Is Nascar overrated?, as far as racing goes Options

[elantragt]

No doubt a race like Daytona is pure sound and spectacle and a great event to watch. In the past few years Nascar has gone from a good-ole Southern boy event to a National pasttime. But...

While I realize there is a ton of skill involved... and simply driving at those speeds for that amount of time takes nerves of steel and a lot of stamina, isn't it essentially 500 miles of going left? What I mean is, take a look at Formula One and some of the courses the drive on... Monte Carlo for instance. There are hills and curves, a tunnel and 10mph hairpin turns... doesn't that sort of racing take more skill? Or Rally Racing where you never know what surface may lie ahead?

Now, I'm not saying Nascar is not a fun and exciting event, it is. But I'd rather watch a F1 or rally race... am I the only one?

[bikerPA]

I rather suspect NASCAR is as big as it is because it's near-equal parts social event, soap opera, and auto race. You can go to a race, smoke, drink, spend the entire day there hangin' out, trash talk fans of some other guy in a near-identical car as the one 'your' guy is driving... and hey, there are cars speeding loudly in front of you, too! Take this opinion with a grain of salt, for it is that of a Maryland kid who's never been to one.

That said, a friend of a friend has a thoroughly tricked-out Miata that he races SCCA club occasionally in Atlanta and at Roebling Road, and I've been told that at some point I'll have to swing by for a race and be granted temporary 'pit crew' status - washing windows and whatnot, most likely. It sounds like a blast, I really can't wait.

[elantragt]

Adam, I never have pictured you as a pit crew guy ..but..that sounds way cool!

[Elantrick]

Seeing these cars at Sears Point or The Glen does show how good (or bad) these guys are. Small mistakes are magnafied on a road course vs an oval.

If you are slow on an oval, you just are slow, If you are fast, you are fast. Lap times are very consistant.

On a road couse, there can be a lot of different things going on. You can run too fast into a corner, Run too wide and go off course, Slide the car exiting a slow corner, etc. Even the fast cars make mistakes. Lap times can vary quite a bit.

On ovals, mistakes are so subtle you don't notice them.

[bikerPA]

Adam, I never have pictured you as a pit crew guy  ..but..that sounds way cool! 

I do so love blowing preconceived notions out of the water.

[04GTboyVA]

Nascar racing is awesome i think, that really sounds awesome adam

[hickie13]

Can't say I follow much racing at all, let alone NASCAR. But I smell what your cooking Mitch. I think it is overrated indeed. I still don't understand the concept of "The Super Bowl" of NASCAR happening at the beginning of the season? Maybe someone privy to nascar can fill me in there. Its huge here in the midwest, but I would MUCH rather watch a rally race. Or even drag racing appeals to me much more. I love heading down to our Route 66 raceway in Joliet, IL and check out a day of top fuel and funny cars (etc) race.

[Elantrick]

I would love to see those boys do the Daytona road course instead of just the follow the leader oval.

[Mia_D]

My ex-boyfirend (yes.i spelled it that way) used to watched Nascar

I respect any speed vs. another car challenge and risk, but it's still circles and that's just boring to me!

No more Nascar boys for me!

[tmant]

The races on an oval are pretty much boring. Despite high speeds, it sometimes feels like a crawl for anything exciting to happen.

For those that play video games, what's more exciting, racing an oval track or anything else! I have a few xbox games that are really fun (Rally Fusion that I bought for $5!) and lots of turns, etc...

[Jonas]

The races on an oval are pretty much boring. Despite high speeds, it sometimes feels like a crawl for anything exciting to happen.

This pretty much sums up my feeelings about it NASCAR+oval track = I'd rather watch camel racing

I think each sport has it's own flair and nuances and to compare them isn't quite right.

Amen ... Each is a different discipline in itself (F1 vs WRC vs NASCAR vs IRL/CART/F3, etc.)

[Gtblue1]

the different styles of racing have there own good points and bad points. I f you go to the track and watch the road racing, do you get to see the entire race or just when they come by? On TV I know you get to see it all pretty much. Nascar at the track you can see the entire track pretty much.
It is ones own opinion. I enjoy both of them, but I stick to Nascar mainly. There is something about doing that speed and having a group of 30 cars within 1 second of each other and controlling the car.
Drag racing isn't that exciting. Yes its fast, but it is a straight line.