The "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."

Different strokes for different folks Some other stereotypes: Soccer: It's just 22 guys running after a ball. Baseball: It's a slow sport with a lot of people not doing anything most of the time. Basketball: Only the last 2 minutes are exciting. Hockey: Only the fights are exciting, etc. etc.

People like NASCAR because it is awesome to see live, they can see the pit crews in action and know when it leads to an advantage or disadvantage for their team, the rules change to ensure fairness because engineers are always engineering their way around the rules, and, the number of teams involved during each race makes for a really impressive spectacle.

I like seeing cars crash. Its just plain old fashionsed cool to see.

ov benn wondering that for years and could never figure it out

ov benn wondering that for years and could never figure it out

Another reason people like NASCAR is because they have been exposed to it in the recent past. Part of the reason NASCAR has increased in popularity so much is because a sponsor gets a really good value for their dollar, so it has attracted a lot of attention from sponsors. One race per week. Multiple Teams appearing at the same place at the same time. People from all over the US tuning in. For instance, most of the time, people watch NASCAR on the same cable channel which devotes alot of programming airing NASCAR news and events. With Football and Baseball, there's usually a package of channels because when pairs of teams compete, most of the interest in any specific game comes from the two team's regions. In the case of Formula 1, the sport is performed internationally. So it is the territory of multi-national corporate sponsors. In some cases, those sponsors are not allowed to display their name or insignia because of sponsorship laws pertaining to sports, tobacco, and alcohol.

It's not just cars driving in a circle - it's fast cars driving in a circle. And Americans LOVE fast cars driving around. Plus, there's the pure entertainment value of the crashes. Danger and peril and SPEED...the recipe for an American pasttime.

I liken the repetitive nature of the cars driving in circle as hypnotism and the crashes are akin to pretty colors.

I don't know because the whole thing seems stupid to me: 1. they race in circles. 2. they race in circles close to a CONCRETE wall! (how stupid can you get?) 3. they don't race the cars me and you drive (now THAT would be interesting) 4. they don't start a race all together, but instead, lined up behind each other 5. they put ads all over their car and uniforms (does NOT look good) 6. what they do would be illegal if we did it (bad role model for our youth) 7. wastes gas and here we are at war for oil in the middle east 8. why aren't they pushing the limits on speed? there are rocket cars that have been made that reach 500 mph, but their cars rarely go above 250 mph 9. it doesn't matter who wins- what matters is who crashes 10. it's not a sport everyone else can play (like baseball, football, golf, tennis, etc)

This is sort of random/not an answer but once I heard a comedian making fun of NASCAR and then he went on to describe how boring it was listening to NASCAR on the radio, "And they're going left!!! They're still going left!!"

I am a great fan of F1 and WRC rally. I love motorcycle racing where the leads swap back and forth seconds before the finish line and have thru-out the whoile race. I don't like NASCAR because it seems too artificial to me, too enclosed in a small arena , hampering the ability of a fine car to go forth and race like in the countryside where I love to feel an engine. All this left, left, left is just boring to me. They don't seem to race in the rain or all kinds of weather. I want to see tracks change, conditions change and how the drivers adapt. I want it as close to real driving as possible. I don't want to see people get ahead by bumping or hitting each other, I just want to see fine driving plus great engineering and design. I don't mind if someone gets ahead trhough great pit strategy, that's like good chess. I want new technologies to come from what they are doing in those cars. ( What I really want is for all cars to have shifting paddles on the steering wheels.) I want variety in my cars, not just a couple of different cars with different people driving. I don't want so many cars on a track that there isn't room for good driving besides avoiding one another. I love to see races live, too but I think it's worth it to walk all over a track or section and see what's happening in different areas, especially over natural terrain. WRC is one of the best things out there but it doesn't happen in a stadium, you can't go see it every weekend near you but it's incredible driving and racing. When it was on TV, we never missed it. Now I have to follow the racing thru the interent and thru satellite, replasy on Youtube. I miss the days when Speed had some vision....Speedvision was a great networl

I felt the same way until I watched a race with my boyfriend one day..Im hooked for life! The crashes are cool as hell, you find the talented drivers and get to follow them thru races. Its just really exciting. The sound of the cars goin by at 170 mph.. Boogity Boogity Boogity lets go racin boys!

First of all LOL at the question! My hubby is one that loves NASCAR. It's okay I guess, but I'm more of an Indy girl! ((((Go Danica))))) :)

if you like car crashers use youtube...

They like it so much because they know what it is. There is a lot more than just driving in circles.

i have to go with you on this one..... nascar is very boring... but people say you will apprecitate it more once you go to a race...so keep that in mind...

people like nascvar because of its history its really about moonshiners that had race from point a to point b and you have never seen nascar liv at the race trackhave you. and you like gymnastics it dont mix with nascar

Go fast, turn left, repeat.

I agree. It is very boring. Open wheel is only slightly better.

First of all you must first be either a lover of high speed cars or love to drive cars in high speeds. And only then can you appreciate the skill, training and endurance required to particiapte in it. It's not just cars, otherwise you can find them in the streets but you can't. Although they drive in circle, consider the speed too...a little mistake would send the car "tumbling" many times in seconds and most probably deadly for the driver.

Have you ever thought of what it would be to be driving with 42 other cars on a mile or mile and a half trck going up to 200 mph? It's not just driving around in a circle.

The only reason they watch it is for the car CRASHES!!!

There's a lot more to it than simply going round n round. Sure watching it can be boring, but when you think about what all goes into making a car competitive, coming up with pit strategy and everything else. Plus at 180 MPH sharing a track with 42 other cars is insane.

I like what I heard somewhere the other day... People like racing because it's the only sport that requires 2 balls, instead of one.

Yeah, Really really FAST!!!! And in control.

If people are anything like me they're waiting for a big crash :)

You mean the ol' left, left, left, left...... LOL! And too many cars on the track. They don't race in the rain. They get credits for doing everything like post, leads, passes. That's not racing, that's merry-go-round and grabbing the rings as you go by:-)

It's the beer.

" Blessed are those that run around in circles for they shall be called big wheels!"

I respond to your question with another question, initially, "What is the attraction to reading? All I see is letters...sometimes words." The point isn't what they see in it, but that they enjoy it. If you don't, don't watch it. I don't understand the attraction at all, but many of them don't understand the attraction to the things I enjoy. Thus, it makes more sense to just accept that we don't like the same thing, connect on what subjects we can, and move on.

I hear ya. Can you believe some people even call driving in a circle a "sport?"

Kind of like Hockey.........you have to be at the game to appreciate it.......

Honestly, I felt the same way HOWEVER there is skill, timing, decision, strategy and more... You find a driver you identify w/ or just like and you pull for that driver. I will watch the initial 10 laps and then watch come back and watch the final 30 laps. Jeff Gordon/Jimmie Johnson are tops. Tony Stewart is fun to watch and VERY good. I love Clint Bowyer and will pull for him this year!!! Let someone take you to an event ...it isn't ALL a bunch of hicks...It was an acquired taste...my kids love cars and couldn't help getting into it.

Well you all obviously have the wrong idea! Because Ill kick all yer asses given the same car! you cant just be some dumb fuck with big balls! and if If its so easy driving left howcome you dont make more cash than you make now on a aspahat oval!? obviously your minds are to simple to understand that any performance aspect that comes from the car you drive " or wish you drove " decends from racing of all aspects! go to petty "ride and drive" at any local supre speedway and lett me know how you feel after % laps in the pasenger seet not even thinking of controling the beast yer in! and I willwatch you hit the fuckin wall at 160 and laugh because you shat yerself!! PS stop yer vag from bleeding all over this sight pritty please!

I like it because them cars fly and most of all the driver,like Dale Earnhardt he is my guy.

wiener

I can tell by your ignorate statement that you have never attended a NASCAR event. That's okay we probably wouldn't accept you anyway.

I'm not a NASCAR fan, in fact I'm a Formula 1 fan but I'll attempt to answer. I think that the more you know about the sport and the more you know about the complexities of driving at such elevated speeds with such precision, the more you start to appreciate it. Of course there are a lot of people who enjoy watching it in the hope that there is a massive crash, but the majority of viewers have a favourite driver/team and are anxious to see them perform. I for one find golf incredibly boring to watch eventhough I love to play it. It's all a matter of what excites you I suppose.

I personally am not interested, but if you boil anything down to its component parts, it sounds equally silly: how easily amused must one be to sit and think about ink stains on a page? (reading) how easily amused must one be to watch two groups of grown men play a playground game? (basketball) how easily amused must one be to sit and answer questions that for the most part don't really matter in the long run? (AB) Not to mock any of those things, but point out: there's a whole lot more to it. For reading, there's obviously imagination. For basketball, the competition and sportsmanship (hopefully), for AB the sheer fun of it. In NASCAR, there's also more to it than driving in circles.

go see a race in person and you will understand! I would also recommend you tailgate while there to enjoy the whole experience.

Its an easy sport to follow when your hammerd

Why do people like tennis? That's just two people swatting a ball back and forth over a net. Why do people like golf? That's just someone knocking a little white ball into a hole. Why do people like basketball, football, baseball, hockey etc. etc. etc.? On the face of it, all sports can look pretty boring and pointless if you don't understand and appreciate the skills and strategy that go into playing it well--and believe me there's PLENTY of skill and strategy that goes into winning a NASCAR race. Not everyone plays tennis or golf or baseball, but just about all of us drive a car. And if we're honest, I imagine most of us find a certain thrill in going fast. It's just a sport a lot of people can relate to. And let's be honest here. How many people can drive by an accident on the highway and not be drawn into looking at it? Purists don't like to admit that they enjoy watching the wrecks, but human nature is human nature....

The side-by-side action. The passing (though it is less with the new car). The down-to-the-wire finishes. Plus no one gives to their fans the way NASCAR drivers do--ask anyone for an autograph, you'll get it. Plus they give to charity more than any other sport out there.

you aren't from around here are you??? <<< chews on toothpick>>> it's a law in the south.

nascar the best next to collage basketball

Let me ask you.. why do people like tennis? It's just a ball getting hit back and forth. Or golf? Hitting and chasing a little ball. Nascar is about strategy, anticipation, on the edge of your seat, cheering on your favorite driver,... Like any sport, it's depends on what you are into.

people like NASCAR because of the rush they get when two cars are side by side racing for the lead. some people like NASCAR because of the wrecks or the cars...there are plenty of reasons out there just ask a NASCAR fan and they will tell you the whole reason why.

I like NASCAR and there is a lot of strategy and mechanics to it. If you want to think they just drive in circles, then I could say, why do you like football, it's just a bunch of guys trying to move a ball from one side of a field to the other. Its stupid to criticise a sport when you know nothing about it. Like golf. People like it but its just wacking a ball and trying to put it in a little hole.

There is a lot of action on and off the track. you meet a lot of great people and visit small towns that live on racing year around. It is their way of life.

The brightly painted cars spinning around in circles has a soothing affect on simple minds I think. Just kidding!!!!! Nascar was cool long ago - before all the cars were identical and the drivers had real personalities. Now it's as boring as watching grass grow - which is a real shame. No offence Nascar fans - but the hayday of your "sport" was 30 years ago. Now it's nothing but spinning product billbords in a noisy infomercial for beer and chips.

There is more to Nascar than just driving in circles. you have to be very fit in order to endure the heat that the drivers have to go through. Look at football: all they do is run up and down a field with a football and tackle eachother. Baseball: you stand there with a bat and wait for a guy 45 feet in front of you to throw a ball most people cant even hit. hockey: skating on ice with a stick and you dont even realize where the puck is. just sit there and wait for the buzzer then you know its in the net. boxing: oooo BIG guys uppercutting eachother. BLOOD! wheres the fun in that sport?? To me NASCAR is the best sport in the world and if you say otherwise, read the above!

Stock car racing looses a lot on TV. In person, it has a totally different dimension to it. It has lost a lot of it's appeal. I would love to see "stock" cars race. Like in the old days of NASCAR. I remember seeing a hole in the dash where the radio used to be. Now, these are just race cars with bodies put on them to make them look sorta like stock cars. it has come a long way from the old moonshiner days. I liked the old times better, but that's just me. It use to be a Southern sport but now that it has gone Nationwide, it just isn't the same. Not to crazy about the new COT that they are using either.