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[Spike Spiegel]

People watch NASCAR for the crashes.

That's not the only reason folks watch, of course; it is, however, a big part of the appeal of NASCAR and auto racing in general. It's not like the fans want to see someone get killed or anything, but when you've got 40+ cars running for 500 miles at 200mph with a few inches (sometimes none) separating them, interesting things are bound to happen... and when they do, it's usually spectacular. The thing is, everybody knows this, but nobody really wants to admit it... except when it's the kind of fast, tight racing you find at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

At Talladega, it's all about the crashes, and that's why folks watch.

The NASCAR Nextel Cup Aaron's 499 at Talladega is set to begin momentarily. And if it's anything like Saturday's Busch race, it's going to be something worth keeping an eye (or ear) on. Because after a lengthy rain delay, yesterday's race was chock-full of fast, hard racing and massive, wild crashes. Lots of 'em.

Here, take a look:

Crazy, huh? Now just picture all that in motion, and unfolding at 200mph. So the only question is, are you gonna tune in and watch? Look, I even waited to post this until after the prayer invocation, National Anthem, and Aaron's sponsor crap; I know how some of you feel about that kinda stuff.

Remember what I said - don't sit and watch the race, just listen while doing something else or PIP it. It helps filter out the monotony between exciting moments.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I have yet to be convinced why NASCAR is remotely interesting. White America your dominion of the Western world is safe as long as you continue to have your secret meetings at the tracks. No one understands it but you.

 

[whytemyke]

Nascar is great for people who know their cars. My grandfather constantly goes to local tracks around michigan here and gets pit passes all the time so he can go in and just shoot the shit with drivers about what kind of cars they're running.

Ultimately, most people do, though, watch it for the crashes. But if you've never seen a race in person, you have to get to a local track sometime and do so. TV does to Nascar what it does to Hockey... it just ruins it.

 

[Pimpwerx]

I have yet to be convinced why NASCAR is remotely interesting. White America your dominion of the Western world is safe as long as you continue to have your secret meetings at the tracks. No one understands it but you.

Hey, I watch NASCAR. I love many forms of auto racing. Hell, I'm watching this great MotoGP bike race while flipping to the Dega NASCAR race, and the Pistons-Sixers game. I need more tvs. :lol PEACE.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand there you go.

 

[Shinobi]

Ultimately, most people do, though, watch it for the crashes. But if you've never seen a race in person, you have to get to a local track sometime and do so. TV does to Nascar what it does to Hockey... it just ruins it.

Yep, that's what I've heard...from all accounts NASCAR is an incredible spectator sport, at least on the ovals (though I couldn't see myself liking the short oval shit like in Bristol).

Heh, watched the Moto GP race as well...bike racing in the rain, how crazy is that. Rossi showed once again why he's the man.

I think the crash factor is defintely higher in NASCAR then other forms of racing. Seeing cars go in circles gets kinda monotonous, particularly when it's for over four hours. With other forms of racing you get to see different types of turns, drivers trying to outbreak and pit strategy, which I feel adds more intriguie. And of course WRC (which is on tonight BTW) is like watching stunt drivers going at it all weekend. :lol

 

[Spike Spiegel]

GREAT. RACE.

Jeff Gordon by far led the most laps, had the best car, and won of course, but that doesn't even come close to telling the whole story. Because until that first 25-car pileup around lap 130, virtually everyone still had a shot at first place, and was within 2-3 seconds of the lead car. Drivers may not like restrictor plate racing, but it keeps anyone from running away with the checkered flag, everyone stays within spitting distance of 1st place, and that makes the race interesting and exciting for spectators.

Lots of tight, fast racing, lots of lead changes and shuffling of the pack, lots of bump drafting and forced cooperation, two big pileups, and an exciting finish. What more could you ask for?

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

dem cars are perty fast n make the smoke n fire

 

[Pimpwerx]

GREAT. RACE.

Jeff Gordon by far led the most laps, had the best car, and won of course, but that doesn't even come close to telling the whole story. Because until that first 25-car pileup around lap 130, virtually everyone still had a shot at first place, and was within 2-3 seconds of the lead car. Drivers may not like restrictor plate racing, but it keeps anyone from running away with the checkered flag, everyone stays within spitting distance of 1st place, and that makes the race interesting and exciting for spectators.

Lots of tight, fast racing, lots of lead changes and shuffling of the pack, lots of bump drafting and forced cooperation, two big pileups, and an exciting finish. What more could you ask for?

Gordon's car was awesome today. Great win for him, but to be able to lead a plate race like that is impressive. Reminds me of how strong the DEI cars were a few years back. The pileups are expected for the stupid plates. I really wish NASCAR would let them run wide open here. Let the driver's left foot control the speed, not some retarded plate that just bunches things up. I'm really not a fan of them. PEACE.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Hey, I watch NASCAR. I love many forms of auto racing. Hell, I'm watching this great MotoGP bike race while flipping to the Dega NASCAR race, and the Pistons-Sixers game. I need more tvs. :lol PEACE.

We designiated you Negro Infiltrator 6 years ago. I love other forms of racing just NASCAR does nothing for me.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I went to this race. It was my first live experience of NASCAR. I hadn't even watched it much on television before.

I have to say that I left with a newfound respect for this type of racing. It was the first time I paid enough attention to the nuances of positioning, drafting and all the other small pieces of strategy that go into the sort of oval racing that make up the sport. That sucked me in more deeply than the obvioius sense of speed and the spectacle of the crashes. It was quite a race and I feel differently now about the sport than I ever thought I would. 'Dega was quite a ways from home but I anticipate checking out another different sort of race experience at the Michigan Speedway.

I'd feel strange not saying a few words about the experience of attending an event like this. It's total fucking madness. It's the equivalent of a city descending on a speedway out in the middle of nowhere and I've never been to a sporting event quite like it. Every type of person from everywhere in the nation, with all the fan behavior and fervency you could imagine. Some of it lived in the realm of stereotype and some of it made me question my preconceived feelings about the sport just like the race itself. It was a wild, great party of a day (days, I saw the Busch race too).

Bizarre.

 

[Shinobi]

I would love to attend the Michigan race. Well I'd love to really attend the Daytona event, but Michigan's the closest one (still way too far for me at the present time). Hell, attending any event where there's 100,000+ people would just be a trip, be it one of the monster NASCAR ovals, a Michigan Wolverines football game or a soccer match in Brazil.