and care about the least. The real race season starts next week.
Kramer wrote:
I grew up near Eldora Speedway, watching Danny Ongais and others who would race at a local short track when not racing in the biggest races in the US. NASCAR is very similar to short track racing in many ways (much more like that than F1).
People who don't like NASCAR probably don't understand or like short track racing, either. If they don't like it, fine. I just don't understand why it makes them feel better about themselves when they get a chance to show their ignorance and disrepect by posting their hatred on the internet.
I don't like short track racing because I don't like bumper cars. Rubbing is not racing. Contact should be avoided if possible and not a strategy. I also tend to not like the beer drinking tattoo set.
That being said: there is some real talent in the short track ranks, both driving and the team side. Please don't think me the snob. I just have my likes, just as the good ol' boy blue collar types laughed at my small bore racing efforts. I get many snickers on the interstate from bearded, leather-clad boys driving trucks when I haul my Neon on the trailer. To each his own.
I do like the super speedway and road course NASCAR events. I abhor the extremes in racing. I have no use for the SCCA and car club elite ca types who believe that if it isn't a high-dollar super car it is not worth racing. I also cannot stand my local short track types who believe a real race car has no windows and have a working class here attitude.
In my many years of motorsports, the nicest, most helpful, most articulate and most fun people I have met have been in autocross, especially among regional drivers. My home region (NEPA) has great people. Central PA people are tops as well. Best times I have ever had. Sorry for the thread drift.
FYI: I watched the most of the race and the entire second 2/3s after the Flyers defeated my beloved Rangers.
ncjay wrote:
I am and have been a circle track fan my whole life. The Daytona 500 is usually not one of the most exciting races of the season. I know and understand why Nascar gets no respect from many people, but they don't know what they're missing. Outside of a restrictor plate race, the speeds these cars are capable of are quite impressive, especially considering their low tech nature. Check out a race at Bristol, Martinsville, or Richmond and you'll really see something.
+100. NASCAR team crew chiefs and engineers have impressive abilities making such out-dated base technology work as well as it does. Notice I said base technology because the technology required to make the primitive foundations of a NASCAR stock car perform as well as it does is amazing.
I will confess that I prefer 1 mile tracks and larger.
NOHOME
Reader
2/20/11 5:46 p.m.
NASCAR got boring. I am not sure exactly when or how, but I certainly drifted from regular watcher to once a year with the 500.
I think that I watch the 500 in some desperate hope that if might be getting better. Sadly, I don't see it happening. The COTF were pretty much a last nail in the coffin for me; I just don't really care for spec racing.
My boys (16 and 17) were watching some of the old clips which were shown and my son Tommy (17) remarked how cool the old cars looked. They both like the idea of having a car look much like its production namesake.
JoeyM
SuperDork
2/20/11 6:07 p.m.
formula ford, formula vee, spec miata, spec e30.....spec series are not the problem. Spec series are fine. The problem, IMHO, is the hyper aggressive "rubbing is racing" attitude. I'm with Moparman; i.e. I don't like the intentional contact as a form of intimidation.
Spec series are fine if they are stated as such. NASCAR wants a spec series with support from different manufacturers. Until the COT there were many fans who would cheer for a brand. Many fans who remain could not care less what make a car is as long as it has an unmuffled V8 and a driver they like.
I always watch the last 50 laps of the Daytona 500 (made much easier with DVR), and the two road course races a year. (I also watch the lower series road course races too, the Trucks at Road America is pretty awesome!)