Fan Commentary

How We Choose Our Favorites

by Grandstand Bob

For the overwhelming majority of race fans, a favorite driver or two is the primary reason for following NASCAR Winston Cup racing. We love to cheer for our drivers. We buy merchandise adorned with their names and logos, and we read everything we can about them. After a while, we feel like we know them. In extreme cases, they become like family to us.

I began thinking about this phenomenon a lot, after Dale died last February. I knew that he had fans – all you had to do was look in the race crowd to see all the number 3 hats and shirts – but I didn’t fully comprehend how deeply many of Dale’s fans felt. Most people didn’t choose him simply because everyone else did; most had very specific and personal reasons for cheering for Dale or anyone else.

A guy who works out at the same gym as I put the whole thing into perspective for me. This guy frequently wore Earnhardt shirts and hats while exercising, so I asked him how he was doing after Dale’s death. He was choked up as he told me how he grew up cheering for Ralph Earnhardt, because his father was an Earnhardt fan, and how this evolved into cheering for Dale. I know of nowhere else in sports where this sort of passion among fans exists, so a few weeks ago, I asked you to write me regarding your choice of favorite driver.

Almost every response I got was truly unique, but there were some common patterns, and this is what I saw as the top themes when choosing a driver.

Accidental. Several people said that they chose their favorite driver at the beginning of their interest in stock car racing and that they did so more out of happenstance than any other reason. One Tony Stewart fan began pulling for him after watching a few races with her husband and noticing that he was always competing – never laying back. That style, plus his off-track demeanor, makes her a loyal fan.

Driving style. This quality was consistently cited by the Earnhardt fans. They didn’t necessarily set out to become Earnhardt fans, but they fell in love with Dale, Sr.’s driving style, and that made them fans. Ditto for Tony Stewart.

History. Many people pull for drivers who have come up through the ranks and “paid their dues.” Dale Jarrett was mentioned more than once, and his fans mention his tenacity and dedication to the sport. They’re glad to see him succeed, because they know that it hasn’t been easy for him. Bill Elliott also has many fans who have followed him throughout the years and will follow him into retirement.

Underdogs. Some of you have backups, in case your favorite driver’s day goes down the tubes. In this case, many pull for someone to get his first win or for someone who rarely wins to get in victory lane.

A magic moment. Many drivers have won or lost fans with just one action. One Rusty Wallace fan wrote a very eloquent note about how Rusty’s actions following Alan Kulwicki’s death made her a Rusty Fan. Likewise, some drivers have managed to lose fans by screwing up just once or saying something wrong. That’s probably a lesson that some drivers should take to heart – remember that fans are number one.

From other series. It seems that I might be kind of narrow-minded when it comes to Robby Gordon, and I might have been a little unfair in my criticism, because, as Robby’s fans point out, he is a hell of a racer. I haven’t watched many other types of racing with any consistency, so I am not as familiar with Robby’s success as I would like to be. His fans point out that his aggressive style and confident demeanor have followed him from his off-road and open-wheel success. Good, hard racing is always good for the sport, no matter who is behind the wheel.

Off-track demeanor. A lot of Rusty Wallace fans follow that driver, at least in part, because of his sense of humor. They like his excited voice and humorous sayings. Johnny Benson has also won fans by the things he does away from the track. People particularly like Johnny for his understated nature, and the way that he seems like that good guy next door. I wonder how many people Michael, Johnny and Kenny have won with their television program. After watching them a few times, you can’t help but pull for them.

There wasn’t a crossover between fans of drivers like Mark Martin, the Labontes and Jeff Gordon and those of Harvick, Stewart, Wallace and others. The people who picked Gordon or the Labontes often did so because they believed that those drivers were the types of “gentlemen” that they would want their children to grow up to be. These fans often contrasted this behavior with some of the sport’s more aggressive drivers.

On the other hand, NASCAR’s “bad boys” have also won fans because of their willingness to speak out and “be real.” Many wrote that they think many drivers are full of crap in interviews, and they like those drivers who they feel are the same, whether they are in front of a microphone or hanging out with friends. In case you’re wondering, many mentioned Junior, Harvick and Stewart with these comments.

As for me, my favorite drivers, in no particular order: Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett, Kevin Harvick, Sterling Marlin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I like Jarrett for his tenacity and patience; Kevin, Rusty and Junior for their honesty and aggressiveness – I’d love to kick back with a beer with any of these guys; and I like Sterling, because he’s just damn funny, and he has hung in there long enough to get the success that he deserves.

Again, thanks for your input.

Grandstand Bob Profile and Past Columns

note: This opinions expressed in this column are those of writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of ARS Racing Outlet or its parent company, amI, Inc.