Turning left...
For a number of years now I've had to deal with friends that have no idea what NASCAR is all about, asking why I watch cars turn left for three hours. All they can say is negative comments and laugh at the sport I love. What they don't seem to understand is that there is more to NASCAR than just cars racing ion circles. It's a lifestyle, it's a passion and most of all it's a community of fans and friends.
All the races that I have attended, not once have I had to deal with an obnoxious person, sure, some are Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson fans and they show off the numbers of championships their drivers have won but that is entirely normal for NASCAR fans. We are loyal, we are friendly and no matter who you root for, you are respected.
Sitting in the grandstands with all my camera equipment, I had to get away for some personal business and just couldn't carry it all with me, so, I left it all there. When I got back some 30 minutes later, to my surprise everything was still there! I deducted that NASCAR fans are also honest people and that I did not have to worry about my stuff if I had to leave my seat. I don't know what it is about NASCR fans that brings us all together like that, you don't see this in other form of motorsports. It's kind of a brotherhood I guess. You feel at home when you attend a NASCAR race and you can talk to anyone no matter who their driver is. Conversations flow and laughs follow. Never have I seen a fight or someone being escorted out of the track for violent behavior. I love it!
You can bring your kids to the race and feel safe, you can bring your rookie friends and no one will laugh at them. Real fans take the time to educate the newbie and do it with passion,
The friends that choose to stay ignorant about NASCAR are maybe just not interested in all the technical aspects of the sport? The chassis set ups the dyno test and the wind tunnel numbers, I can understand that part but why not take a chance and see if you get to like the personal part of NASCAR. The crew chief relation with the drivers, the family history history of the sport. So much to learn and so much to appreciate.
How often does a fan get to be in the pits while the cars are going through tech inspections, visit the teams headquarters and interact directly with the drivers and crews, you don't see this in F1 of Indycar! How many F1 drivers have twitter account and actually use them to talk with their fans? not too many but in NASCAR 99% of drivers are out there communicating and exchanging with us, it's absolutely incredible. I have personally had the chance to meet and talk to Robby Gordon, he was strolling along in the crowd, just walking and taking it all in and when he reached the entrance area at the gate, I bumped in to him By accident. When I realized who he was, I reached out and shook his hand. We ended up walking and talking for close to thirty minutes, he was asking questions and I was joking around, I don't think that we even talked about racing, it was just a natural conversation about anything and everything, awesome and simple. When I left for my seats I simple thanked him for the show his gives up every time that he is on the track and wished him luck, no request for an autograph, no hype, no drama....just plain ol' "chow dude, have fun out there" !
I don't know, maybe NASCAR fans are just more simple, maybe we can just appreciate the sport for what it is and not ask it to be something more, we love out drivers, we support our sponsors and we do all we can to attend the races, maybe that is what true love and devotion is all about?
I tell you, if you have never had the chance to attend a NASCR event, save up some money, bring a newbie, bring your kids and enjoy the show, you will not regret a minute of it!
Stay tuned......This blog is always growing !