Daniel Sbordone is a junior at Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT). He resides in Peabody, MA. He is currently studying sports broadcasting with a minor in marketing. He enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports, and watching ball games. He has a great passion for Boston sports. After college, his aspirations are to be a sports broadcaster in the Boston market and to report on sporting events. Someday, he wishes to have his own sports TV and/or radio show. His twin brother, Matt, is an aspiring sports journalist. NASCAR's weekly event of cars driving around in circles took place up in Loudon, New Hampshire for the New England 300 last Sunday. So why does anyone care about this "sport?" Or is it?
NASCAR's weekly event of cars driving around in circles took place up in Loudon, New Hampshire for the New England 300 last Sunday. So why does anyone care about this "sport?"
We all know the real racing diehards live down south and fix their schedules around watching the race with a beer in hand. They would never think about working on a Sunday in the summer. If they're lucky, they can go to church and watch the race in one day. They get together over their friend's house to barbecue and drink some beers. During the race, they watch every second of the broadcast on TNT on their couch wearing their favorite driver's ball cap. Every Sunday throughout the summer, Sunday is The Day for NASCAR enthusiasts. But up north, it’s a little bit different.
For New England natives, the Boston Red Sox are number one. Number two are the Patriots. Number three are the Celtics/Bruins. NASCAR is not that appealing to New Englanders. However, every year the race draws out a capacity crowd to the Loudon Speedway to watch this "sport."
What is so entertaining about watching 50 cars driving around in circles for three hours at fatal speeds? Is it the thrill you might see a crash, or you might see Tony Stewart jump out of his Home Depot car after a collision and go cuss at some driver he probably caused in the first place? Or is it after the marathon-long race the winning driver goes crazy in exhilaration doing doughnuts on the speedway? I just don't get it.
Maybe it’s because I grew up just north of Boston and all I knew was Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots. Or maybe it’s just not that appealing to me. Or maybe I just don't enjoy it because I hate it when people say it’s a sport. It is not a sport. You don't need a special physical ability to drive a car at 150 mph in circles. One does not need to be in physical shape to drive a car. Racing fans need to learn the difference between a sport and an event. In this case, NASCAR is an event for a source of entertainment.
The fans camp out on Friday or even Thursday before the race on Sunday. They grill, talk racing, drink all day. Sounds like a great time. However, I think I would have to drink all day before the race as well because I would be bored stiff sitting in the blazing hot sun listening to cars drive by me at insane speeds for three hours.
I'm not bashing on NASCAR and its fans. It’s a great event every Sunday that is entertaining to some. But, please, do not call it a sport or even think it’s up in rank with MLB, NFL or the NBA. It just doesn't appeal to the average New Englander. And NASCAR will never be a sport, nor should it.