Art of tailgating: NASCAR fans great with the grill (cont'd)

Nevertheless, times are changing, fans must evolve and the demand for tailgating toys is growing, as is the technology.

"I have seen so many gadgets pop up over the years," Coombs said. "I've seen gas-powered margarita machines, motorized coolers that you can ride. People are way into tailgating these days. It's not just hamburgers and hot dogs."

Batali said he prefers the days where fans made smokers from trash cans and grilled on hibachis "as opposed to these giant trucks they call grills.

"But the food is getting better because they have much more control," he said. "The equipment is more tailored to their needs."

The precise origin of tailgating is argued although the general consensus is the art form began in college football -- the very first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869. Fans traveled to the game by carriage, grilling sausages and burgers at the "tail end" of the horse.

Tailgating may have begun with football, but if you ask Batali and millions of fans, it ends with NASCAR.

Why?

"NASCAR fans tailgate four days in a row," Batali said. "It's more like Woodstock."

Batali said NASCAR is head and shoulders above any other sport when it comes to cooking and carrying on.

The numbers tell the same story as well.

NASCAR fans are more likely than non-fans to own a grill, go on an overnight camping trip and go tailgating, according to Simmons National Consumer Survey.

More or less, NASCAR teams tailgate every meal inside or outside the track, said Roy Ruggles, whose Busch Series team is conveniently sponsored by Kingsford and the supply of charcoal is unlimited.

"Charcoal grilling tastes better anyway," said Ruggles, who prepares three meals a day for an average of 50 people who are a part of the Wood Brother/JTG Racing team.

From spaghetti and meatballs to kabobs and roasted pork loins, Ruggles has yet to find anything he can't cook on a grill.

His team owner recently bought him an outdoor grilling cookbook and he's got plenty of practice ahead of him with 19 races left on the schedule.

Whatever techniques or tastes tickle your tailgating fancy, there's always an opportunity or a group ready and willing to fire up the grill and spark conversation at a NASCAR track.