Never Would've Figured You for a NASCAR Fan!

The 2010 NASCAR season ended today, and I am sad. Not sad at the outcome of the season in any way -- it is what it is, as they say (one of my least favorite sayings). Sad at the prospect of NASCAR-less weekends until Daytona in February. I'm also an NFL fan, especially of the Broncos, so between the Super Bowl and Daytona is a real wasteland!

Nobody seems to be very surprised that I'm an NFL fan. And they understand why I'm a Bronco fan once I tell them I grew up in Denver. But I always get this: "You like NASCAR? I never would've figured you for a NASCAR fan!"

That has been as consistent when I lived in Arizona and Maryland as when I lived in New York City. It baffles me. What do people think a NASCAR fan looks like? Some people think of them as beer-guzzling, loudmouth rednecks. Well, first of all, what's wrong with that? I personally don't drink (as a public service), rarely get loud and like to think I don't blindly dislike anyone. But if you go to any live sports event, you get a bellyfull of those kinds of folks. (I consider rednecks anyone who has a blanket dislike of any group of people for the color of their skin or their political beliefs or religious beliefs or sexual orientation or any other reason that reeks of discrimination.)

Sports were always a part of my growing up. My dad watched football on Sundays and Thanksgiving. He and my mom played golf and watched golf on tv. I went to football, basketball and hockey games during high school, college and beyond.

And...when I was little, I watched auto races of all kinds on tv in our basement. All the time. In high school, I went to local races. My first NASCAR race that I attended in person was about 15 years ago when I was invited into an owner's box at the Charlotte speedway for the Nationwide (then the Busch) series race the weekend of the Coca Cola 600. I LOVED it! I wrangled an invitation to the Coca Cola 600 the next day in the same owner's box and that was it. I've been hooked ever since.

I did go to an Indy car race in Richmond, Virginia, about 3-1/2 years ago and found it to be pretty boring compared to NASCAR. There were almost no lead changes and I didn't see much to keep my interest. That made me understand why non-NASCAR fans say they think NASCAR is boring. The more I know the race rules, the car characteristics, the drivers and their families, the more interesting it is.

I have my favorite drivers and the ones I really could happily ignore or do without. I won't name them here. Because the point is, I'm a NASCAR fan. And I don't think I'm all that atypical from what I see of other NASCAR fans on Twitter.

Oh, what is that you say? You never would've figured me for a Twitterer either? Ha!