Loyalty, allegiance, commitment…to lose or withdraw any of these should be difficult, mind boggling. These are more then just words; they are part of your heart.
Ok, if you’ve read my past “blogs” you know I love, lol, adore NASCAR. Can’t explain it, I could try (and one blog I will) but it’s just there, yes, I’m committed or should be, (see April 20th blog).
Fan loyalty in NASCAR is amazing! I have never encountered a sport, yes NASCAR is a sport (don’t worry I’ll blog on that issue later!) where there are such die hard fans and most just out of loyalty to a brand/person/driver. The first one that comes to mind is Jr. (not Johnson) and his nation. I feel for the boy, hasn’t won a race in over 2 years yet his fans will stand and scream the moment he takes the lead or makes a move to do so. I would hazard to guess that most of his fans are his fans do to loyalty to his late great father Dale Earnhardt Sr.; not that there is anything wrong with that but that’s what I’m talking about. And have any of you been to a NASCAR race, do you know what happens on lap 3?? Nah, won’t tell, it will spoil it for you, but that is truly fan loyalty! I don’t see this commitment, allegiance….loyalty in any other sport, unless it involves a playoff or championship game.
Ok, other “sports” are city based, you support your hometown team, the favorite player gets traded today, tomorrow he’s playing against you. I understand that but when that happens it is expected that you no longer cheer for that person, not in NASCAR. Your favorite driver leaves the “team” he’s on and moves, the fans move with him. Case in point Kasey Kahne, heck no one even knows where he’ll be racing in 2011 but you can bet for that year his fans will follow and be adorn in the gear of his temporary team.
Of course there is the flip side to this coin, if you dislike a certain driver or owner in NASCAR you will carry that with you as well. I have a dear friend who can not stand the Cat in the Hat aka Jack Rouse, she will not support any of his teams, ok, that’s a slight exaggeration because I know for a fact that she has a “thing” for a pit crew member on one of the Rouse teams….oops maybe I shouldn’t have said anything…lol. And I am still amazed at how many “fans” dislike NASCARS resident bad boy, Kyle Busch, funny thing is the more the fans boo him the more he eats it up! Face it, the boy is bad fast on the track and can race just about anything and at times reminds me of my favorite driver.
I find myself with an instance of a split allegiance, I really am enjoying “following” a spotter for a driver I can’t stand, “following” is what we do on Twitter in case you were wondering…wow, another good blogging topic!
I will admit to having my opinion changed as the freshman drivers become sophomore drivers; losing their yellow rookie stripes. I have discovered there is fresh talent coming up the ranks, new drivers to earn my loyalty. I have to face the reality of NASCAR, drivers can’t race forever, ok Mark Martin is the exception to that rule! I don’t see myself being so taken with any other “sport”, well except hockey-Go Lightning in 2011! I will need another couple of drivers to watch on the track.
Some of you may ask if there is a tangible reason for this fan loyalty, allegiance, commitment. Most definitely, what other sport allows you to get up close and personal with the athlete you are following? NASCAR does that, this sport is fan driven; no pun intended, without fans the drivers, teams, sponsors would be out in the cold. Watch what happens to the area surrounding a race track 48 to 72 hours before a NASCAR Cup race. I have been fortunate to be in Charlotte the last 2 years (soon to be 3) for the spring races starting with the Pit Crew Challenge and ending with the Coke 600. That city is alive as it embraces its drivers home for 2 weeks of fun and this year there is the long awaited opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame! This long over due place of tribute will showcase the great and notorious history that has become NASCAR; drawing those who love the sport and those who are just curious at to what all the hoopla is all about!
You can even vote for the most popular driver in the Hamburger Helper Most Popular Driver poll…website - www.HelpersMostPopularDriver.com!
2010 Standings, alphabetically as of 4/18/10
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Carl Edwards
Jeff Gordon
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Bobby Labonte
Tony Stewart
And you can vote to get your favorite driver in the All Star Race, 2 years ago the guy voted in actually won the race! website - http://www.nascar.com/promos/allstar/2010/vote/
did i ramble too much??
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