Not a big NASCAR fan, I admit to watching it for the wrecks, just like fights in hockey. But it is a cult of the devoted. On my wife’s side of the family they’re all master mechanics. Full out garages you’d see at any retail repair shop with the addition of a side room with every part from every American car going back 50 years. My wife’s grandfather was the only person allowed to touch the Beatty Racing team car, and never turned it with anything but his ear. Being the fastest growing sport, and the heartland of American culture it embraces what we love. Team effort, sponsorship (capitalism), hard long fight with basically gentleman rules, the roar of the crowd and a victor. All the babes are all about US too. I watch when my brother in law drops by, but other than seeing it in the news I couldn’t tell you who was who.
But one of the best weekends I’ve spent in my life was in the infield of the Daytona 500 (’81). We had a big RV and 10 of us partied our asses off all weekend with crews, drivers and fans. We had parked by the fence on the second turn and the smell of the rubber burning was so intense. When you look up at all the people in the stands watching, is nothing like spending the whole weekend in the infield.