Nascar

[paudie]

Anyone else watch the NASCAR stock car racing from America?
Setanta Ireland show the races live as a feed from NASN. A lot of the races are on in the middle of the night.

I've become fascinated by it for some reason even though the races aren't that exciting. It's just so different from Formula 1 I suppose.

Interesting points:
1. Some tracks hold more than 1 race in a year. Often 1 race goes clockwise and the other race anti-clockwise.

2. The safety car comes out at the slightest excuse -presumably to allow TV ads to kick in.

3. The crowds are huge. Over 100,000 at a lot of races. It is by far the most popular motor sport in the uS and ahead of everything bar football in TV viewership.

4. Prize money is huge. Over $1m to the winner per race.

5. Some interesting names turning up in it. Juan Pablo Montoya is head of the Rookie standings this year. Jacques Villeneuve may compete next year. Dario Franchitti (indy Car winner this year and husband of Ashley Judd) is switching next year.

6. A lot more races than F1. About 36 per season I think.

7. Some drivers compete in different classes over the one weekend. The main competition is the Nextel Cup but some compete in the Busch series race as well.

8. I thought all the races were on Oval tracks but some are on F1 type circuits eg Watkins Glen & Laguna Seca. Some of the oval tracks are REALLY short eg half a mile so there are 500 laps in some races.

[strangeirish]

I've been following it since 1987 paudie. TV doesn't do it justice. I've been to loads of races over the years and it is an incredible experience. Everything in the car has to be stock. In other words, no electronic gadgets like digital readouts...etc. The big attraction with the oval track is that you can see the whole race, rather than wait for the cars to zip past your corner or straightaway on a road course. The pit crews are unbelievable. Two tire changers, a jack-man, gas can man and two 'helpers'. Watch that part next time. Average pit stop time on a four tire change is about 13 seconds! Keep in mind, there are five lug nuts per wheel, not just the one, like F1.

[paudie]

I've been following it since 1987 paudie. TV doesn't do it justice. I've been to loads of races over the years and it is an incredible experience. Everything in the car has to be stock. In other words, no electronic gadgets like digital readouts...etc. The big attraction with the oval track is that you can see the whole race, rather than wait for the cars to zip past your corner or straightaway on a road course. The pit crews are unbelievable. Two tire changers, a jack-man, gas can man and two 'helpers'. Watch that part next time. Average pit stop time on a four tire change is about 13 seconds! Keep in mind, there are five lug nuts per wheel, not just the one, like F1.

Yeah, I'd say going to a race must be great craic. A real fun day out.

Drivers seem sound enough as well unlike some of the divas in F1.

[strangeirish]

Yeah, the sport and driver's are fan friendly, with the exception of one or two. The big race is the first one each season in mid Feb, the Daytona 500. Average attendance on race day is 200,000 for that one!