The Daytona 500

[Joe08867]

So I am heading down to Daytona on Friday morning. I can't wait to see the new track up close and personal. This should be one hell of a race this year. They were hitting 206mph at the Budweiser Shootout.

Any of you guys or gals ever go to a NASCAR race?
Or any race for that matter?

I have been to Indy for the 500, Sebring for the 12 hours and some local short tracks many times. I loved and even raced at Flemington Speedway before it was paved and went belly up.

I also love to see and participate in a drag race now and then but prefer watching night races. The sights and sounds factor just goes through the roof.

[Slinger182]

I've been to a lot of Cup races all over the place and to the Daytona 500 several time, but it's been a few years since I've been there for a race. It's a good time and an entertaining race.

[vc69]

Big time NASCAR fan here. I've been to several races at Talladega and one at Atlanta. I hope to get to Texas for a race this year as well.

[gfong]

Have fun, that would be a hoot to go to Daytona for NASCAR!

Been to a few CART/Indy races, I was a regular at Watkins Glen for NASCAR a few years back. Michigan 2 years ago for NASCAR.
I love all forms of racing but NHRA is my bag, I go to the US Nationals in Indy each year, English Town as well.

I will be glued to the TV from Thursday (Twin 125's) on to watch the NASCAR though.

Have a fun and safe trip.
Hey man, can you get me a shirt? :) Just kidding , but whenever my friends know I am going to the races they always ask.

[stuwee]

What you're in for is an experince few get, it's not just the race, it's the people watching. I've been to many races, mostly in PHX, was walking down the fence when the 43 700+hp cars came down, a guy and his girlfriend walked towards me, he hi 5'ed me and "Yeah Baby" as the colors blurred by in a sound like you just have to be there to know.

Not sure how wicked the 'party area' is at Daytona, I'm sure it's not for the shy, at PHX, it's a nice family like "hey, have a seat, here's a beer, who's your driver?" which brings up the subject of getting a shirt and hat for your fav. The truck sales area is a hoot!

This is gonna be an emotional Daytona, ten years since we lost Dale Sr. Do me a favor and on the last lap raise 3 fingers up in his honor! Have a great time!

And take pics!

[ryanjoachim]

So, what's so fun about watching cars go in a circle for a few hours?

Not trying to be a smartass lol...I really just don't see why people are so interested in it (besides the crashes).

[Slinger182]

So, what's so fun about watching cars go in a circle for a few hours?

Not trying to be a smartass lol...I really just don't see why people are so interested in it (besides the crashes).

Do you like any sports?

[nap]

I really just don't see why people are so interested in it (besides the crashes).

There is a lot of drama and a lot of variables. You are fighting for position against all the other drivers hoping none crash you or around you, all at 200 mph. You need everything to go right with your car mechanically and you need perfect pitstops. Four tires changed and fuel in about fifteen seconds. Pick a car and follow it and you'll see all that happens. This is not to mention everything the automakers have learned about product reliablitiy and how to do things better from racing. As you might have guessed I am a race fan. Hope this helps. Cheers.

[stuwee]

There is a lot of drama and a lot of variables. You are fighting for position against all the other drivers hoping none crash you or around you, all at 200 mph. You need everything to go right with your car mechanically and you need perfect pitstops. Four tires changed and fuel in about fifteen seconds. Pick a car and follow it and you'll see all that happens. This is not to mention everything the automakers have learned about product reliablitiy and how to do things better from racing. As you might have guessed I am a race fan. Hope this helps. Cheers.

Right on! Well said, imagine going 200+ with your bumper on your draft partner, then the guy who's door handle is a piece of paper away decides to move down on a 30 degree bank, in a turn.....these guys (and Danica Patric too) Rock!! I love a good road course, grew up on them in fact, you can't beat NASCAR for what it is, very few sports can sell 200,000 seats to a bunch of yahoo's on a weekly basis

btw, Go Smoke!! #14!!

[BeRad]

So, what's so fun about watching cars go in a circle for a few hours?

Not trying to be a smartass lol...I really just don't see why people are so interested in it (besides the crashes).

I have been and am, a fan of various sports. I used to be of the same opinion as you. I even gave Nascar a chance and watched a few races over the years. While taking an interest in cars, and other racing, and (as mentioned) sport, I never could understand the draw to such a thing. It seemed to simple and boring. Guess what??? WROOOOOOOONG!

My ex-girlfriend was in to Nascar BIG TIME! She LOVES Tony (at the time #20). So as part of the natural give-and-take of a relationship,
I gave it another shot. Much to my surprise, while rooting for Smoke along with her, I actually found myself enjoying it. Over time I started understanding all of the intricacies of the sport making me appreciate what happens on the track even more.

I am not a big fan by any means now, but still enjoy watching the occasional race, and am always eager to find out the results if I miss it. It is just one of those things that you have to get into a bit to understand. Once you understand, you enjoy. If you really want to get it, go for the passenger seat ride along at any track that offers the Richard Petty Diving School.


I'm looking forward to seeing some nice tight, high speed racing on the new surface. I haven't seen anything from Daytona yet so I'm hoping that Sunday will provide me with some refreshing excitement. Someday I'll actually get myself there to TRULY experience Nascar.

[Slinger182]

Well said nap, stuwee and Berad. It's like anything else the more you know about something the more interesting it is.

[stuwee]

There was a photographer that had a special cam to catch all the cars on the bank in one (scanned shot) I can't find his info

It was a very special process he designed for the camera motor, anyone know of him or a link to his work?

Anyway, have my flags flyin' on the porch

I brought a music engineer to the PHX race, he was amazed by the sound, every track is different but, PHX is unique with the sound off the mountains on turns 2 and 3 and 4, makes a low Bflat to a G, poor critters that live out there

[TNHNDYMAN]

I'm a big Nascar fan (another smoke 14 fan as well) and have been to several cup and nationwide races at Bristol. The night race in August is awesome. I live in Johnson City about 15 miles from the track and can usually hear the jets fly over during pre-race. My wife and I named our daughter Danica and we hope to watch her (Patrick) race at Bristol in March. Anyone want to make any bets on how many laps she'll make it before getting moved. That's going to be a tough learning experience for her but I'll still be rooting for her and hope she progresses more this year going back to some of the tracks for a 2nd go around. Have a great time at the race joe and if you ever make it to Bristol I'll buy you a cold one. Travis

[Joe08867]

So three things I have learned from this thread so far.

1. we have a lot of Tony Stewart fans on the board. I usually say his name and people look at me like something is wrong with me or i have grown a second head. Glad to see some fellow fans.

2. If you haven't really looked at how the sport works you may miss the point. It isn't the running in a circle at 200mph. It is doing it bumper to bumper and door handle to door handle with 43 other guys at 200mph. The crashes yes are spectacular and I know several people that go just for "The Big One" as they call it. I was a fan of the crash myself way back. But now I see how much tighter the competition is and how hard these guys have to fight on the edge to gain any position on the track.

3. ryanjoachim, is not a fan of NASCAR or of any sport I can remember. :)

Daytona and Talladega are unique in as they work differently from the other tracks on the circuit. You can have a car that isn't up to speed alone that can win the race by using the draft to your advantage. You also have to be in the correct spot to see that opening and take advantage of it. And if you watch some guys that really understand the draft you can gain a ton of insight into the sport like, Dale Jr, Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Michael Waltrip. These guys are almost as good as the man we will honor this weekend Dale Sr. That guy could draft the side of a competitor and slow him right down. It's almost like he could see the draft.

I was recovering from Surgery in 2001 when Dale Sr. died. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I don't think anyone thought the crash was that bad until the news came out. In some ways we should really thank Dale Sr for his contribution to the sport that day. I can name at least three guys that wouldn't be here right now if not for the Car of Tomorrow. Especially Elliott Sadler. He would have most likely died in his accident in Pocono last year if not for the COT.

This is my 3rd trip to Daytona and I can't wait to get there. And on lap three when we have a moment of silence for the man I will take off my hat and honor his legacy.

[TNHNDYMAN]

well said Joe, it is an amazing specticle that gives me alot of enjoyment from Feb thru Nov. I also love March madness, NFL playoffs, and great baseball games in October. I hope it warms up for everyone is Daytona this week and Nascar doesn't make anymore knee jerk reactions to try and slow the cars down ruining the show (I hate it when they constantly micromanage). Have a great time.

[ratster]

I lost all interest in NASCAR when Earnhardt died.Up until then it was 3 and 4 races a year.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

To say that someone not liking a sport or game or whatever is tied to a lack of understanding is very narrow minded. I get that around here in Texas alot, "ah you just don't understand it, that's why you don't like it"...

I 'understand' the ins and outs of NASCAR, know about all the engineering that goes into making those cars work, and know that it must be INSANELY difficult to race those cars (doing 200 mph with guys 6 inches on each side of me can't be easy, no matter which way you're turning). I know that everything has to be perfect, from the car itself to the pitstops to the actual driving.

I know all that, and I respect the intelligence and skill and reaction time of the crew and drivers that do it all.

I still can't stand to watch it. Wanna know why? And this is probably going to piss some folks off, but it's just the way I feel personally and not how I feel about everyone who watches NASCAR...

It makes me feel dumber when I watch it.

Everything from the stupid announcer saying "boogety boogety boogety boys, let;s go racing" at the beginning of every race to the drunken redneck fans (and I live in Texas so I'm not saying I hate rednecks) to the fact that everything is about drivers bickering and all that. Add to that the fact that what they are doing really is going around in clrcles, and while it's a great technical acheivement to do it at those speeds, at the end of the day it's still just driving in circles.

I'm not saying it doesn't take talent, I'm saying I don't LIKE it, and every NASCAR fan I know can't seem grasp that concept. The issue I have with NASCAR though is less the racing itself and more the whole culture that surrounds it, it's just not my thing.

I have nothing against racing, and I will watch other types of racing, just don't care for NASCAR, and it has nothing to do with a lack of understanding.

[Slinger182]

So, what's so fun about watching cars go in a circle for a few hours?

Isn't exactly open minded. I was hoping he was going to say some other sport that he likes and I was going to make a rash generalization about that sport to try and make a point. Like hockey is just a bunch of guys sliding on the ice and fighting...

NASCAR has definitely changed a lot. There's so much money involved now it had to change. Of course it isn't for everybody. I think the TV coverage is pretty bad these days but for me it's still racing.

[Joe08867]

Assimilated, you have every right not to like a sport. I was more talking to the person that never watched a race or even looked at the sport making and assumption that it is stupid or whatever.

As you said you understand the sport and still don't like it then it may not be for you. Take it easy though, I wasn't singling you out. And I wasn't being narrow minded because then I would be calling you narrow minded for not agreeing with me. And with all do respect. I have more people say what ryanjoachim did than people that have actually given it a shot. So you are unique in that respect.

I also understand the not liking the culture around it. I hate "boogety boogety boogety, let;s go racing boys" It is stupid and makes the people that watch the sport seem dumb to a casual fan, and I like Daryl Waltrip. Imagine if they did that in the NFL. "boogety boogety boogety, lets go kickoff boys," How pathetic would that be.

[ryanjoachim]

Isn't exactly open minded. I was hoping he was going to say some other sport that he likes and I was going to make a rash generalization about that sport to try and make a point. Like hockey is just a bunch of guys sliding on the ice and fighting...

And here I was, going to make a rash comparison between hockey and NASCAR...like both are just a bunch of guys "sliding" (driving) around and fighting. All I ever hear about in NASCAR is how "this driver said this" or "this driver did this to the other driver" etc etc. I'd probably hear some of the good things if I ever actually watched a race, but since I don't I only hear the bad things, and form my opinion based on that.

And I'm ok with that! All I ever said was that I don't understand what people see in it. I didn't snub anyone who does enjoy watching it, as I know there are people who get hot watching golf...and that just boggles my mind.

If I was "playing" said sport, or was actually there in person, then I would obviously have a different opinion.

[stuwee]

glad to hear so many Smoke fans about ! Not only does he drive the wheels off any track with any ride but, gives mega $$'s of his hard earned cash to children's charities.

Amen! btw, Danica will have her work cut out for her at Bristol (wicked track, 180,000 seats on half mile of concrete) Gives "Thunder Valley" a whole new meaning eh?

How 'bout a pit stop in Times Square? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZbnR7rKR6k&NR=1

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

It's all just preference really, I love to watch golf because it's something that I play and can relate to. NASCAR isn't.

I'm sure that by any objective measurement though, golf is more boring than NASCAR...

[Slinger182]

And here I was, going to make a rash comparison between hockey and NASCAR...like both are just a bunch of guys "sliding" (driving) around and fighting. All I ever hear about in NASCAR is how "this driver said this" or "this driver did this to the other driver" etc etc. I'd probably hear some of the good things if I ever actually watched a race, but since I don't I only hear the bad things, and form my opinion based on that.

And I'm ok with that! All I ever said was that I don't understand what people see in it. I didn't snub anyone who does enjoy watching it, as I know there are people who get hot watching golf...and that just boggles my mind.

If I was "playing" said sport, or was actually there in person, then I would obviously have a different opinion.

Maybe you should have worded it different then. Like "I've never watched a race before, what's the appeal?"

Saying it's just a bunch of cars going around in circles fires up a NASCAR fan pretty quick.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Maybe you should have worded it different then. Like "I've never watched a race before, what's the appeal?"

Saying it's just a bunch of cars going around in circles fires up a NASCAR fan pretty quick.

This is one of the biggest issues I have with NASCAR, the fans.

Everytime someone says they don't like it you get your panties all in a bunch.

He didn't say "it's just a bunch of cars going around in circles", he said "what's the fun about watching cars going around in circles for a few hours". Semantics maybe, but the two have different meanings, one indicates that there's nothing else involved (which is what you accused him of saying) and the other indicates that watching cars go in circles isn't fun and doesn't really bash the sport.

You chose to take what he said and twist it into something else so that you can 'get all fired up'...

Maybe instead of insisting the he word something differently so as to not offend your sensibilities you just man up and quit taking things so personally.

I really don't mean to direct this at you personally, its all the NASCAR fans that I've ever encountered that are this way and is one of the things that turns me off...

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

But hey, I enjoy watching golf, so what do I know...

[Slinger182]

Ok this has gotten way out of hand. I don't care if anybody else likes NASCAR and I don't think anybody is trying to convince anybody to, I know I wasn't.

I follow golf, NASCAR heck I'll even follow curling during the Olympics and a lot of other sports. I like competition it's just the way I'm wired I guess.

I was hoping ryanjoachim would say what sport he follows. I was then going make a my point then make comparisons to whatever sport he likes. I enjoy debating sports and getting perspective. It's hard to get into NASCAR but most of the time once people understand it more they are hooked. I don't want to get into trying to convince people to like NASCAR.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of racing. Joe have fun at the track! If you make it down to the beach be sure to check out Cruisin's. I'm very much looking forward to see how this new track service, car and 2 car drafting deal works out.

[Joe08867]

Assimilated, the same can be said about most sports fans. Note I said most. When I skip watching baseball on tv cause I think it is boring, my friends say what is wrong with you? Like you I don't get a thrill out of watching that sport. Doesn't make me wrong or them right.

And as far as ryanjoachim goes, if he meant what he said in a different way than I am sorry for jumping to a conclusion. But I never tried to shove my opinion down his throat. The funny thing is, is he made the comment. So if he didn't want to cause a stir he sure as hell did.

And yes we get a little wadded up when people pick on our sport. Just like any other fan of any other pastime we enjoy, not just sports but anything.

PS I like watching Golf here and there myself. But I find Baseball boring? Go figure...

[ryanjoachim]

I wouldn't say getting one or two people riled up is considered "causing a stir", but to each his own. Personally, I prefer watching full-contact chess games.

[exalted512]

I never wouldve thought in a million years a thread about nascar on this forum would end up debating on if people enjoyed it or not...

Anyway, I cant stand watching it on TV. My brother can, but I cant. But I've been to a couple races at Texas Motor Speedway and it was a lot of fun. I'd definitely love to go again.
-Cody

[ryanjoachim]

I never wouldve thought in a million years a thread about nascar on this forum would end up debating on if people enjoyed it or not...
-Cody

You, sir, underestimate Club Polk!

All games/sports are more fun in person than on TV, with the possible exception of American Football (the constant breaks for commercials is annoying, but also gives you more freedom) imo.

If I actually went to a race, I might actually enjoy myself...but I still wouldn't understand why going in a circle is fun to watch.