NASCAR is one of the most popular motorsports in the world, and especially in the United States. It has been around for a long time, and there are many races each year, attracting millions of fans from around the world. But why do people watch NASCAR?
People watch NASCAR for many reasons, with the main one being the high level of excitement. The cars reach some of the fastest speeds in motorsport (200+ mph), and that makes every race very intense. The signature oval tracks also mean that spectators get great views of the action.
The excitement of NASCAR is hard to beat in other sports in general, not just motorsports. But there is a lot that goes into each race, and although many people think it only involves going fast and turning left, there is plenty to enjoy as a fan of NASCAR.
People Love The Sound Of NASCAR Racing
You don’t need to go to the races to be a big fan of NASCAR, but if you are lucky enough to go to the events, the first thing you will take away from it is the incredible atmosphere. Most venues can take more than 20,000 people, while the Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500, can hold more than 100,000 excited fans.
Not only that, but the oval tracks offer spectators the chance to see a lot more of the action than a traditional road or street circuit does. Fans high up in the stands might be able to see cars go round the entire track, and this makes it very good value for money, allowing the fans to see non-stop action throughout the race.
The Buzz
The shouting and screaming of the fans are what some people go for, as that alone creates such a buzz. However, this does not compare to the roar as the announcer tells them to start their engines. There are 40 cars on the grid, all turning their engines on at once, unlocking up to 670 horsepower each. This is a sound that no other motorsport can emulate!
The V8 engines are appreciated by petrolheads all across the globe, but you don’t need to be a massive car fan to understand that there is a lot of power and engineering sitting on the track at each and every race. The engines start and the sound of the cars driving past at 200 mph is enough to make the fans go wild, and it keeps them coming back week in week out.
Other People Watch NASCAR For The High Speeds
In terms of lap times, nothing comes close to those of Formula 1. However, in terms of raw speed, NASCAR is one of the fastest in a straight line, and the cars do still take corners very fast. The average speed over the course of a lap at some of the oval tracks can be over 200 mph (320 kph), which is incredible to see and hear at the venue, but even on the screen it makes it very exciting to watch.
The fans closest to the guard fence will feel the whoosh of the cars going past at this speed, which really can make you feel like part of the action. This immersive quality of NASCAR is what makes it a firm favorite for people that have a passion for speed, and even the road and street circuits offer fast-paced action that rivals that of other motorsports.
Respect For The Drivers
But even if you are not at the venue, just knowing how fast the cars are travelling is enough to make you respect what the drivers are doing. Understanding that they are going several times faster than you will most likely ever drive yourself, surrounded by others doing the exact same thing, can be a powerful thing to think about, considering they really are risking their lives in the process.
A Lot Of People Watch NASCAR For The Crashes
As the drivers are going so fast and with so many other drivers around them, there is always the possibility that something will go wrong. Although health and safety has come a long way due to past incidents and the overall advancement of technology, there are still inevitable crashes that can pose a real danger to the drivers and the fans too. This adds another level of excitement to the sport.
Obviously, nobody wants to see a driver get hurt. However, many people watch NASCAR solely for the big pile ups and crashes that sometimes happen as a result of 40 cars travelling at upwards of 200 mph. People love uncertainty in sport, and there is no doubt that a crash makes things much more exciting. Crashes are very common in NASCAR, but thankfully serious injuries are much rarer.
Although other motorsports have crashes too, NASCAR is famous for providing some of the most spectacular ones. This is partly due to the speed the cars are driving at, but also just the competitive nature of the drivers, and the way the cars are made. With the cars all essentially being the same spec, the (almost) level playing field means that there is very little room for error.
Some Watch For The Skills Of The Drivers
Unlike a sport such as Formula 1, NASCAR does not involve a set of teams that build their own cars to their own specifications, trying to outdo the other teams every season. Instead, they have stock cars and fairly standard engines that they need to use, which removes a lot of the opportunities to gain an advantage over your rivals, due to the strict regulations.
This puts the bulk of the work on the part of the driver, as it is their skills and abilities that will set them apart from the other drivers. The reaction times, levels of concentration and control of the car is what makes some drivers the best in NASCAR, as the car can only provide them with so much power and stability. So, fans value the skill needed to beat the rest of the grid in a race.
KEY POINTS
• Many people love NASCAR for the sound and atmosphere of the races
• Others simply enjoy watching cars race at such high speeds and seeing how skilled the drivers are
• Some fans just love watching it for the crashes!
Other Reasons People Watch NASCAR
People Love Drama
As with all sports, there are other small reasons aside from the main ones I listed above that attract people to watch NASCAR every year. One of these is the drama off the track. Teams and drivers often end up in feuds and arguments over what happened in the race, and the media can take hold of it and blow it up into a major story.
People love drama, and so fans get excited to see things boiling over on the sidelines. In the past there have been fist fights and shouting matches, and that has become part of the sport. It is all down to a shared passion for winning that everyone involved in NASCAR has. This makes it a magnet for fights and fallouts, and some people love to keep up with the racing gossip.
The Technical Side Of Things
Some people love NASCAR for the more technical aspects of it. There is a lot of strategy involved in the races, with regard to when to pit, how to save fuel and tires etc. This requires a lot of focus and forward thinking, and it can be exciting to watch how teams cope with the challenges on the track. Unexpected crashes can change strategies in an instant, making for even more of a thrill.
The Thrill Of Motorsport
Some people just love watching cars race on a track – it can be as simple as that. Motorsport offers a unique spectacle where the game being played doesn’t involve a ball or a puck, and you don’t see the driver running or swimming at speed. Instead, it is the connection between the driver and the car, and what they are able to do with it, that makes the sport so impressive to watch.
Final Thoughts
There are lots of reasons that people watch NASCAR, with the main one being the fact that it is so exciting. With some of the fastest cars on the planet, and some of the best drivers in the world, each race can be extremely entertaining. From the sounds to the sights, and from the crashes to the fights, NASCAR manages to excite millions of people every single year.
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