Is it a Sport: NASCAR?
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by user Allonthefield
"Watching 2,000 left turns doesn't do much for me," my brother said this morning.
Tens of millions of Americans feel differently about NASCAR, though, and given its massive following, stock car racing deserves at least an "Is it a Sport?" day in court.
Why NASCAR might be considered a sport - It has been suggested at times that NASCAR has a following of 75 million in America, but this article claims the true number is actually closer to 37 million. Either way, that's a huge number, unparalleled by any other borderline activity/sport.
And my perception is that if you're a fan of NASCAR, it's pretty much the most important thing in your life.
Besides the rabid fan base, there's also the intense level of competition. The Nextel Cup awards points for wins, top five, and top 10 finishes, and at the end of the season, one racer is proclaimed champion. If you're scoring at home, Jeff Gordon is atop this year's standings.
And finally, it can be argued that NASCAR driving requires great skill. No disagreement here, except to say that calculus and barbecuing would also fall into that category.
Why NASCAR might not be considered a sport - In a way, it seems fitting that NASCAR is on the cusp of surpassing baseball and football as the national "sport" here; apparently, we Americans admire the ability to sit for long periods of time.
All sarcasm aside, I do have a great deal of respect for the skill and bravery of NASCAR drivers. Unfortunately, though, those traits do not classify them as athletes. As I wrote in the inaugural post of this debate, an activity must require physical fitness to excel to be considered a sport.
With NASCAR, once you strap on the seat belt, you're good to go: no amount of strength or cardiovascular endurance gives you any advantage over the field.
Final Ruling: Not a sport -- Certainty: Sorry, NASCAR fans, but this one's a blowout in my books.
This article is part of an ongoing series at All on the Field sports blog.
