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75 things to love about NASCAR
By Steve Luvender and @nascarcasm | Published: February 13, 2023 75
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“Drivers, start your engines”
Those four famous words — delivered often with enthusiastic energy — to kick off the start of a race are better than any coin toss or tip-off, in our opinion.
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Rivalries
Grudges. Beefs. Animosity. We’re all about that friendly — and oftentimes unfriendly — competition.
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Personalities
NASCAR drivers make their living from how they handle action on the track, but we love our stars without their helmets on, too, whether that’s appearances on TV shows, cameos in music videos, or spending time giving back.
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Legends
The sport was built on big names and famous figures. We’ve got a King, for goodness’ sake.
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The sounds
When you attend a NASCAR race in person, you aren’t prepared for the noise of 40 race cars at full song the first time you hear the pack head into Turn 1, no matter how much racing you watch on TV. Promise.
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The smells
There’s a distinct smell of burning rubber and race fuel at the track. Bottle that up and sell it as a fragrance. Or maybe don’t do that unless you want to spend a night on the town smelling like a mechanic.
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Standing up and pointing at on-track action in the grandstands
The unspoken language when attending a NASCAR race is the stand-up-and-point. It means something just happened that’s worthy of your attention, and a fellow fan feels the need to draw your eye to an area of the track.
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Track food
Fried, hot and cold. Traditional, fusion or bold. No two tracks feature quite the same culinary offerings. (One Martinsville hot dog, please!)
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Tailgating
Sometimes it’s not even about the racing itself; there’s a plenty-good time to be had among friends, new and old, in the parking lot before the green flag drops.
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Camping
Yeah, the racing is intense. But spending the night camped at the track? In tents.
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Respect for military
NASCAR’s respect for the military is in the sport’s DNA. After all, we’ve got these brave folks to thank for defending our freedom to race every weekend.
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The traditions
Whether it’s pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions, kissing the bricks at Indy, the Polish Victory Lap or the secret champion’s journal that’s passed from season to season, NASCAR’s a sport of traditions.
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Pit stops
NASCAR is a team sport, and perhaps no time is that more evident than during pit stops. Everyone — driver included — needs to execute perfect choreography. Stop on the marks, keep the wheel straight, fill up the car, change four tires, hand the driver a drink, clean the grill, pull a windshield tear-off, make an adjustment to the car … all in a few seconds. We love the spectacle.
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History
75 whole years’ worth, in fact.
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Origin story
Stock car racing originated from bootleggers running from the cops to deliver illegal alcohol during prohibition. Find a cooler start to any sport. (You can’t, sorry.)
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Die-cast collectibles
Action figures? Not for NASCAR. Collecting tiny metal replica cars is far more fun.
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Merch
We’re all about that merch in NASCAR. Loud graphic tees, replica crew jackets, novelty stickers … give it to us.
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The future (drivers)
NASCAR’s got 75 years of legendary drivers, all unique in their own way, under its belt. But how about the next generation of racers?
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The technology
Innovation is a built-in part of NASCAR, often out of necessity. Teams now have mountains of data at their fingertips. Drivers have cooling suits and sophisticated drink systems. Even the rearview mirrors have become digitized. Each generation of NASCAR brings in a new wave of technology.
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Pushing the rules
“You’re not trying if you’re not cheating,” or so they say. We’re big fans of, er, creative innovations and pushing the gray area. Keeps everybody on their toes.
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The teams
What is NASCAR without the organizations of competitors that field the cars? The passion runs deep. Racers don’t need to touch the cars and still have the heart of a racer.
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The sponsors
We love to look at race cars. Businesses like to put their logos on those race cars because people enjoy looking at those race cars. Eyeballs equal dollars, after all. And that sponsorship money makes those race cars show up to the track. It’s a beautiful cycle.
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Schedule/length/grueling season
The NASCAR schedule is one of the most diverse in motorsports, and its length is perhaps the most grueling in all of sports.
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Safety
Auto racing is a dangerous sport by nature. But, thanks to innovations and commitments in safety, we can enjoy the sport we love without compromise.
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The Playoffs
The NASCAR playoffs make a challenging schedule even more difficult. They’re unpredictable, they’re grueling and they make the best teams rise to the occasion. No team can rest on their laurels.
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Restarts
We love NASCAR restarts after a caution flag. Stack the cars up in close proximity and tell ‘em to have at it again? Yes, please.
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Photo finishes
It’s wild that oftentimes a 500-mile battle of endurance and speed will come down to mere inches at the end of the day.
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Victory Lane
Victory Lane — what a place! A whole dedicated space where spraying champagne and taunting your enemies is encouraged.
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The hat dance
We love our sponsors in NASCAR. So, when a driver wins a race, they’ve got to thank those financial backers for making it happen. Oftentimes, this is done in the form of the “hat dance” — that is, taking an identical series of back-to-back-to-back Victory Lane photos where the crew poses with the car wearing identical hats bearing one sponsor’s logo at a time. Gotta keep the people with the money happy.
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The ladder system
It’s not an easy ride to the top of NASCAR. From regional short-track series to international divisions to the “Big 3” national series, there’s lots of racing and plenty of drivers at different points in their journey to the NASCAR Cup Series.
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Hall of Fame
Do a good enough job for a long enough time and a driver, crew member or businessperson might find themslelves rewarded with the blue jacket, class ring and a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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It's a family/motorsports community
Though race day brings out the fiercest in competitors, the NASCAR community is a family when tough times arise.
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Esports
NASCAR is a one-of-a-kind sport. That part is clear. But what’s special about NASCAR compared to other sports is how its esports work. Drivers on iRacing still use a steering wheel and pedals — like their at-track counterparts — and every bit of competition mirrors the physical thing. Plus, esports can be used to develop future venues, like the Chicago Street Course, which becomes reality in 2023 after its genesis in iRacing. Pretty sure football-playing esports competitors aren’t getting tackled in their living room.
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Presence in pop culture
You never know when you’ll see Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace in a Post Malone music video, Pitbull showing up some place with his Trackhouse Racing drivers or a legend of the sport making an appearance on a morning show.
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Fan access to drivers
Walk into a NASCAR garage — many tracks have plenty of access nowadays — and you’ll probably see a real-life NASCAR driver in the flesh. And, if not, you can probably catch them at an autograph signing nearby. Point is, NASCAR’s fan access to drivers is something we love.
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Superstitions
Any sport has superstitions, but we’re quite fond of those in NASCAR. For example, a green race car is considered bad luck by some. A post-it note or lucky penny from a fan can make all the difference. And don’t you dare eat peanuts on race day.
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Pre-race flyover
When the national anthem ends and it’s almost time to fire up engines to start a race, the energy is palpable. But the moment some fighter jets speed over the track is when the nerves really kick into high gear.
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Teammates
You’ve seen “Talladega Nights,” right? Teammates like Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton, Jr. are very much a thing in NASCAR. Shake-and-bake, baby.
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Betting
What’s more fun than betting on a NASCAR race? There’s plenty of unpredictability, and that betline is a roller coaster over the course of an afternoon. And it’s not out of the question to hit it big.
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Fantasy racing
We love fantasy racing games in NASCAR. There’s seldom a better feeling than totally nailing that perfect Fantasy Live lineup and rubbing it in everybody’s faces. So proud of your skills, prophetic picker.
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Nicknames
From “Rowdy” to “Happy” to everything in between, we’ve got driver monikers in spades.
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The racing families
Earnhardt, Jarrett, Petty, Allison, Burton, Busch, Wallace, Baker, Labonte, Wood, Waltrip, France … OK, we could keep going. You get it. NASCAR runs in the family.
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Diversity & variety of tracks
Short tracks, superspeedways, a temporary stadium track, road courses, a street course, intermediate tracks, an intermediate track built to race like a superspeedway, a dirt track that’s also not a dirt track for half the year, a roval … did we miss anything? When someone says “NASCAR’s just making left-hand turns,” laugh in their face.
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Paint schemes
One could argue that paint schemes are what make NASCAR truly NASCAR. Those bold, bright colors streaking around the track covered in sponsor logos excite us.
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TV announcers
We’ve got the TV talent for keeping us in the loop for 500 miles on Sundays. Surely, it’s no easy feat to inform about the happenings of 40 speeding cars racing on the ragged edge for hours on end simultaneously.
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Drama
Oh, did we mention the drama of it all? NASCAR’s got it in spades. Extreme road rage, even.
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Contact/fenders
NASCAR’s unique in motorsport in that the cars are fitted with full body work — and that means bumpers and fenders, perfect for “rattling the cage” of another driver. NASCAR drivers aren’t afraid to scratch up those bumpers, whether that’s to help a teammate or to send a message to a foe.
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Race length
A true test of driver, team and machine, NASCAR races aren’t typically very short events. And we love it. With competition closer than ever, a lot can happen in a 500- or 600-mile race.
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Fan pride
There’s nothing quite like that smug feeling of satisfaction walking out of the track wearing your favorite driver’s shirt after they just won the race.
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The winning driver handing the checkered flag to a young fan
Kids, always wear your favorite driver’s gear to the track. You never know when your racer will take the checkered flag, and then proceed to hand it to you through the catch fence.
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Drivers on social media
Whether it’s a passive-aggressive slight toward another driver, a happy birthday wish to a fan or even a pocket tweet, we love our drivers and their presence on social media. Post on, racers!
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Unlimited overtimes
A NASCAR race won’t end in a tie.
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Amazing saves
No, NASCAR cars aren’t easy to drive. That’s why the pros make the big bucks. But there’s something special about watching a car beyond the brink of control get back in line thank to a masterful pilot.
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Villains
The black hats. The bad guys. Those booed at driver intros. Oh, we love to hate ‘em.
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Pre-race (and mid-race) concerts
Yeah, a NASCAR experience is oftentimes more than just an auto race. More often than not, you’re getting a full-on concert before the race (or even in the middle of the race, in the case of the Clash at the LA Coliseum).
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International presence
NASCAR is a sport to be enjoyed worldwide. Series in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Europe back that up — not to mention international esports efforts. And drivers come from all over the globe. (Seven countries were represented at Watkins Glen in 2022!)
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The party
Attending a NASCAR race is unquestionably a party. Also see: Talladega Boulevard.
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The manufacturers
Chevrolet. Ford. Toyota. “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” they say. Choose your allegiance carefully.
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The speed
It’s generally frowned upon to drive at 200 mph on local highways, so we’ve got to save it for the professionals on a closed circuit. Can you let me off with a warning, officer?
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Celebrities at the track
You never know what VIPs will show up on the grid.
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Helmet designers
Every driver’s helmet is a little bit different. It’s an interesting glimpse into a driver’s personality.
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Old-school mustaches
How could we talk about what we love about NASCAR without those iconic mustaches? Bring them back, we say.
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Memorable driver interviews
Give a driver a little bit of adrenaline (or a little bit of alcohol in the case of champs — looking at you Brad Keselowski and Ben Rhodes) and watch the fun begin.
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Signature victory celebrations
Whether it’s climbing a fence, performing a backflip, handing a checkered flag to a young fan, or driving a lap reversed at slow speed to honor the fans — Alan Kulwicki’s “Polish Victory Lap” — we love to see driver personalities shine through celebrating their triumphs.
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Sheet-metal souvenirs
Sure, you can catch a foul baseball or take home a sweaty athlete’s towel. But NASCAR is unique in that fans can take home actual pieces of a race-battered car. (Best souvenir ever?) A bumper hanging in the den really ties the room together.
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Burnouts
When a driver wins a race, it’s tradition to head to the start-finish line and smoke the tires. It’s fun for the fans and perhaps a bit of taunting toward competitors.
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The team owners
You may think the driver is the person with the greatest lack of common sense, but perhaps it’s the team owner. Taking a financial risk to put a race car on track, pitted against 39 competitors who don’t want you to succeed? Now that’s bold.
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A driver earning their first win
It takes absolutely every bit of blood, sweat and tears for a driver to make it to the top ranks of NASCAR. But only a few ever win a race. We love the elation of a driver breaking through for that first time, proving that all of the sacrifices were worth it.
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Diversity and inclusion
Diversity means embracing the strengths of everyone. NASCAR is committed to creating an inclusive environment in all areas to make the sport even brighter and better.
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The tension building during pace laps
Sometimes, the most energy can be felt at the slowest speed — the pace laps, the calm before the storm.
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Sportsmanship
Even though radio communications might indicate drivers want to rip each other’s heads off at times, we’ll often see a wholesome display of sportsmanship in Victory Lane where the defeated congratulates the victor. You love to see it.
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Records being set
They’ve been racing stock cars for a long time (75 years, in fact). So, it’s sort of a big deal when a record falls. Who said drivers in two different eras can’t compete against each other?
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Memorable driver quotes
The drama of NASCAR leads to all sorts of tense moments that lead to drivers spouting off on air. Whether it’s Earnhardt trying to “rattle his cage” or Chase Elliott wishing Kevin Harvick a “merry offseason”, we’re all about those spicy quotes.
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Getting your favorite driver's autograph
“Hey, driver, mind signing this?” Even though it’s just a Sharpie scribble or brief selfie, there’s something special about that moment spent near your favorite racer.
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The fans
Really, more than all, NASCAR is about the fans — those passionate individuals that make up the roar of the crowd. The people who make a driver trend. The folks who make a week out of camping in a tent to watch their ride-or-die go to battle. Cheers to you, casual followers and die-hards alike. You are NASCAR.
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