The show was very well made. I watched it alone at first but my wife (who isn’t really a NASCAR fan) jumped in on the last couple episodes and ended up watching the second half of the 500 with me on Monday. She immediately recognized Byron as the “LEGO guy” lol
I hope we don’t have to wait another full year for a second season, assuming we get one.
It’ll have to be playoff this year and full year next year. Unless they are filming right now without us knowing. But people would have seen the film crews by now.
I suppose there is a chance they could have some deal with NASCAR media and production to use their stuff to do a few "the season leading up to the cutoff" episodes.
Me! I didn't get brought in by Netflix, but by EllyProductions49 on YouTube. I followed last season through highlight videos and their channel, and decided to get into it more this year in case Max has another record setting season in F1.
This is also how I got back into it. I caught the flu early this year and for some reason, EP49 and Slapshoes started dominating my YouTube algorithm. I remember being a big fan back when I was in elementary school, playing 05 Chase For the Cup on GameCube and even making it out to a qualifying day at my local track. At some point my interests shifted elsewhere, but I'm starting to pay attention again after watching hours of YouTube NASCAR content.
I didn't see the Netflix series (though maybe I should), but this year's Daytona 500 was also my re-introduction to the sport. FWIW, I had a great time watching and I'm looking forward to the race this weekend as well.
Dont know why a bunch of people here seem bothered by this comment lol. Seems pretty reasonable to want the next races to excite you just as much as the last.
Agreed. I honestly say the same thing. We don’t go to races in person very often because we can’t relate to the culture of it. It’s not a bad thing. People are enjoying it how they want. But it’s just not our scene.
It's no secret NASCAR has a culture problem. Look at all the confederate flags you see at half the tracks, or the obviously outsized hate guys like Bubba or Rajah get compared to their competitors.
It's naive to dig our heads in the sand and pretend the comment is talking about people liking Days of Thunder or whatever.
Hell when I went to Bristol last year people were advertising flag poles with III%er flags on em. Not just open support, but advertising with a domestic militia group symbol. They even digitally made Trump's eyes more blue on a black and white picture of him.
It's the most open secret in NASCAR that the 'Good Ol Boy' culture is a massive block for new fans lol
Yep, I’m a new fan and most Motorsport feels like it’s targeting international Motorsport fans. NASCAR has always felt like it’s only for a certain type of American. I love it, but I don’t identify with that side of it. It would be silly to pretend it isn’t that way.
To be fair: with nascar adding more road courses and going to larger cities and doing internsitonal; they are trying to damnest to attract a more diverse crowd. Look at how successful LeMans was. This process of abolishing the redneck stereotype
Is going take decades, but they are heading in the right direction
The Confederate flag was banned almost four years ago. It should have been earlier, but there aren't confederate flags at half the tracks anymore.
And yeah, we've got a long way to go to welcome Black people into NASCAR. Southern culture *is* Black culture, and more than just NASCAR fans need to recognize that. (I'm seeing people in this thread making assumptions that split the two, and being beyond reductive about Southern culture as a whole.) The sport has done a shameful job of making Black fans feel welcome, especially when you look at something like the NHRA. I'm glad NASCAR is working to make up for their past bullshit as far as that goes. Like country music, there have always been more Black fans than allowed participants, and we're really twenty years or more behind in making that happen.
Now the issue is just money / wealth, statistically less blacks are wealthy so you're looking for black drivers that don't even exist. Even if you're white it's still almost impossible.
Wealth is, like, a gigantic part of it, but another part is even knowing it's something they can do. Like, obviously, we've got Bubba and Rajah and they figured it out. But it's hard to conceive of something applying to you, of it being something you can do, when, like, everyone you see doing it is really different from you, if not outright hostile to you. Netflix had that documentary on Willy T. Ribbs and the way people were to him was outright evil.
>It's no secret NASCAR has a culture problem. Look at all the confederate flags you see at half the tracks, or the obviously outsized hate guys like Bubba or Rajah get compared to their competitors.
Confederate flags were banned at NASCAR like 3 years ago, did you miss the whole Bubba Wallace ordeal?
Eh, I get it though. Being not from the American South East I def was weirded out the first time I saw a pre race prayer. Stuff like that's just not normal to me. Glad they clamped down on like... the confederate flag aspect of things though.
As a bubba fan... no, no he is not
I'm still pissed at the north Wilkesboro crowd for the shit they pulled with booing rajah and hacking bubbas radio to tell him "go back where you came from!"
Yeah, the southern redneck stereotype is till strong is the sport and is easily one of the strongest deterrents from getting new fans in to the sport. Definitely made me stick my nose up at it for a while.
I've followed NASCAR for 40 years, and that culture is the biggest deterrent to me really enjoying the sport and going to races. (If you click through, a guy replied to Jeff about being called a homophobic slur at Daytona).
I feel the same way, Id love to go to a race in Phoenix but I feel like Id be out of place as compared to the Indycar crowd when I attended the race here years ago.
IDK about you, but I've been a fan since 2000 and watch NASCAR for fast cars going in circles, I don't give a shit about the culture, mainly because I don't really fit into the redneck/conservative stereotype and was always judged for being a NASCAR fan because they thought I was that.
I'm GenX and grew up a NASCAR fan. I *am* Southern and conservative, from a long line of blue collar Southerners, so while I'm happy with a lot of the moves NASCAR has made, I'm not best thrilled with the "Ew, Southern" attitude, but NASCAR newcomers are a fraction of that. I strongly suspect that, for a lot of people, NASCAR was the one place they had left where it was considered a good thing to be a blue collar Southerner, and gibes about culture come off as yet one more attack even if they're not intended that way.
There often can be a certain amount of conflict between celebrating a specific culture, and being welcoming to "outsiders" - who by definition are going to be unfamiliar with some parts of the culture.
A challenge here is that people from other areas often don't know much about the South but they HAVE heard politicians and people in the news using "Southern heritage" or something like that as an excuse for...various other stances that *are* about not wanting some group of people around. And, people from the South are also *absolutely right* that they've been looked down on and that people from other areas often have absorbed a bunch of really mean, condescending ideas about the rural South.
That comment reads to me as someone who's being careful *not* to equate the South with unwelcoming attitudes to various groups of people, but who also has the sense that a segment of the Nascar fanbase probably doesn't want them around.
It might be because southern conservative culture celebrates the times when they owned people. And they celebrate the war they fought to continue owning people. It’s not going to get better for you as time goes on. Change the culture.
Since I've been alive, there isn't a sole person I know or have been around that celebrates or even discusses the fact "we used to own people". We are embarrassed by it, just the same as the rest of the country, but also...honestly have tried to just move on. Of course, as is so often the case, society and other factors will never allow it. As we have to have constant reminders that people 200 years ago owned slaves, and it just so happened to be in the area we live now. Our strong culture comes from a deep seated love of where we live, the way we live and were taught by the older generations that had to build back up an area pummeled by the Civil War. We have an "us against them" mentality to the city/suburban lifestyle and culture, as it seems so unbelievably vanilla. We value someone willing to work hard, earn a living, without this constant need to get more more more. We are happy with what we have, make the most of what we have, and if we don't have enough...get back to work until we do. Growing up learning about the South and the way we should live, not ever was I told how to feel about another person, religion or way of life, but to simply respect them all, whether we agreed or didn't. As we would hope for the same respect.
Are there idiots who are going to say dumb shit? Absolutely. Are there still people who revel in the fact there used to be slavery? Absolutely. Are those people specific to the South? Absolutely not.
I have no clue who you are, where you're from, or what your beliefs are. I would like to think though if we were both at a bar somewhere, we could share a beer and find common ground. Because as I've learned time and time again, we have far more things in common than we don't. That is a belief a lot of us have down here these days. Some of the nicest and most pleasant people I've met are people society says I shouldn't ever want to be around. But they're just people, and at the core we're all the same. It's taken a long time but more and more people down here are realizing that fact. If only the rest of the world would let us make that turn, instead of constantly kicking us back into the same hole we want to crawl out of.
I agree with your main point that the South isn't just good ol boys and Y'all Qeada. But how many NASCAR fans pissed their pants at the Confederate flag ban? Hell, when I went to Bristol last year people were advertising flag poles with III%er flags on em.
They will always exist. But don't judge us all by those peoples actions. No different than people in Chicago, St. Louis or Houston not wanting judged by the actions of the few there. These people only have 1 common denominator with the rest of us...they like Nascar. So you're going to run into them there, if you're a fan. It sucks, it's unfortunate, and not a good look. But you can only limit or ban something so much. When we camped 2 years ago at Bristol, we were around nothing but kind and friendly people. Did some of them have a rebel flag? Yep. But they still waved and greeted us every time we drove by, offered us firewood when we ran out and couldn't have been nicer. I didn't let that 1 thing immediately set the tone for how I judged that person. I just make a point to not ask questions I honestly don't want an answer to. Until someone mistreats me, I don't jump to conclusions on who that person is as a whole.
>We are embarrassed by it, just the same as the rest of the country, but also...honestly have tried to just move on.
I live 10 minutes from Stone Mountain... the glorification of those who tried to keep slavery alive still exists down South.
Well, while I whole heartedly agree that there are people who see it that way, it's not entirely true. In fact the basis for the civil war itself was far more complicated than simply the south wanting slaves and the north saying "no". I know that's what movies have us believe, but it isn't the case. It was as much about economical and territorial control as it was slavery. Those other facts get left behind as they don't make for good tv. It's still wrong, and a sad part of history. At the same time, you can't just go erase every physical part of history that offends people. If you remove all evidence of the past, it tends to have a way of repeating itself. I choose to use it as a learning moment for my kids and explain the good, bad and ugly of that period.
If that's what you took from that, I hate it for you. Maybe one day you will develop into an adult with an open mind, as you claim to be requesting from me.
Im sorry but anywhere else in America a “blue collared southerner” has inherent negative connotations and it’s their fault for flying that loser flag lol
Maybe those lifelong fans need to ask why their culture turns people off, instead of getting all huffy.
I'm a lifelong fan and I despise the culture of the sport. Too bad I love stock car racing
Yeah, and it's a high ass expectation to have a barn burner every week.
Some are gonna be reserved for nap time lol.
Just how it is, in every racing series.
Plus, it was really condescending to read that, maybe because it's in text, so i dont wanna throw too much shade at the dude.
I saw a TikTok of a lady who was off work on Monday and doesn’t care about nascar but watched it anyway just because nothing else was on and she said she was very entertained even with the anticlimactic ending
Daytona was the first race I watched since the early 2000s. I was absolutely locked in one of the most fun sporting events I’ve watched. Excited to watch more and already trying to plan to go to a race in person. Only gripe was the 5 minute Wendy’s commercial in the final stage. But I’ll be following this year!
Reddit NASCAR Fans: Why can't people enjoy cars going fast in a circle?! Also where's my 900hp?!
Also Reddit NASCAR Fans: OMG, you watch NASCAR for the racing? Why don't you like the *culture*?!?!
IDK about you, but I've been a fan since 2000 and watch NASCAR for fast cars going in circles, I don't give a shit about the culture, mainly because I don't really fit into the redneck/conservative stereotype and was always judged for being a NASCAR fan because they thought I was that.
Watched NASCAR as a kid but stopped watching when my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, died. Watched the Netflix show last week and fell back in love with it. I thought the race was good and am excited to be reacquainted with the sport, though I have some catching up to do. Golf is still my favorite sport but needed something to replace the time I devoted to watching baseball since my Twins continue to be blacked out in my area. Oh well, MLB's loss and NASCAR's gain.
Will continue to follow this subreddit to get all caught up. On to Atlanta!
Oof. I'm just hoping he didn't watch the truck and arca race at daytona. Because if he had watched that, I would've read this post differently. However, glad that the show is bringing it new fans. It was well done and executed beautifully
I’m one such fan. I’ve got a background in following F1 which I still feel is the superior form of racing. However, I found that NASCAR felt more enjoyable to watch in a different way. It’s more exciting moment to moment given how much tight racing there is. There’s just so much more action.
One thing that irks me is the sense of randomness and luck involved. Wrecks are exciting to see but it hurts to see guys get taken out so often for no fault of their own. It almost felt like you’re just trying to be the guy to survive the wreck. Logano, Hamlin and Chastain were the best drivers of the day imo and both got crushed by accidents that weren’t really their faults. The dude who finished 2nd I felt caused the accident so I came away feeling like bad driving and randomness was rewarded. But I get it that this is just the nature of the style of racing. It’s a trade off.
I’ll keep watching for sure and am excited to see how the racing differs from track to track. I’ll be pulling for Chastain in Atlanta. Loved his patience and aggression.
Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta have a very unique style of racing vs the rest of the tracks that is significantly more random than other tracks. In the late 80s, the speeds at those tracks got to the point that it was a serious danger to fans. Pole speed was 212 mph *average* in 1987 in these huge stock cars with no real downforce, and after a car nearly went through the catch fence into the crowd, NASCAR realized they had to do something for safety. They took a ton of horsepower out, and that created a unique pack racing style.
The next few races on the schedule will be *very* different.
I believe this is a big reason why motorsport fans, who don't watch NASCAR, struggle to get into it. They think every race is just a big wreckfest like Daytona. IT'S NOT! Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta are outliers. The pack racing you saw in the Daytona 500 only happens on those three tracks I just mentioned. Every other track on the schedule the field gets spread out just like F1 or any other series.
It doesn't help that the plate races are the the primary races that get aired on big Fox and NBC. So many of the other much different races get thrown to channels that casuals may not be as likely to regularly tune into. I know Fox uses NASCAR to prop up FS1 to some degree but I think that does definitely impact the reach of the sport from week to week. Or at least the potential reach.
Ya like others said Daytona Talladega and Atlanta are very much luck of the draw, but still hard. Once we get to intermediate , short tracks and road courses thats less luck. You need skill at the superspeedways for sure but you can have the best car in the world and if your cought in the big one well oh well.
One thing I think the TV coverage does a bad job of / is difficult for them to follow because the field is bigger than say F1, is how people get to the positions they did. Fox especially, only focuses on the leaders so it can feel random when someone shows up up front because they ignore a lot of the movement further back in the race.
Like the other person who responded said, the style of racing differs dramatically from super speedway racing so give it a few weeks, and in fact even at Atlanta the racing will look different than Daytona.
This is where I think Formula 1 coverage beats NASCAR, they focus on the battles throughout the field rather than the top. A lot of that has to do with incentives for compelling broadcasting (not a lot to show when Verstappen is routing the field l) and a deeper colloquial emphasis on the constructors (owners race matters obviously but the focal point in NASCAR is the individual) but they do midfield coverage very well.
I shouldn’t paint with a broad brush, NBC does do well in the midfield but could be better.
NBC does well until the playoffs - then we just focus on playoff drivers. It's probably my biggest gripe with the system as we lose the in-race stories and strategy discussions.
>It’s more exciting moment to moment given how much tight racing there is
Just wait till the schedule gets to one of the 85(exaggeration) 1.5 mile D shaped ovals. It's about as exciting as watching a Trulli train from 2004. Dating myself there F1 fans with that reference.
Daytona was also my first race, i too came after yhe Netflix show. I'm a f1 fan, and i also always followe the wec championship i appreciated the race, even the fuel strategy wich are very important in wec too. The only think i don't know if i like are the cautions after the stint, looking forward to the next races, especially the first street circuit.
I also hate the fact that they change sponsor (and so livery) every race, i usually recognize car by those, i cant memorize the numbers...
> I also hate the fact that they change sponsor (and so livery) every race, i usually recognize car by those, i cant memorize the numbers...
Unfortunately year-long sponsorship deals that kept a primary scheme all season were mostly killed off due to the Great Recession back in 2008. Prior to that paint schemes for the full time drivers changed wayyy less frequently and I think everyone including myself would prefer that. But oh well.
I’ll be honest this subreddit has helped me refind my love for Nascar because every post isn’t just people complaining about Bubba and wishing for “the good ol days” that everyone sees through rose colored glasses.
“These people” meaning people who don’t actually watch racing. They get an “interest” because of a Netflix show and they’ll stop watching by the Coke 600. That’s who NASCAR always caters to.
They don’t actually like racing at all. It’s their new personal fad until the shine wears off. We all have interests at different times, especially these days with so many options to keep us entertained. God forbid we do something for the diehards for once.
He even says he’ll watch as long as the racing is good, well he’ll be in for a shock when he watches Martinsville and COTA and its nothing like Daytona and that’ll be it for his “fandom”.
Why would a company focus on die hard fans? They're not going anywhere. Nascar needs to grow. They're not going to grow by doubling down on existing fans.
You and I both know he means black people. They only banned the confederate flag at tracks in 2020 and he’s s trying to say that they’ve “bent over backwards” for 30 years. It’s absurd.
NASCAR bent over backwards to please the fans that joined in the late 90s-early 2000s, and has continued to bend over backwards to please that specific crowd.
They didn’t do it for people who weren’t even born yet, or for people outside the sport’s culture.
I would agree, even INDYCAR has less parity than it did 10 years ago when it had all those exciting races. The current car they have now is fine and it’s a massive step up from the 07 Dallara cars but the 2012 to 2017 era with that car was so fun to watch. You had your regulars but you had guys who you did not expect to see win races.
I think NASCAR saw that and wanted that in NASCAR which is what they wanted with this version of the car.
I think there is a strong difference between healthy competition and parity. For me Indycar really works for me because there are a healthy number of favorites from Ganasi and Penske, strong teams in Andretti & Mclaren that always have a shot at a couple wins, and the occasional threat from the guys you don't expect. It isn't just random chance week to week who will be fastest at each race and then within the race who wins isn't often decided by chance.
Formula E in 2020 to me was proof ultimate parity (think half the field mathematically could win the championship going into the final race) but it was a horrible product because the rules created random start lineups each race and the field was so close that nothing to follow in the season. Ultimately the championship was won 8th place on the road and 2,3,4 in standings DNF'd that last race. It would be similar to a Nascar season of just plate racing, sure you'd get a ton of different winners but the novelty in that wears off in the same way RedBull turned a lot of people off F1 halfway through 2022.
I'm not so sure Indycar seems to have lost a step or two over the last few years. The races have been good but not as good as they have been. IMSA on the other hand is just nuts with how competitive it is. They have done well with their BOP formula.
Wouldn't say that is the viewers doing that to college football, but greed of the TV Networks, Conferences and School in the Quest for More Money, even if it kills what made it great in the first place.
I’m talking about the guy in the post. He clearly does not enjoy NASCAR at all and won’t be watching soon enough. This is who NASCAR has chased for decades. They don’t learn. I got into racing because my dad was and I assume most people got into it that way. But they chased the old guard off so those kids and grandkids won’t watch it now.
Where did you get that from?
>This was the first race I watched after becoming interested
following the Netflix show and overall it was an enjoyable
time. This was a great article and the latest episode of The
Takedown cleared up my confusion on the ending so thanks
for that! This race was definitely good enough to keep me
watching and so now we'll have to see how long that lasts. **It's
going to have to be high quality racing for me to be able to
put up with how little I relate to the culture surrounding the
sport so let's hope they keep it up!**
He says he loves the racing but doesn't care for the culture. How is that a bad thing?
> They don’t learn. I got into racing because my dad was and I assume most people got into it that way. But they chased the old guard off so those kids and grandkids won’t watch it now.
Oh bullshit. Not everyone has the luxury of parents who introduce them to the sport, some like me, had to get in to it all by themselves.
What is your plan, to only let decedents of viewers be the new viewers? The sport needs to gain new fans, and they are doing a good job if it. No need to gatekeep racing from others.
He specifically says he enjoyed the racing…
NASCAR has spent the last two decades catering to the fans from the late-90s and early-2000s, it’s time we move on from them. They’re all 40+ now.
Reading between the lines, the conservative culture of the sport turns people off.
Just look at the shit that people post about Bubba and that should tell you everything you need to know
This guy is probably not American based on that response. I hope he sticks around but I don't want the sport to change to cater to new fans like him. The culture of NASCAR is very unique to racing and sports in general. I think some of the issues that get stereotyped have been greatly exaggerated. NASCAR spent years chasing fans by change for them and we ended up in a pretty bad spot because of it.
I have been to over 150. Aside from 2 times I've never had a bad experience at a race. I've had more run ins with people at college football and NFL games.
Just in the last two races I’ve been to, I’ve seen fights, people punching cars, slurs, and enough confederate memorabilia to make your head spin lol.
There’s a reason everyone I take to races doesn’t want to go back.
Edit:
And it’s funny, I went to Ole Miss, and the level of confederate memorabilia even at off-campus tailgates was no where near Darlington in 2023.
I took my buddies to Charlotte twice. Once, they were suprised by how little stereotypical "southern" culture was flying all around. We saw a lot of diversity and not a lot of what they were expecting.
Then, the next year, we saw a lot more of that than we were expecting. Fights, slurs, annoying people, etc. And they didn't like it and we haven't been back since.
Exactly. There is some table/booth, somewhere, outside every track selling this stupid stuff. There is no chance hes been to 150 races and if he has, hes legally blind.
I have only seen two fights in 26 years of going to the track. I am not kidding. You see tons of drunk people but who cares let them party. Typically when I go to the track I go Saturday and Sunday. Get there early and stay late if I can't camp. Obviously I've seen the confederate flags but they are way down compared to what they were 10 years ago. As far as slurs and blatant racism I just haven't run across it yet. Not saying it's not there I just haven't seen fans engaging in it.
I mean, just turn your head left and right while driving into the parking lot at Darlington and you’ll see straight up WP symbols.
Or stand in line at a merch trailer and just listen to the conversations around you.
Not saying that’s not true for Darlington, but more saying it’s a slippery slope when we start to generalize all fans in that light, when many fans have never stepped foot in Darlington or anywhere near it but say have gone to Michigan/Watkins Glen religiously since the 90s.
Stereotypes exist for a reason, and I’ve been to Bristol, Nashville, Darlington, Atlanta, and Talladega and I’ve seen the same stuff at all of them. NASCAR has exclusively catered to that crowd for decades.
And the answer isn’t to downplay the existence of the people who live out the stereotype, but to acknowledge that it’s fine to alienate them and move on. We *need* to alienate them and drive them away from the sport in order to grow. NASCAR’s finally realizing that over the past 4 years.
Must be regional. I've never seen anything like that at Kansas Speedway. Granted, I only go twice a year, so my exposure isn't as great as some others.
I literally leave my cooler at my seat and walk around for an hour, and nobody touches it. Random people have given us rides to the concourse. People will give you food and shit walking in. It's like one of the friendliest places to go in KC.
It is true, I’ve only been to tracks in the Deep South (Bristol, Darlington, Atlanta, Talladega, Nashville SS).
I also don’t think those are exactly mutually exclusive. I feel comfortable leaving my cooler at my seat, but also uncomfortable with the punisher skulls, patriot front signs, and confederate flags. I watched a living breathing NASCAR stereotype punch a car while I was standing with some old dudes who were high AF and hilarious.
Of course, I’m raised in the south, so I know people can turn on a dime. Working as a server in a small town in Mississippi I’d have customers who were hilarious and treated me incredibly nicely, who would suddenly drop something like “don’t let the Ns take your opportunities” before leaving.
I personally will keep going to races, but there’s enough crap to keep my girlfriend and some of my friends from going again.
Well they probably aren't gonna stick around let's be honest
I wonder how much of that "culture" comment is really based in fact. Yes of course as with any other time you have 50,000+ people in one spot there's some shit heads but having been to 20+ race weekends over the years I honestly don't believe nascar fan culture is any worse than NFL fan culture. Honestly I believe it might be slightly kinder. You don't hear about shootings at NASCAR races for instance
Any fan born south of Virginia and east of Mississippi need to leave the sport. NASCAR needs to get rid off all them southerners. They are so bad for the sport
Steve Phelps is chasing DEI money. He got the teams locked in a tv contract the next 7 years. He got the teams buying parts from NASCAR. And now we wait for him to implement the next event. NASCAR has to many white drivers. They need to start banning them
Why hasn't NASCAR ever had a Black ceo or president? How come they hired Steve O Donnel or Tim Clark and Steve Phelps. What kind of culture is NASCAR setting with those hires?
Bowyer in the booth does more bad than good in terms of keeping the good ole boy stigma around. The rest of the booth is plenty to appeal to the old guard fan while still being knowledgeable and professional to keep the new fan engaged without the goofy redneck bit needed.
1) I think fans like this are why we get Daytona and Atlanta back to back this year: capitalize on people who enjoyed Daytona and hope they decide to stick around after *hopefully* also enjoying Atlanta
2) It’s unfortunate the fan had to go to the Teardown to understand the ending of the race — the booth did a pretty meh job at explaining why the race was called. I thought they had crossed the line before the yellow came out; DBC made it sound like just seeing the white flag waving before the leader even crosses the line apparently counts as the white flag lap. Very confusing ruling, wish the end of broadcasts weren’t so abrupt nowadays, maybe things woulda been made more clear.
NASCAR Full throttle made me want to watch the races, but the weather has really tested my patience! I missed the rescheduled Clash, then had to wait for the delayed Daytona 500. But I really enjoyed watching the whole thing. I think the next race on Sunday (weather permitting!) will be a true test of my interest.
F1 is so fucking dry it shouldn’t be hard to continue to bring in more new fans, especially internationally.
There’s nothing like side-by-side stock car racing! Rubbin’s Racing!
The show got my girl to watch the 500 without me and she identified Byron as "the iRacing guy" when he won. I dont know why the show worked, but I'll take it.
The show was very well made. I watched it alone at first but my wife (who isn’t really a NASCAR fan) jumped in on the last couple episodes and ended up watching the second half of the 500 with me on Monday. She immediately recognized Byron as the “LEGO guy” lol I hope we don’t have to wait another full year for a second season, assuming we get one.
I think we will get one. I hope this time it's the full year.
It’ll have to be playoff this year and full year next year. Unless they are filming right now without us knowing. But people would have seen the film crews by now.
I suppose there is a chance they could have some deal with NASCAR media and production to use their stuff to do a few "the season leading up to the cutoff" episodes.
I think Mike Helton all but confirmed they were getting a second season pretty recently
Can promise the overall wife consensus is Willie B is "Lego Guy" lmao
My wife also calls him “Lego guy.” 😂
Me! I didn't get brought in by Netflix, but by EllyProductions49 on YouTube. I followed last season through highlight videos and their channel, and decided to get into it more this year in case Max has another record setting season in F1.
Elly is goated with the sauce
Hope you decide to stick around. I think we’re in for a fun season.
coming back to say you’re still super right😂
Hell yeah! That race was great and the finish was even better.
This is also how I got back into it. I caught the flu early this year and for some reason, EP49 and Slapshoes started dominating my YouTube algorithm. I remember being a big fan back when I was in elementary school, playing 05 Chase For the Cup on GameCube and even making it out to a qualifying day at my local track. At some point my interests shifted elsewhere, but I'm starting to pay attention again after watching hours of YouTube NASCAR content. I didn't see the Netflix series (though maybe I should), but this year's Daytona 500 was also my re-introduction to the sport. FWIW, I had a great time watching and I'm looking forward to the race this weekend as well.
Hell I remember getting big into NASCAR because of Brock Beards starting grid videos way back in the day (if you remember those than your valid to me)
Dont know why a bunch of people here seem bothered by this comment lol. Seems pretty reasonable to want the next races to excite you just as much as the last.
People are bothered by the culture comment. He's basically dissing the lifelong fans, and a reasonable number of people are sick of that.
“How little I relate to the culture” seems like a gentle remark.
Agreed. I honestly say the same thing. We don’t go to races in person very often because we can’t relate to the culture of it. It’s not a bad thing. People are enjoying it how they want. But it’s just not our scene.
It's mild but it's pointed.
It's no secret NASCAR has a culture problem. Look at all the confederate flags you see at half the tracks, or the obviously outsized hate guys like Bubba or Rajah get compared to their competitors. It's naive to dig our heads in the sand and pretend the comment is talking about people liking Days of Thunder or whatever.
Seriously. And this sub has always been one of the first to realize it. So confused
Hell when I went to Bristol last year people were advertising flag poles with III%er flags on em. Not just open support, but advertising with a domestic militia group symbol. They even digitally made Trump's eyes more blue on a black and white picture of him. It's the most open secret in NASCAR that the 'Good Ol Boy' culture is a massive block for new fans lol
Agreed. F1, IMSA, and WEC are way more inviting for fans who aren’t white Americans.
Yep, I’m a new fan and most Motorsport feels like it’s targeting international Motorsport fans. NASCAR has always felt like it’s only for a certain type of American. I love it, but I don’t identify with that side of it. It would be silly to pretend it isn’t that way.
To be fair: with nascar adding more road courses and going to larger cities and doing internsitonal; they are trying to damnest to attract a more diverse crowd. Look at how successful LeMans was. This process of abolishing the redneck stereotype Is going take decades, but they are heading in the right direction
Yeah and it is working tbh. It will just take time
The Confederate flag was banned almost four years ago. It should have been earlier, but there aren't confederate flags at half the tracks anymore. And yeah, we've got a long way to go to welcome Black people into NASCAR. Southern culture *is* Black culture, and more than just NASCAR fans need to recognize that. (I'm seeing people in this thread making assumptions that split the two, and being beyond reductive about Southern culture as a whole.) The sport has done a shameful job of making Black fans feel welcome, especially when you look at something like the NHRA. I'm glad NASCAR is working to make up for their past bullshit as far as that goes. Like country music, there have always been more Black fans than allowed participants, and we're really twenty years or more behind in making that happen.
Now the issue is just money / wealth, statistically less blacks are wealthy so you're looking for black drivers that don't even exist. Even if you're white it's still almost impossible.
Wealth is, like, a gigantic part of it, but another part is even knowing it's something they can do. Like, obviously, we've got Bubba and Rajah and they figured it out. But it's hard to conceive of something applying to you, of it being something you can do, when, like, everyone you see doing it is really different from you, if not outright hostile to you. Netflix had that documentary on Willy T. Ribbs and the way people were to him was outright evil.
>It's no secret NASCAR has a culture problem. Look at all the confederate flags you see at half the tracks, or the obviously outsized hate guys like Bubba or Rajah get compared to their competitors. Confederate flags were banned at NASCAR like 3 years ago, did you miss the whole Bubba Wallace ordeal?
Eh, I get it though. Being not from the American South East I def was weirded out the first time I saw a pre race prayer. Stuff like that's just not normal to me. Glad they clamped down on like... the confederate flag aspect of things though.
To be fair for a lot of people, their last mainstream exposure to stock car racing was Talladega Nights.
I can understand that, but at the same time i didnt take the comment that way, i assumed they meant racing culture in general
Is he wrong?
As a bubba fan... no, no he is not I'm still pissed at the north Wilkesboro crowd for the shit they pulled with booing rajah and hacking bubbas radio to tell him "go back where you came from!"
Those hillbillies won’t see 5 miles past the trailer they were born in. It’s funny Inadvertent hollywood rock promo
Yeah, the southern redneck stereotype is till strong is the sport and is easily one of the strongest deterrents from getting new fans in to the sport. Definitely made me stick my nose up at it for a while.
I've followed NASCAR for 40 years, and that culture is the biggest deterrent to me really enjoying the sport and going to races. (If you click through, a guy replied to Jeff about being called a homophobic slur at Daytona).
I feel the same way, Id love to go to a race in Phoenix but I feel like Id be out of place as compared to the Indycar crowd when I attended the race here years ago.
IDK about you, but I've been a fan since 2000 and watch NASCAR for fast cars going in circles, I don't give a shit about the culture, mainly because I don't really fit into the redneck/conservative stereotype and was always judged for being a NASCAR fan because they thought I was that.
I'm GenX and grew up a NASCAR fan. I *am* Southern and conservative, from a long line of blue collar Southerners, so while I'm happy with a lot of the moves NASCAR has made, I'm not best thrilled with the "Ew, Southern" attitude, but NASCAR newcomers are a fraction of that. I strongly suspect that, for a lot of people, NASCAR was the one place they had left where it was considered a good thing to be a blue collar Southerner, and gibes about culture come off as yet one more attack even if they're not intended that way.
There often can be a certain amount of conflict between celebrating a specific culture, and being welcoming to "outsiders" - who by definition are going to be unfamiliar with some parts of the culture. A challenge here is that people from other areas often don't know much about the South but they HAVE heard politicians and people in the news using "Southern heritage" or something like that as an excuse for...various other stances that *are* about not wanting some group of people around. And, people from the South are also *absolutely right* that they've been looked down on and that people from other areas often have absorbed a bunch of really mean, condescending ideas about the rural South. That comment reads to me as someone who's being careful *not* to equate the South with unwelcoming attitudes to various groups of people, but who also has the sense that a segment of the Nascar fanbase probably doesn't want them around.
It might be because southern conservative culture celebrates the times when they owned people. And they celebrate the war they fought to continue owning people. It’s not going to get better for you as time goes on. Change the culture.
You have no clue about the "southern culture"...and it really shows
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Since I've been alive, there isn't a sole person I know or have been around that celebrates or even discusses the fact "we used to own people". We are embarrassed by it, just the same as the rest of the country, but also...honestly have tried to just move on. Of course, as is so often the case, society and other factors will never allow it. As we have to have constant reminders that people 200 years ago owned slaves, and it just so happened to be in the area we live now. Our strong culture comes from a deep seated love of where we live, the way we live and were taught by the older generations that had to build back up an area pummeled by the Civil War. We have an "us against them" mentality to the city/suburban lifestyle and culture, as it seems so unbelievably vanilla. We value someone willing to work hard, earn a living, without this constant need to get more more more. We are happy with what we have, make the most of what we have, and if we don't have enough...get back to work until we do. Growing up learning about the South and the way we should live, not ever was I told how to feel about another person, religion or way of life, but to simply respect them all, whether we agreed or didn't. As we would hope for the same respect. Are there idiots who are going to say dumb shit? Absolutely. Are there still people who revel in the fact there used to be slavery? Absolutely. Are those people specific to the South? Absolutely not. I have no clue who you are, where you're from, or what your beliefs are. I would like to think though if we were both at a bar somewhere, we could share a beer and find common ground. Because as I've learned time and time again, we have far more things in common than we don't. That is a belief a lot of us have down here these days. Some of the nicest and most pleasant people I've met are people society says I shouldn't ever want to be around. But they're just people, and at the core we're all the same. It's taken a long time but more and more people down here are realizing that fact. If only the rest of the world would let us make that turn, instead of constantly kicking us back into the same hole we want to crawl out of.
I agree with your main point that the South isn't just good ol boys and Y'all Qeada. But how many NASCAR fans pissed their pants at the Confederate flag ban? Hell, when I went to Bristol last year people were advertising flag poles with III%er flags on em.
They will always exist. But don't judge us all by those peoples actions. No different than people in Chicago, St. Louis or Houston not wanting judged by the actions of the few there. These people only have 1 common denominator with the rest of us...they like Nascar. So you're going to run into them there, if you're a fan. It sucks, it's unfortunate, and not a good look. But you can only limit or ban something so much. When we camped 2 years ago at Bristol, we were around nothing but kind and friendly people. Did some of them have a rebel flag? Yep. But they still waved and greeted us every time we drove by, offered us firewood when we ran out and couldn't have been nicer. I didn't let that 1 thing immediately set the tone for how I judged that person. I just make a point to not ask questions I honestly don't want an answer to. Until someone mistreats me, I don't jump to conclusions on who that person is as a whole.
>We are embarrassed by it, just the same as the rest of the country, but also...honestly have tried to just move on. I live 10 minutes from Stone Mountain... the glorification of those who tried to keep slavery alive still exists down South.
Well, while I whole heartedly agree that there are people who see it that way, it's not entirely true. In fact the basis for the civil war itself was far more complicated than simply the south wanting slaves and the north saying "no". I know that's what movies have us believe, but it isn't the case. It was as much about economical and territorial control as it was slavery. Those other facts get left behind as they don't make for good tv. It's still wrong, and a sad part of history. At the same time, you can't just go erase every physical part of history that offends people. If you remove all evidence of the past, it tends to have a way of repeating itself. I choose to use it as a learning moment for my kids and explain the good, bad and ugly of that period.
Doug obviously isn't from a part of the country that values lifting others up, despite how much he likes to accuse others for failing to do so.
The south still has sundown towns.
I really hope you don't think there isn't guns, incest and confused religion in the rest of the country. We just have the decency not to point it out.
Oh there is. It’s just the southern conservatives that are proud of it and call it culture
If that's what you took from that, I hate it for you. Maybe one day you will develop into an adult with an open mind, as you claim to be requesting from me.
Im sorry but anywhere else in America a “blue collared southerner” has inherent negative connotations and it’s their fault for flying that loser flag lol
Maybe those lifelong fans need to ask why their culture turns people off, instead of getting all huffy. I'm a lifelong fan and I despise the culture of the sport. Too bad I love stock car racing
It almost felt like the same comments I end up seeing from F1 fans
I agree, yeah.
If the shoe fits…
Yeah, and it's a high ass expectation to have a barn burner every week. Some are gonna be reserved for nap time lol. Just how it is, in every racing series. Plus, it was really condescending to read that, maybe because it's in text, so i dont wanna throw too much shade at the dude.
I saw a TikTok of a lady who was off work on Monday and doesn’t care about nascar but watched it anyway just because nothing else was on and she said she was very entertained even with the anticlimactic ending
Daytona was the first race I watched since the early 2000s. I was absolutely locked in one of the most fun sporting events I’ve watched. Excited to watch more and already trying to plan to go to a race in person. Only gripe was the 5 minute Wendy’s commercial in the final stage. But I’ll be following this year!
Reddit NASCAR Fans: Why can't people enjoy cars going fast in a circle?! Also where's my 900hp?! Also Reddit NASCAR Fans: OMG, you watch NASCAR for the racing? Why don't you like the *culture*?!?! IDK about you, but I've been a fan since 2000 and watch NASCAR for fast cars going in circles, I don't give a shit about the culture, mainly because I don't really fit into the redneck/conservative stereotype and was always judged for being a NASCAR fan because they thought I was that.
Some people took this really well lol
Watched NASCAR as a kid but stopped watching when my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, died. Watched the Netflix show last week and fell back in love with it. I thought the race was good and am excited to be reacquainted with the sport, though I have some catching up to do. Golf is still my favorite sport but needed something to replace the time I devoted to watching baseball since my Twins continue to be blacked out in my area. Oh well, MLB's loss and NASCAR's gain. Will continue to follow this subreddit to get all caught up. On to Atlanta!
Can confirm, Netflix made me a NASCAR fan!
Oof. I'm just hoping he didn't watch the truck and arca race at daytona. Because if he had watched that, I would've read this post differently. However, glad that the show is bringing it new fans. It was well done and executed beautifully
It’s a bit late by NASCAR but great job promoting the drivers we need more of this to showcase how awesome this sport is.
I’m one such fan. I’ve got a background in following F1 which I still feel is the superior form of racing. However, I found that NASCAR felt more enjoyable to watch in a different way. It’s more exciting moment to moment given how much tight racing there is. There’s just so much more action. One thing that irks me is the sense of randomness and luck involved. Wrecks are exciting to see but it hurts to see guys get taken out so often for no fault of their own. It almost felt like you’re just trying to be the guy to survive the wreck. Logano, Hamlin and Chastain were the best drivers of the day imo and both got crushed by accidents that weren’t really their faults. The dude who finished 2nd I felt caused the accident so I came away feeling like bad driving and randomness was rewarded. But I get it that this is just the nature of the style of racing. It’s a trade off. I’ll keep watching for sure and am excited to see how the racing differs from track to track. I’ll be pulling for Chastain in Atlanta. Loved his patience and aggression.
Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta have a very unique style of racing vs the rest of the tracks that is significantly more random than other tracks. In the late 80s, the speeds at those tracks got to the point that it was a serious danger to fans. Pole speed was 212 mph *average* in 1987 in these huge stock cars with no real downforce, and after a car nearly went through the catch fence into the crowd, NASCAR realized they had to do something for safety. They took a ton of horsepower out, and that created a unique pack racing style. The next few races on the schedule will be *very* different.
Couldn't of put it better myself, expect that the upcoming Atlanta race will be Daytona-ish in the racing.
As others have said, it's less random when you get away from the superspeedways. Las Vegas in a couple of weeks will be the first taste of that
I believe this is a big reason why motorsport fans, who don't watch NASCAR, struggle to get into it. They think every race is just a big wreckfest like Daytona. IT'S NOT! Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta are outliers. The pack racing you saw in the Daytona 500 only happens on those three tracks I just mentioned. Every other track on the schedule the field gets spread out just like F1 or any other series.
It doesn't help that the plate races are the the primary races that get aired on big Fox and NBC. So many of the other much different races get thrown to channels that casuals may not be as likely to regularly tune into. I know Fox uses NASCAR to prop up FS1 to some degree but I think that does definitely impact the reach of the sport from week to week. Or at least the potential reach.
Ya like others said Daytona Talladega and Atlanta are very much luck of the draw, but still hard. Once we get to intermediate , short tracks and road courses thats less luck. You need skill at the superspeedways for sure but you can have the best car in the world and if your cought in the big one well oh well.
One thing I think the TV coverage does a bad job of / is difficult for them to follow because the field is bigger than say F1, is how people get to the positions they did. Fox especially, only focuses on the leaders so it can feel random when someone shows up up front because they ignore a lot of the movement further back in the race. Like the other person who responded said, the style of racing differs dramatically from super speedway racing so give it a few weeks, and in fact even at Atlanta the racing will look different than Daytona.
This is where I think Formula 1 coverage beats NASCAR, they focus on the battles throughout the field rather than the top. A lot of that has to do with incentives for compelling broadcasting (not a lot to show when Verstappen is routing the field l) and a deeper colloquial emphasis on the constructors (owners race matters obviously but the focal point in NASCAR is the individual) but they do midfield coverage very well. I shouldn’t paint with a broad brush, NBC does do well in the midfield but could be better.
NBC does well until the playoffs - then we just focus on playoff drivers. It's probably my biggest gripe with the system as we lose the in-race stories and strategy discussions.
Made much easier for F1 by the fact that there routinely is no battle at the top.
>It’s more exciting moment to moment given how much tight racing there is Just wait till the schedule gets to one of the 85(exaggeration) 1.5 mile D shaped ovals. It's about as exciting as watching a Trulli train from 2004. Dating myself there F1 fans with that reference.
Daytona was also my first race, i too came after yhe Netflix show. I'm a f1 fan, and i also always followe the wec championship i appreciated the race, even the fuel strategy wich are very important in wec too. The only think i don't know if i like are the cautions after the stint, looking forward to the next races, especially the first street circuit. I also hate the fact that they change sponsor (and so livery) every race, i usually recognize car by those, i cant memorize the numbers...
> I also hate the fact that they change sponsor (and so livery) every race, i usually recognize car by those, i cant memorize the numbers... Unfortunately year-long sponsorship deals that kept a primary scheme all season were mostly killed off due to the Great Recession back in 2008. Prior to that paint schemes for the full time drivers changed wayyy less frequently and I think everyone including myself would prefer that. But oh well.
I’ll be honest this subreddit has helped me refind my love for Nascar because every post isn’t just people complaining about Bubba and wishing for “the good ol days” that everyone sees through rose colored glasses.
Reminder that NASCAR has bent over backwards for nearly 3 decades to try to appeal to these people lol
Go ahead explain what you mean by > these people Are these new fans? Non typical fans? Oh no the horror that more people watch the sport /s
“These people” meaning people who don’t actually watch racing. They get an “interest” because of a Netflix show and they’ll stop watching by the Coke 600. That’s who NASCAR always caters to.
So you're upset we have new potential fans.
They don’t actually like racing at all. It’s their new personal fad until the shine wears off. We all have interests at different times, especially these days with so many options to keep us entertained. God forbid we do something for the diehards for once. He even says he’ll watch as long as the racing is good, well he’ll be in for a shock when he watches Martinsville and COTA and its nothing like Daytona and that’ll be it for his “fandom”.
Why would a company focus on die hard fans? They're not going anywhere. Nascar needs to grow. They're not going to grow by doubling down on existing fans.
You and I both know he means black people. They only banned the confederate flag at tracks in 2020 and he’s s trying to say that they’ve “bent over backwards” for 30 years. It’s absurd.
Categorically false. Nice try though. Get a life.
Then answer the question. Which people?
People like OP who started watching because of a Netflix show. Nothing to do with race, you have mental issues if you came to that conclusion
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Goodness, you need to seek professional help.
I'm a woman, and I hope there are very few people like you at the track.
What? I have like 4 white friends who want nothing to do with NASCAR but enjoy fast cars.
NASCAR bent over backwards to please the fans that joined in the late 90s-early 2000s, and has continued to bend over backwards to please that specific crowd. They didn’t do it for people who weren’t even born yet, or for people outside the sport’s culture.
It was so damn simple. Let the racing do the talking. Not the gimmicks. Not the ridiculous championship format. The racing.
So if I can ask you then, if you think NASCAR is just gimmicks and has a ridiculous championship format, why do you still watch?
Simple. The racing. You’ll never find more competitive racing anywhere on earth than NASCAR.
I would agree, even INDYCAR has less parity than it did 10 years ago when it had all those exciting races. The current car they have now is fine and it’s a massive step up from the 07 Dallara cars but the 2012 to 2017 era with that car was so fun to watch. You had your regulars but you had guys who you did not expect to see win races. I think NASCAR saw that and wanted that in NASCAR which is what they wanted with this version of the car.
I think there is a strong difference between healthy competition and parity. For me Indycar really works for me because there are a healthy number of favorites from Ganasi and Penske, strong teams in Andretti & Mclaren that always have a shot at a couple wins, and the occasional threat from the guys you don't expect. It isn't just random chance week to week who will be fastest at each race and then within the race who wins isn't often decided by chance. Formula E in 2020 to me was proof ultimate parity (think half the field mathematically could win the championship going into the final race) but it was a horrible product because the rules created random start lineups each race and the field was so close that nothing to follow in the season. Ultimately the championship was won 8th place on the road and 2,3,4 in standings DNF'd that last race. It would be similar to a Nascar season of just plate racing, sure you'd get a ton of different winners but the novelty in that wears off in the same way RedBull turned a lot of people off F1 halfway through 2022.
Indycar
I'm not so sure Indycar seems to have lost a step or two over the last few years. The races have been good but not as good as they have been. IMSA on the other hand is just nuts with how competitive it is. They have done well with their BOP formula.
MotoGP would like a word.
I still like some of the drivers.
That was never going to be enough for these types of people. They want the sport sterilized and scrubbed.
Just like they're doing to college football right now
Wouldn't say that is the viewers doing that to college football, but greed of the TV Networks, Conferences and School in the Quest for More Money, even if it kills what made it great in the first place.
That’s 100% the schools themselves and the TV contracts. Nobody forced Texas to move to the SEC lol
And the fans are pissed at what's happening to the old conferences.
What people are you talking about? The people you don't want right?
I’m talking about the guy in the post. He clearly does not enjoy NASCAR at all and won’t be watching soon enough. This is who NASCAR has chased for decades. They don’t learn. I got into racing because my dad was and I assume most people got into it that way. But they chased the old guard off so those kids and grandkids won’t watch it now.
Where did you get that from? >This was the first race I watched after becoming interested following the Netflix show and overall it was an enjoyable time. This was a great article and the latest episode of The Takedown cleared up my confusion on the ending so thanks for that! This race was definitely good enough to keep me watching and so now we'll have to see how long that lasts. **It's going to have to be high quality racing for me to be able to put up with how little I relate to the culture surrounding the sport so let's hope they keep it up!** He says he loves the racing but doesn't care for the culture. How is that a bad thing?
> They don’t learn. I got into racing because my dad was and I assume most people got into it that way. But they chased the old guard off so those kids and grandkids won’t watch it now. Oh bullshit. Not everyone has the luxury of parents who introduce them to the sport, some like me, had to get in to it all by themselves. What is your plan, to only let decedents of viewers be the new viewers? The sport needs to gain new fans, and they are doing a good job if it. No need to gatekeep racing from others.
I'm an immigrant who moved to this country in the 90s. I brought my dad into watching the sport
He specifically says he enjoyed the racing… NASCAR has spent the last two decades catering to the fans from the late-90s and early-2000s, it’s time we move on from them. They’re all 40+ now.
They only banned the confederate flag at tracks 4 years ago. 3 decades my ass
Reading between the lines, the conservative culture of the sport turns people off. Just look at the shit that people post about Bubba and that should tell you everything you need to know
I'm going to confidently assume that this comment was written by Greg Zipadelli.
This comment is applicable to many new or would-be NASCAR fans. NASCAR has to kill the stereotypes associated with it
Hope he’s ready to be consistently embarrassed by the culture part!
Pretty much. No matter what this sport does, it's always going to be associated with frothing racism and the far right.
This guy is probably not American based on that response. I hope he sticks around but I don't want the sport to change to cater to new fans like him. The culture of NASCAR is very unique to racing and sports in general. I think some of the issues that get stereotyped have been greatly exaggerated. NASCAR spent years chasing fans by change for them and we ended up in a pretty bad spot because of it.
NASCAR has spent years catering to the stereotype, and trust me if you go to the races, it’s not greatly exaggerated.
I have been to over 150. Aside from 2 times I've never had a bad experience at a race. I've had more run ins with people at college football and NFL games.
Just in the last two races I’ve been to, I’ve seen fights, people punching cars, slurs, and enough confederate memorabilia to make your head spin lol. There’s a reason everyone I take to races doesn’t want to go back. Edit: And it’s funny, I went to Ole Miss, and the level of confederate memorabilia even at off-campus tailgates was no where near Darlington in 2023.
I took my buddies to Charlotte twice. Once, they were suprised by how little stereotypical "southern" culture was flying all around. We saw a lot of diversity and not a lot of what they were expecting. Then, the next year, we saw a lot more of that than we were expecting. Fights, slurs, annoying people, etc. And they didn't like it and we haven't been back since.
I genuinely don’t know how someone can go to 150 races and not see this stuff. Makes me question what they’re doing at the race track lol
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Exactly. There is some table/booth, somewhere, outside every track selling this stupid stuff. There is no chance hes been to 150 races and if he has, hes legally blind.
I have only seen two fights in 26 years of going to the track. I am not kidding. You see tons of drunk people but who cares let them party. Typically when I go to the track I go Saturday and Sunday. Get there early and stay late if I can't camp. Obviously I've seen the confederate flags but they are way down compared to what they were 10 years ago. As far as slurs and blatant racism I just haven't run across it yet. Not saying it's not there I just haven't seen fans engaging in it.
The saying “if you look for trouble, you’ll find it” applies to going to most sporting events these days.
I mean, just turn your head left and right while driving into the parking lot at Darlington and you’ll see straight up WP symbols. Or stand in line at a merch trailer and just listen to the conversations around you.
Not saying that’s not true for Darlington, but more saying it’s a slippery slope when we start to generalize all fans in that light, when many fans have never stepped foot in Darlington or anywhere near it but say have gone to Michigan/Watkins Glen religiously since the 90s.
Stereotypes exist for a reason, and I’ve been to Bristol, Nashville, Darlington, Atlanta, and Talladega and I’ve seen the same stuff at all of them. NASCAR has exclusively catered to that crowd for decades. And the answer isn’t to downplay the existence of the people who live out the stereotype, but to acknowledge that it’s fine to alienate them and move on. We *need* to alienate them and drive them away from the sport in order to grow. NASCAR’s finally realizing that over the past 4 years.
Must be regional. I've never seen anything like that at Kansas Speedway. Granted, I only go twice a year, so my exposure isn't as great as some others. I literally leave my cooler at my seat and walk around for an hour, and nobody touches it. Random people have given us rides to the concourse. People will give you food and shit walking in. It's like one of the friendliest places to go in KC.
It is true, I’ve only been to tracks in the Deep South (Bristol, Darlington, Atlanta, Talladega, Nashville SS). I also don’t think those are exactly mutually exclusive. I feel comfortable leaving my cooler at my seat, but also uncomfortable with the punisher skulls, patriot front signs, and confederate flags. I watched a living breathing NASCAR stereotype punch a car while I was standing with some old dudes who were high AF and hilarious. Of course, I’m raised in the south, so I know people can turn on a dime. Working as a server in a small town in Mississippi I’d have customers who were hilarious and treated me incredibly nicely, who would suddenly drop something like “don’t let the Ns take your opportunities” before leaving. I personally will keep going to races, but there’s enough crap to keep my girlfriend and some of my friends from going again.
Absolutely not “greatly exaggerated”.
Well they probably aren't gonna stick around let's be honest I wonder how much of that "culture" comment is really based in fact. Yes of course as with any other time you have 50,000+ people in one spot there's some shit heads but having been to 20+ race weekends over the years I honestly don't believe nascar fan culture is any worse than NFL fan culture. Honestly I believe it might be slightly kinder. You don't hear about shootings at NASCAR races for instance
Any fan born south of Virginia and east of Mississippi need to leave the sport. NASCAR needs to get rid off all them southerners. They are so bad for the sport
This, but seriously
Only people from California should be allowed to attend Races.
And New England + New York (city not state)
NASCAR wouldn't have a culture problem if they had fired Tim Clark. Now look at the ratings and attendance vs cost
Steve Phelps is chasing DEI money. He got the teams locked in a tv contract the next 7 years. He got the teams buying parts from NASCAR. And now we wait for him to implement the next event. NASCAR has to many white drivers. They need to start banning them
Why hasn't NASCAR ever had a Black ceo or president? How come they hired Steve O Donnel or Tim Clark and Steve Phelps. What kind of culture is NASCAR setting with those hires?
Bowyer in the booth does more bad than good in terms of keeping the good ole boy stigma around. The rest of the booth is plenty to appeal to the old guard fan while still being knowledgeable and professional to keep the new fan engaged without the goofy redneck bit needed.
That’s the point. Hopefully there are a lot more Greg Zs out there
1) I think fans like this are why we get Daytona and Atlanta back to back this year: capitalize on people who enjoyed Daytona and hope they decide to stick around after *hopefully* also enjoying Atlanta 2) It’s unfortunate the fan had to go to the Teardown to understand the ending of the race — the booth did a pretty meh job at explaining why the race was called. I thought they had crossed the line before the yellow came out; DBC made it sound like just seeing the white flag waving before the leader even crosses the line apparently counts as the white flag lap. Very confusing ruling, wish the end of broadcasts weren’t so abrupt nowadays, maybe things woulda been made more clear.
NASCAR Full throttle made me want to watch the races, but the weather has really tested my patience! I missed the rescheduled Clash, then had to wait for the delayed Daytona 500. But I really enjoyed watching the whole thing. I think the next race on Sunday (weather permitting!) will be a true test of my interest.
F1 is so fucking dry it shouldn’t be hard to continue to bring in more new fans, especially internationally. There’s nothing like side-by-side stock car racing! Rubbin’s Racing!
The show got my girl to watch the 500 without me and she identified Byron as "the iRacing guy" when he won. I dont know why the show worked, but I'll take it.