# NASCAR and Conservatives
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [May 24, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732 "2018-05-24T15:57:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/1 "2018-05-24T15:57:33Z")
I can’t put my finger on it, but it seems that there is something about NASCAR that explains American conservatives. At one time there were “stock” car races, using off-the-showroom cars that were modified. Now they just have to have the profile of an American car. None of the guts are remotely the same as production cars. The rules even require carburators, while most (all?) modern American cars use fuel injection.
In the end it’s a pretence and a throwback to the good old days when America led the world in wealth, health, and happiness.
On the political side, conservatives put there fingers in their ears and say “nah, nah, nah” anytime someone suggests we look at the examples of other countries’ approaches to healthcare, gun violence, or criminal justice.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/2 "2018-05-24T16:01:10Z")
Coupla factors:
The sport originated and is still based in the South, with all of that historical and cultural significance.
Also, its origins were in bootlegging, an activity that flouted authority, partly for fun, and substituted one’s own ideas of how to live for the government’s.
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### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/3 "2018-05-24T16:03:42Z")
I think it’s more about geography. Races in Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, etc.
And also most of the drivers, with the exception of Danica Patrick, are prototypical white men (I wouldn’t be surprised if 2/3 of them are conservatives) and also, the whole NASCAR thing and its corporate advertising embodies a sort of “Bud Lite Conservative” or “Miller Lite Republican” feel (can’t come up with a better term to describe it.)
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/4 "2018-05-24T16:03:45Z")
I think it’s more a matter of origin. Daytona was the hotbed for NASCAR before it was ever even NASCAR, and it became strong in the south well before it ever caught on up here. Bootlegging in lower Appalachia also contributed to it.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/5 "2018-05-24T16:10:40Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> And also most of the drivers, with the exception of Danica Patrick, are prototypical white men
NASCAR has been able to promote itself as the true American racing circuit, something the Indy side perhaps ceded to them. Open wheel cars are typically made in Italy with Japanese engines and are driven by Brazilians. There just isn’t as much for a patriotic Merkin to cheer for, even on Memorial Day weekend at Indianapolis, as there is at almost any NASCAR race.
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### Author:  [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/6 "2018-05-24T16:13:06Z")
I understand the bootlegging history and think that is the cool part of NASCAR. But why do people put up with the fiction that these are actually Dodges, Chevies, or Fords. Hell, they even put on decals that look like headlights.
It seems that there is an analogy to the belief that “America is the greatest country in the word” in all things, and that to look outside the border is heresy.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/7 "2018-05-24T16:27:21Z")
> [@Batano](#):
>
> But why do people put up with the fiction that these are actually Dodges, Chevies, or Fords.
The current situation evolved that way from when stock cars were mostly stock, so there was never a point when people had to stop and think about it. Plus, there’s tribalism, also part of conservatism - “I’m a Chevy man, would never get in a Ford, so if that bow tie is on the car then I’m a fan of it”.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/8 "2018-05-24T16:40:41Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> Plus, there’s tribalism…
It’s hard to imagine a form of competitive sports fandom that isn’t tribalism, basically by definition. Seinfeld: “You’re rooting for the shirts!”
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/9 "2018-05-24T16:48:15Z")
True, but it’s not often as closely connected with daily life as car (truck) ownership is.
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### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/10 "2018-05-24T16:53:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> True, but it’s not often as closely connected with daily life as car (truck) ownership is.
It may just be that there are always outliers. I can picture hardcore NASCAR fans listening to Red Sox talk radio and thinking, “those people need to get a life!” 😃
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/11 "2018-05-24T17:11:29Z")
If you’d ever heard those jackasses on WRKO, even if you were a Red Sox fan yourself, you’d agree yourself that their listeners need lives. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/12 "2018-05-24T17:33:56Z")
> [@Batano](#):
>
> I can’t put my finger on it, but it seems that there is something about NASCAR that explains American conservatives. At one time there were “stock” car races, using off-the-showroom cars that were modified. Now they just have to have the profile of an American car. None of the guts are remotely the same as production cars. The rules even require carburators, while most (all?) modern American cars use fuel injection.
> In the end it’s a pretence and a throwback to the good old days when America led the world in wealth, health, and happiness.
> On the political side, conservatives put there fingers in their ears and say “nah, nah, nah” anytime someone suggests we look at the examples of other countries’ approaches to healthcare, gun violence, or criminal justice.
Nitpick: [Fuel injection replaced carburetors in NASCAR in 2012.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_injection_in_NASCAR)
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/13 "2018-05-24T17:54:42Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> I think it’s more about geography. Races in Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, etc.
>
> And also most of the drivers, with the exception of Danica Patrick, are prototypical white men (I wouldn’t be surprised if 2/3 of them are conservatives) and also, the whole NASCAR thing and its corporate advertising embodies a sort of “Bud Lite Conservative” or “Miller Lite Republican” feel (can’t come up with a better term to describe it.)
Serious question: is there any data on the racial makeup of NASCAR drivers? Fans? It does seem like is it an all-white thing going on, and the occasional confederate flag being in view and all. Maybe it’s just confirmation bias.
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### Author:  [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/14 "2018-05-24T18:12:06Z")
> [@snowthx](#):
>
> Serious question: is there any data on the racial makeup of NASCAR drivers? Fans? It does seem like is it an all-white thing going on, and the occasional confederate flag being in view and all. Maybe it’s just confirmation bias.
According to Nielsen data from [2013](https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/which-sports-have-the-whitest-richest-oldest-fans/283626/), NASCAR’s TV audience is 94% white.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/15 "2018-05-24T18:27:08Z")
And there’s 1 black driver in the Cup series, the first in decades (Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr.).
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/16 "2018-05-24T18:56:28Z")
Yeah, there is some history and heritage, sure. Kinda like how country and western music used to be about white boys going to prison.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/17 "2018-05-24T19:06:40Z")
And trains, and trucks, and gettin’ drunk, and Mama, right, Jerry Jeff?
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/18 "2018-05-24T19:40:36Z")
Don’t be appropriating my cultural heritage! On second thought, you’re welcome to it.
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/19 "2018-05-24T21:53:22Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> And there’s 1 black driver in the Cup series, the first in decades (Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr.).
Whereas, in NHRA there are several, as well many women, including the reigning top fuel champion, and there is no “ladies tee” bias. All drivers compete equally.
And somehow, the republic hasn’t fallen.
I used to like NASCAR a lot, still like it a bit, but I have often wondered if there is something going on behind the scenes to keep it all white dudes. I can’t believe there aren’t more women and black folk and whatnot who want to race, and have the skills.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nascar-and-conservatives/814732/20 "2018-05-24T22:02:10Z")
> [@Batano](#):
>
> Now they just have to have the profile of an American car.
Same sort of thing with the large monster truck rallies, too. There used to be actual truck bodies on those behemoths, now it’s all fiberglass that sometimes happens to look like a truck.
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