Any NASCAR fans here?

[JJEH]

I'm sure we have plenty of it, don't we?

My favorite driver is Mark Martin. I got lots of 1/24 diecast back then (Elite, Team Caliber, ad so on...) but had to sell everything due to ex. wife related trouble. But I always kept a binder with over 400 trading cards, pictures (some with certification of authenticity), postcards, etc. Cannot tell if the signatures are original or not... but that's not important. But I'm a little bit curious about the value...

If he finally retires, I think I also will retire from watching NASCAR. I don't like this young guns somehow...

Well, what's you favorite driver?

 

[guitarguy423]

Mine is whomever drives my drunk a** home from the track. Here in Charlotte, we're allowed to bring in coolers, no larger than 14" in any dimension. That means a lot of beer.

 

[JJEH]

lol.....

 

[Duke426]

My favorite driver is Mark Martin...

If he finally retires, I think I also will retire from watching NASCAR. I don't like this young guns somehow...

Well, what's you favorite driver?

I understand the way you feel. Dale Earnhardt was my favorite driver (grew up rooting for DW but once Big E came on the scene and started ruffling Bill Elliott's feathers on a weekly basis, I became a true believer!). When Earnhardt died I lost the enthusiasm for racing. I've tried to watch periodically but it just isn't fun for me anymore.

By the way, I admire Mark Martin a great deal as a racer.

 

[palmetto99]

I'm "OK" with NASCAR. I rather watch sports car racing or motorcycle road racing. My one problem is that they are the 800lb gorilla of the motorsports world in North America and suck up all the cash.

 

[oneyeopn]

Big "E" sucked...he was a nasty driver, and after he died (god rest his soul) they made him into some kind of shrine. I love racing of any type, Nascar used to be like going to the races on Saturday night, now it is such a "gentleman" sport it is getting boring. I still watch it sometimes, usually DVR it so I can fast forward through the really boring stuff and listening to some of the idiots they have announcing. I watch the LeMans and Sports Car stuff more now. If they would take Stock Car racing back to where they used stock body panels I think it would make the racing better plus quit changing all the rules, You never know week to week what is going to be allowed but I still watch it, dont watch any of the ball sports especially baseball. Its like watching cracks dry up after a rain storm it and golf. Basketball is just overpaid criminals that havent gotten caught yet. But give me a sport with an engine and I am happy.

 

[Tom Beavert]

NASCAR

I pull for Jr., but have always liked Mark.
1eye, if you go to a local track, you will find Sat. nights like NASCAR once was, or at least where I have been.
tb

 

[venomballistics]

when the showroom counterparts of the stock cars all became front wheel drive, I spent less time watching, and more time shooting.
Of late, I kinda like rally cross.

 

[dswancutt]

In my very biased opinion, NASCAR has become a microcosm of everything that is wrong with America.
In an effort to make everything "fair", we have one generic car that differs only by the stickers you put on it. NASCAR is more interested the pre race show, trinket sales than actual racing. In fact, their response to declining ticket sales was we need better pre-race shows.
The racing is honestly, boring. Super speedway racing has basically become the commute home only at speeds approaching 200mph. Restrictor plates bunch the cars up and if someone drops out of the draft, they end up at the end of the pack. So now, the drivers will give no quarter and since the cars are so squirrelly, one bump spins them out and shazzam, half the field is out of the race.
What has happened to racing where the contestants actually could pass each other?
I think it's been 10 years or more since I watched a whole race.

 

[JJEH]

Yeah, that's right. Time has changed...

Every motorsport has changed. Well, one thing is positive, the cars are more safer now.

I did like GP Motorcycle as well, when they had 500cc 2 stroke engines and names like Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Wayne Gardner, Randy Mamola, Eddie Lawson, Barry Sheene, etc were racing. Kevin Schwantz was my favorite. He was riding the bike like a cowboy the bull... just plain awesome to watch.

Same with Motorcycle Road Racing - Isle of Man. The Championship of Motorcycle racing. These guys/gals are crazy. But since Joey Dunlop died in 2000, I don't watch it anymore...

 

[judge]

Let them go back to real "stock" cars! Let Chevy run the Camaro, Ford the Mustang, and Mopar run the Challenger. Go back to the real racing during the Petty era - factory stock cars, not the hybrids we have now.

 

[Rule3]

The only NASCAR I would watch (when there is no Pro Wrastling on) Is the 2 road courses where you actually race and shift, use brakes turn and stuff. Restrictor plate wide oval tracks with sponsor decals riding around in a is just plain boring.

 

[hogrider05]

Big "E" sucked...he was a nasty driver, and after he died (god rest his soul) they made him into some kind of shrine. I love racing of any type, Nascar used to be like going to the races on Saturday night, now it is such a "gentleman" sport it is getting boring. I still watch it sometimes, usually DVR it so I can fast forward through the really boring stuff and listening to some of the idiots they have announcing. I watch the LeMans and Sports Car stuff more now. If they would take Stock Car racing back to where they used stock body panels I think it would make the racing better plus quit changing all the rules, You never know week to week what is going to be allowed but I still watch it, dont watch any of the ball sports especially baseball. Its like watching cracks dry up after a rain storm it and golf. Basketball is just overpaid criminals that havent gotten caught yet. But give me a sport with an engine and I am happy.

Earnhardt sucked so bad that he won 7 championships. All the haters call him dirty. It's racing not a powder puff derby.

 

[Davwingman]

NASCAR= Another way to separate people from their money....

 

[Shooting Padre]

Big time fan, been watching since the first televised events. I feel really old that the grand kids of the drivers I first watched are racing now. Seen a of changes, some good, some bad. I think the races are too long, but then I may be too old. Great sport.

 

[JJEH]

The only NASCAR I would watch (when there is no Pro Wrastling on) Is the 2 road courses where you actually race and shift, use brakes turn and stuff. Restrictor plate wide oval tracks with sponsor decals riding around in a is just plain boring.

We watched the race in Sears Point (or Infineon Raceway) in Sonoma, CA in 2010. It was really nice, but I like fast races a bit more.

If we have some bucks left over we will go visit Texas Speedway...

 

[Knightrider03m]

Let them go back to real "stock" cars! Let Chevy run the Camaro, Ford the Mustang, and Mopar run the Challenger. Go back to the real racing during the Petty era - factory stock cars, not the hybrids we have now.

Factory stock cars FTW!

 

[LazyKB]

I am a fan of whoever is driving the 6 in the Nationwide Series, presently Ricky Stinhouse. My son is the engineer.

 

[mr.jbk79]

I have lost interest over the years. It just doesn't seem like it did years ago. Seems like it has more of a cheesy, Hollywood type feel to it in recent years. Truth be told, I would feel like I'm wasting time if I'd watch a full race.

 

[PA Reb]

Big "E" sucked...he was a nasty driver, and after he died (god rest his soul) they made him into some kind of shrine. I love racing of any type, Nascar used to be like going to the races on Saturday night, now it is such a "gentleman" sport it is getting boring. I still watch it sometimes, usually DVR it so I can fast forward through the really boring stuff and listening to some of the idiots they have announcing. I watch the LeMans and Sports Car stuff more now. If they would take Stock Car racing back to where they used stock body panels I think it would make the racing better plus quit changing all the rules, You never know week to week what is going to be allowed but I still watch it, dont watch any of the ball sports especially baseball. Its like watching cracks dry up after a rain storm it and golf. Basketball is just overpaid criminals that havent gotten caught yet. But give me a sport with an engine and I am happy.

What a load of rubbish! On one hand you say you dislike Dale Sr. because he was "nasty" and then you complain its now a "gentleman sport." Dale Sr. followed along with what the sport originally started out as - true racing, move or be moved. When he was on the track, excitement prevailed and it surely wasn't as boring as "watching cracks dry up after a rain storm" then. I got news for you - Dale was as a shrine long before he hit the wall in Daytona!

 

[WPWarhawk]

My dad took me to Daytona in about 1970 on the back of his Harley. I was about 10 years and it was something I'll never forget. The race I went to was the Sportsman's series (Nationwide now). When that race was over the big boys came out for practice. I'll never forget Richard Petty's big blue Plymouth Superbird.

I've been hooked ever since, but since Dale Sr. died it just isn't what it once was. I'm a Mark Martin fan too, he grew up about 25 miles north of where my folks grew up. I saw him dirt track racing in Arkansas when he had to be 14 or 15 years old.

I still watch the races, but it's become a traveling circus where the "little guy" really doesn't have a chance any more. Too much money involved.

 

[DeadAye]

I used to like NASCAR.
Y'all know that the *SC* part stands for *Stock Car* - Right?
Should be the NARSUGCAR for *Really Suped Up Go Cart*.

I'd rather go to a local dirt track and watch the 4 Banger Claimer Races - At least they're honest about what they're doing out there.........

Stock Cars - Yeah right

 

[bloo]

I lived for NASCAR before it became pro wrestling. In the 60s no one up here knew about NASCAR. The only TV coverage was the Wide World of Sports with the Daytona 500 sharing the hour with ski jumps and ice skating. Junior Johnson Fred Lorenzen Tiny Lund and Fireball Roberts were my favorites. After the split time on Wide World of Sports the only way I could follow racing was in auto magazines. As others said if it was on the track it had to be on the road. Aw for the good old days.

Ted

 

[silentflyer]

I agree with "The Judge" after they went away from "stock cars', and went to special built high-breds , that all look a like, and are driven by people who wouldn't think of getting their manicured nails dirty working on their own car, I lost interest years ago, the Toyota deal was the last straw, after that PR and BS campaign I completely lost interest. Would rather go to a local outlaw track and watch average guys run on dirt tracks.

 

[CO_Kid]

I admit, I don't watch NASCAR.

I do know Denny Hamlin though.

 

[mike from st pete]

Bud Olsen NASCAR

The Spectacle of Sport
I'm in full agreement the Wide World of Sports was the best!
If the track is not hard packed clay and less than one mile why bother? I will make an exception for the Big Left Turn.
My Dad never was in NASCAR.
The thumbnail is my Dad USAC and ARDC driver obviously my favorite!

 

[JJEH]

Guys, where do I go to get my collectibles and stuff appraised please?

 

[Steve_in_PA]

Earnhardt sucked so bad that he won 7 championships. All the haters call him dirty. It's racing not a powder puff derby.

Except, when someone pulled the same stuff on him that he pulled on other drivers, he cried about. Guess it was good enough for him, but not any other drivers.

I'm in the minority I guess, because I like Jeff Gordon. He's fallen off in the last couple of years, but I think he is still a great driver. Whether or not he wins another championship, well....we'll see.

I'm pulling for Dale Jr because I'd like to see him win a championship.

Prior to my rooting for Gordon, my favorite driver was Ernie Irvan. If it has not been for that crash in 1994, who knows how many races he would have won.

 

[scooter123]

In my very biased opinion, NASCAR has become a microcosm of everything that is wrong with America.
In an effort to make everything "fair", we have one generic car that differs only by the stickers you put on it. NASCAR is more interested the pre race show, trinket sales than actual racing. In fact, their response to declining ticket sales was we need better pre-race shows.
The racing is honestly, boring. Super speedway racing has basically become the commute home only at speeds approaching 200mph. Restrictor plates bunch the cars up and if someone drops out of the draft, they end up at the end of the pack. So now, the drivers will give no quarter and since the cars are so squirrelly, one bump spins them out and shazzam, half the field is out of the race.
What has happened to racing where the contestants actually could pass each other?
I think it's been 10 years or more since I watched a whole race.

That sums up my feelings in regard to Nascar as well. IMO the greed and the cookie cutter cars have destroyed what was once a fantastic racing venue. Nowadays I can't watch a full race, about 15 minutes in I fall asleep. On the plus side it's just about as effective as a sleep aid as watching a Curling match.