Will Someone Please Explain "NASCAR" to Me?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I understand it’s some kind of car race that has become wildly popular over the past few years, but other than that it is as a blank slate to me. What makes it different than other car races? Why are the cars “NAS?” Is it like “motocross?” And what happened to the “r” in “motocross?”

In short, what is the charm and allure of NASCAR? Is it more a social event, like the Harvard/Yale game and Ascot?

2

You hit the nail right on the head - it is EXACTLY like the Harvard/Yale game, only with much more beer and much fewer teeth.

3

I believe the term “hicks turning left” sums it up nicely. :slight_smile:

(No offense intended to any hicks, or any people turning left, of course.)

4

NASCAR is like Harley Davidson’s.

If I have to explain it to you, you wouldn’t understand.

5

National
Association of
Stock
Car
Automobile
Racing
go fast… turn left… anything else I can help you with?

6

Come on now, let’s not let stereotypes persist. I have all my teeth! :slight_smile:

Here’s a good site:

And Dale Earnhardt Jr. is god.

7

NASCAR is definitely a social event, but it involves beer and barbecue instead of wine and cheese.

NASCAR = National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

Know your NASCAR from the nascar.com site:

http://www.nascar.com/kyn/index.html

NASCAR cars are known as “stock cars” because in the early days of the sport, the cars were pretty closely based on models that automakers actually sold to the public, as opposed to, say, Formula One racecars, which were intended solely for racing. Of course, as time has gone by, there’s not much similiarity any more between the Ford you see on the track and the one you see cruising down the road, but the original intent and purpose of stock car racing was to show off an automaker’s street vehicles.

And trust me, the beer makes watching a car go round in a circle 50 times a lot more interesting. People do watch for the crashes, they just don’t like to admit it.

8

Shouldn’t that be “son of god”?

9

From what I understand (my nephews are big fans…) NASCAR is an acronym…something along the lines of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing - “Stock Car” meaning race cars built on “stock” factory car bodies (at least they used to be…) rather than the Formula1 type pure racing machines. The charm and allure? I dunno. Speed? For that, I watch the Reno Air Races…

10

Whenever I hear this excuse, all I can think is “so you don’t understand it yourself?”

This isn’t rocket science. Is it impossible to come up with a short list of 3-5 things that you like about NASCAR? I hate and can’t stand car racing, but even I can come up with several:

  1. Joe Fan grew up around cars, and enjoys the technical aspects.
  2. Joe Fan likes to drive fast, and watch others do it even faster.
  3. Joe Fan likes the community in which he can drink a lot of beer, sit in the sun, and watch cars turn left.
  4. Joe Fan is a current/former NASCAR driver/mechanic.
  5. Joe Fan hates Phish and the Grateful Dead, but really wants a reason to tour around the country with a large group of people living out of their vans.
11

Ah. Thanks you. Much explained.

Besides the “going around and around and around” thing, does anything happen? I mean, does someone win after so many runs around the track?

12

Well, it’s a trinity thing, without the third member.

You goin’ to DE day festivities tomorrow?

13

Damn…I dont think I’ve ever seen this many simulposts…everyone hit “submit” at exactly the same time!

14

National
Association
for the
Study
and
Care
of
American
Rednecks?

15

Um, well, yes, someone wins. It is a race, after all. Usually there will be a crash or two - it’s not the safest thing in the world, driving in heavy traffic at 170mph…and after a certain pre-determined number of laps, like any other race, somebody finishes first and wins.

16

It should be pointed out that NASCAR consists of about a billion races. You get points based on how you finish in each race, and at the end of the year, there’s a big winner of all NASCARdom. I think they crown that person and name him their king, but I could be mistaken. Winners of individual races get small fiefdoms spreading from Alabama to southern North Carolina, and a cash prize. I could be wrong about the fiefdom.

17

It’s a trinity thing. To at least some fans, DE is the father and the holy ghost.

18

Durn New Yorkers don’t know nuthin’. Next you’ll be wantin’ somebody to explain to you what Rodeo is.

[Garth Brooks]
"It’s bulls and blood
It’s dust and mud
It’s the roar of a Sunday crowd

It’s the white in his knuckles
And the gold in the buckle
He’ll win the next go-round"
[/Garth Brooks]

The winner’s fiefdom isn’t all that small. It usually consists of at least three counties.

:wink:

19

There’s only one legend in NASCAR and it’s … Dick Trickle ! - damn, I just can’t help myself :smiley:

20

Of course, some of us do understand Harley Davidsons and stock car racing; but we still think they’re silly.