NASCAR Subculture

As we rapidly approach the start of the 2009 NASCAR season, you will either be asking yourself 'What's so great about NASCAR?' Or 'Is it Daytona yet?' The latter may not seem like a proper question to those asking the first question, but to the die hard NASCAR fan, it's a perfectly legitimate one. Answer: Soon! Three weeks away.

NASCAR is stock car racing, unique to the USA. Of course, the cars of today aren't 'stock' in the proper sense of the word... they're custom built racing machines. They're just shaped like street cars. (More or less.) This bodes well for the auto manufacturers that sponsor the cars, hoping we'll buy their wares based on race results. I will admit... I have a Camry in my driveway. (Toyota races a version of the 'Camry' in the Sprint Cup series.) But the hardcore fan appreciates the fendered racecar over the traditional open wheeled racecar because they can hit the walls and each other and keep on racing, unlike their open wheeled counterparts of Formula One or the IndyCar series.

Which brings us to the things that keep NASCAR fans coming back week after week, year after year, generation after generation... what I call the 'Subculture'. If you are already a NASCAR fan, you'll find that some part or parts of the Subculture are what you're all about. For the novice fan, you'll realize that there is so much more to this sport than going around in circles. Stick with me, and you'll learn all you need to know.

So let's dive in, shall we? Novice fans, read and hang on! The Budweiser Shootout is coming up on February 7th. This year, it's a twisted version of its former self. (A pre-Daytona 500 race to get everyone in the mood, it's a chance for a select group of drivers to strut their stuff. Formerly, it was open to the previous years Bud Pole winners.) I can totally see why Budweiser doesn't want to have a race that celebrates the new Coors Lite Pole winners... but the new format, taking the top six of each manufacturer and some wild cards, leaves something to be desired. Some of the manufacturers don't have six top quality teams. Like... Dodge. The new format allows Sam Hornish Jr to compete. Now, he was a legend in the IndyCar series, kudos to him for that. But in NASCAR? Oh yes, all those top thirty finishes definitely set him a cut above the others. (NOT!) Same thing holds for the Toyota teams, while Chevy and Ford sit out some good drivers. My solution? Make the Shootout for the top twelve Chase drivers from the previous season, past champions and past shootout winners, and the top ONE driver from each manufacturer that didn't make the Chase. Sound good? I think so.

Second Subculture topic for today... the man they call Junior. How many other sports out there have people that are known simply by a nickname? (Well, technically Junior is part of his name...) In NASCAR, volumes are said just by uttering a nickname. Such as: 'Shrub', 'JJ', 'Mr. Ed', 'Intimidator', and 'Junior'. Just so y'all know, I AM a die hard Junior fan. But I can respect those that don't like the son of the Intimidator. (Novice fans... this is Dale Earnhardt Jr. I'm talking about.) SO... diehard fans, is this Junior's year? Probably not as far as a championship goes, but I do think there will be a huge improvement. And, if the top guys from last year such as the Shrub or Junior's teammate and current champ Jimmie Johnson stumble, he could be right there waiting to take over the top spot. I do think 'JJ' will be tough to beat but I think the Shrub (Kyle Busch) has a good chance of having a rotten season. It all stems from his less than polite attitude. (It breeds bad JuJu.) The Shrub did give us two good things last year however... proof that karma does exist, and the nickname for Carl Edwards of 'Mr. Ed.' (Novice fans... last year Kyle Busch had a great season going in the #18 Toyota, leading the points most of the year. But when the Championship Chase started... he had incredible, unbelievable bad luck that took him out of contention. Karma at it's best.) Tune in this year to see what kind of season the Shrub has...or if he improves his attitude. And as for Mr. Ed... he's driving with a duck on his car (Aflac sponsorship) this year. I can't even begin to fathom the analogies. We'll let the Shrub come up with those.

Back to Junior, as I got off topic in that last paragraph (that happens when you get me started on the Shrub.) Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a cultural icon all in himself. Race fans love him. Women love him. Men love him. His peers love him. (Except the Shrub and Mr. Ed.) Most of the fans in the grandstands love him. A lot of people know his name even though they have never watched a NASCAR race. How many sports have athletes with this kind of magnetism? He's just a guy from North Carolina with a degree in Auto Mechanics who loves ribs, cars, his family and having a good time with his buddies. He's a good racecar driver, a great spokesperson for his sponsors and a guy that will tell you exactly 'how it is' on no uncertain terms. He's honest. He races with respect for his peers and his team, he's talented and that's why I love him. I venture to guess that these reasons are why millions of fans love him. Good luck this year, Junior!

Those are just some aspects of the Subculture of NASCAR. I could go on forever, but I think that's enough for one go-around. Tune in later for more aspects of the NASCAR phenomenon. Maybe we'll touch upon the man everyone loves to hate for no real good reason... Jeff Gordon. Talking about Jeff brings up the fans in the stands at Talladega...a unique phenomenon all in themselves. And then there's Bristol...

Sources: Jayski's.com, NASCAR.com