Fan Commentary

Traffic, Ignorant Hillbillies and Crashes

by Grandstand Bob

We’ve all had them. I’m talking about justification conversations with non-fans. It usually starts with a quizzical look, followed by a question such as, “You really like racing, why?” Often, that question is followed with one or more stereotypes: it’s just a bunch of cars going around in circles; you watch for the wrecks, right?; isn’t it just a bunch of rednecks who go to those things?

I had a justification conversation just the other day with a co-worker who seemed baffled that I was a race fan. I could tell by his expressions and responses that he thought that a literate white-collar professional couldn’t possibly be interested in something as violent and simplistic as stock car racing. As I spoke, I wondered if my credibility as a professional was taking a dive, and regrettably, I found myself in the uncomfortable position of justifying my passion.

It’s a frustrating exercise, but it’s absolutely necessary if our sport is to get the respect that it deserves. So how can we explain our passion in such a way that stereotypes are dismissed and myths are dispelled? This is how I do it.

The first thing I say is that you have to go to a race before you really understand. There are few spectator experiences more sensual than auto racing. The speed at most tracks is blinding, while the sound is exhilarating and the smell, oddly invigorating. With the right seats, you can also “feel” the cars as they speed by. When you’re at the track, racing envelops you.

The next thing I point out is the overall atmosphere of raceday. Sure, you have to go very early, and traffic is usually a pain in the ass, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more fun group of people than those attending auto racing. Unlike competitions between two teams, where people are divided between two different factions, there are fans for all 43 drivers (I even saw some Brett Bodine fans at Rockingham) wandering around the track on any given Sunday. That means that you can be a Jeff Gordon fan and park next to a group containing Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart and Mark Martin fans, and STILL have something to talk about – even if it is just your frustration with ISC’s new security policies. At most other sporting events, interaction between opposing fans is highly limited and rarely positive, and someone is always the “home team.”

If you’re one of those “party people,” race fans will, almost without exception, welcome you. Race fans love a good time, so you can also rest assured that no one is going to turn up their nose at you if you rip off your shirt and drink straight tequila at 10 a.m. In fact, you might make new friends by doing this.

Another distinction about the auto racing spectator experience is the opportunity to get the behind-the-scenes story by using a scanner to tune into the communication within and among teams. When I mention that, most people seem completely baffled that such liberties exist.

Being a race fan is more than going to races. In fact, most fans have never even attended a race. Without the above arguments, how can they justify following auto racing? Even though I’m fortunate enough to go to many races each year, I still feel compelled to explain how I can watch a race on TV.

To me, it seems so obvious. Anytime the Winston Cup series schedules a points event, you know that the top drivers in the world will compete. Compare that with the PGA Tour. Those guys have the luxury of picking where and when they compete, so it is not an every-week experience when the top guys compete. In other sports, sheer logistics make it nearly impossible to have the top players compete on a routine basis.

Also, driver personalities and the relationships between drivers make the series on ongoing drama. Many of us can’t wait to see Jeff Gordon get behind Robby Gordon at a short track, and as the race winds down, we start looking for histories like that to anticipate what might be coming.

Lastly, it’s all about understanding the strategy. Auto racing is no different from any other team sport when it comes to strategy, and just like any other sport, understanding the strategy tremendously boosts the spectator experience.

So, there you have it folks – my explanation/justification of why I’m a fan. I’m sure that I’ll use it again soon, since the sad fact is that most people generally don’t understand race fans and a percentage of those think that we’re all ignorant hillbillies.

On another note, thanks to everyone who wrote regarding the columns of the past two weeks. The wide differences in opinions just affirms that it is impossible to stereotype fans, no matter how hard some might try. About the only consistent trait is our passion for the sport.

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.