Wooing Newcomers to 'NASCAR Nation'

[Eliot Rosewater]

21. Non-redneck?

Look, I get it, I get why folks consider NASCAR a rightwing, red-neck operation (is red-neck politically appropriate? I am asking not making judgment, can someone chime in please, I dont like using it anymore.)

But as of last year, things have changed. Zero hesitation to outlaw and denounce confederate flags, for instance.

Some drivers coming out publicly for BLM and Colin, and they took shit for it too. So yes still lots of racist assholes in NASCAR stands. But like I said earlier, Dale Jr and Jeff Gordon are liberalish and other drivers are too.

I know Gordon is retired but he is important. Jimmy Johnson also is liberalish.

As to driving in circles, just ask 2021 Indy Car champion Alex Palou, when interviewed recently by Dale Jr. he described his initial attitude about ovals and then his learning curve and respect for same.

As someone who wrenched on a stock car and drove it even once, and who has talked to racers I can assure you the physical fitness, athletic ability and skill needed to drive 200 mph 2 inches away from another car going 200 mph, side drafting (look it up) and keeping the car straight (mostly at Talladega and Daytona) and not crashing and doing this for THREE SOLID HOURS or more, at those speeds with other cars INCHES away from you, well my friend there few things (F1 is one) more stressful or needing of skill than that.

I am also a F1 fan, big Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Max Verstappen fan and others. The skill level needed to drive those cars is off the chart, for sure. Which is why they get the really big bucks.

Car racing is bad for the environment, I wish they could go electric NOW!



Oh, one of my FAVORITE stories is an example of how good some NASCAR Cup drivers are, former NASCAR Cup Champion Kurt Busch (his brother is Kyle, a little better known) a few years ago raced the Indy 500, in an Indy Car (not talking about the Cup version which is a 400 mile race) and my memory is he had never driven an Indy Car before and so on that day he finished racing his Cup race in Charlotte I think, flew to Indy and raced and finished on the lead lap in 6th place. HOLY SHIT!

In fact he may race Indy again. He and his brother both have serious racing genes.