I’m with Shibb on this one. I can’t tell you how irritated I get with people who dogmatically argue in an “I’m right, you’re wrong” approach regarding what is or isn’t a sport. From NASCAR to ice-dancing. From soccer to chess.
Here’s my take on it. I happen to like the dictionary definition of sport as a diversion, so nearly everything not related to survival could probably fit that definition.
Many people use a “litmus test” approach. They grab hold of some attribute, like “head to head” competition and split the universe of sports into two groups separated by this attribute. It either contains, or does not contain, that attribute. Other people use two attributes, say “head to head competition” and “athleticism required”.
My view is that there are varying degrees of competition (boxing compared to ice-climbing) and varying degrees of athleticism required (triathlon compared to darts). One could plot sports along these two axes. Furthermore, there are many more dimensions involved in the categorization of sports, ultimately being plotted into a multi-dimensional “cube”. Here is a partial list…
Degree of competition.
Athleticism required.
Objective vs subjective scoring.
Skill required.
Endurance vs finesse.
Degree of danger/risk of injury involved.
Degree of physical contact between opponents.
Degree of machine/equipment assistance.
etc.
All “sports” fall into this multi-dimensional universe of activities. From NASCAR to cheerleading, from drum and bugle corps competitions to ice-climbing, from dog-sledding to chess, from ballroom dancing to fencing.
As the author of the OP, and contrary to racinchikki’s assertion that I was “not serious” about hearing why NASCAR is a sport, I was interested.
Maybe it is just a stupid question of semantics, as some have suggested.
But to me, a sport has to have athletes.
And to me, an athlete has to work to keep their body in peak performance shape.
Everything I have read in this thread so far leads me to believe that, while drivers have very fast eye to hand reflexes, this falls more into skill than a sport.
Much like pinball – but at 200 mph.
RickJay even goes so far as listing Billiards as a sport – thus making Minnesota Fats and Jackie Gleason “athletes” by my (perhaps skewed) definition. I’m not buyin’ it.
Racinchikki’ also slams the implication that “NASCAR is a stupid non-sport for stupid ignorant Rednecks”. I wouldn’t go that far, but let’s be honest, chikki…the crowd is not exactly made up of MBA’s sipping white wine spritzers, just like there aren’t too many trucks with beer coolers parked in front of Wimbledon.
So until I see that workout video for NASCAR drivers, I’m sticking to my perception of NASCAR being a good excuse to get together with friends, throw back a few and watch the shiny cars go by in a circle real fast.
And may the best skilled driver win.
Most classic sports only involve the use of the human body and in some cases a lever (baseball bat, pole vault, etc.). NASCAR’s use of a motor is what sets it apart. Whether or not you consider it a sport, you must acknowledge the vast difference between it and traditional, Olympic sports. For some, this is the appeal. For others, the unacceptable.
I think you underestimate the stamina required to operate at that level for that many hours in such a hot, noisy, vibrating, fast, and dangerous environment. The physical stamina is extremely demanding. One driver this year raced the Indy 500 then the Coke-Cola (?) 600 on the same day! He was cramping badly at the end, probably highly dehydrated.
If you looked at a long distance swimmer you might not consider them to be “in shape” since they have a high % of bodyfat, but they have an incredible ability to do what is required for a long period of time. I see race car drivers in the same light.
I have no idea what “sport” is, but I believe these guys and gals are athletes.