DAILY KANSAN
OBER 1,2007
SPORTS
5B
Culture behind NASCAR pride
BY PETER C, SOTO III
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
PSOTO@KANSAN.COM
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Kansas Speedway Saturday was the face of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr painted on the side of a merchandise bus. While admiring the Intimidator's strong, thick mustache, a man wearing a baseball cap and glasses stood next to me.
"You know, he's been dead for years," the man said.
"Yeah, but that's about all I know about racing." I replied.
"Well then, just know that people in the South take him very seriously. Many believe that when Jesus comes back, so will Dale — along with Elvis."
Right then, a different man sporting a Dale Earnhardt hat walked by, laughed and nodded his head in agreement.
At that moment, I realized that I knew even less about NASCAR culture than I thought. I bet many people don't know about NASCAR culture. These are a few things that I learned during my first NASCAR event:
Devoted fans fill speedway
- This is consumerism at its best.
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
KBRECKUNITCH@KANSAN.COM
Cars stretch as far as the eye can see in the parking lots. Fans have been camping out since as early as Wednesday. The coals are burning on the grills, the smell of alcohol is in the air and there is even a smoothie machine present at one campsite.
This is a typical experience for the fans of America's favorite stock car racing league: NASCAR. The NASCAR faithful show dedication to their sport every weekend.
According to Forbes.com, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jeff Gordon are two of the top ten sports brands in terms of individual athletes. It shows when you attend a NASCAR race. The fans are decked out in hats, shirts and coats that represent their favorite drivers. Trying to make it through the merchandise area is harder than trying to make it down the hill on game day. All the fans feel obligated to represent their favorite drivers.
Kansas Speedway has a capacity of 81,687. NASCAR fans filled the stands on Sunday. Not only that, but fans camped out in recreational vehicles and watched the race from their roofs in the infield of the track.
Bruce Werts, Russell, Iowa resident, holds a piece of cardboard over his portable television so his family can keep updated on the race, while other family members watch from the roof. Werts said he enjoys the numerous people he meets at races.
Emporia native takes fifth
"You don't even know them. They might be from a different state," Werts said.
Some diehard fans can't wait for the race to start. Dan Warrington, who traveled from St. Ansgar, Iowa, said he arrived at the speedway Friday morning. Warrington said that he has been a NASCAR fan "forever" Like many others in attendance, Warrington was watching Clint Bowyer closely. The native Kansan was a fan favorite on Sunday and even exchanged a hug with Governor Kathleen Sebelius before the race
The fans come out in multitudes, especially at Kansas Speedway. They want to fraternize with the drivers. Jenny Pritchett, NASCAR broadcast communications coordinator, said that at the Busch race on Saturday she had never seen so many people crying and screaming. It was all for the drivers.
When the drivers were announced, it was quite audible how much the fans support the drivers. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. garnered the most appease during driver introductions, Kasey Kahne made the ladies swoon and Tony Stewart earned a solid amount of jeers. Caution flags plugged the race with two rain delays, but the fans stayed through the rain. NASCAR tries to take care of its fans as best it can.
Bowyer spent most of the race in second place, but Matt Kenseth and Casey Mears passed him in the last 10 laps. Kleus Busch won the race.
Bowyer, who wore a University of Kansas hat, said he was a fan of the basketball and football teams.
mass service is offered for all those present at the meeting, Breaux said.
"There was a lot of butting up front," Busch said. "The top five were all over each other."
NASCAR fans are very dedicated. Tiffany Brenaux, NASCAR coordinator of communications, said that the NASCAR experience was similar to a family atmosphere. Even the drivers are close. After the drivers'meeting in the morning, a non-denominational
Busch said he was joking about winning the race during a pit stop, but that he hadn't expected to really win.
NASCAR is wise to take care of its fans because it has a faithful nation of them dedicated to the sport.
"It's all about the fans," Breaux said.
Bowyer said he was frustrated with the tight space on the mile and a half track. He said he was still hopeful compared to last year. He said that he was struggling last year, but this year, he was in the chase.
"It's fun to come back and run in front of my friends and family. It means a lot." Bowyer said.
BY SARAH NEFF sneff@kansan.com
Edited by Luke Morris
Clint Bowyer, Emporia native, made it back to his home track at the Kansas City Speedway over the weekend. He placed fifth Saturday in the Busch Series race Yellow Transportation 300.
sneff@kansan.com
Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
There are dozens of merchandise buesss and many of them sell the same exact things. This really is the most American sport ever. Advertising is everywhere and competition is at every turn. All happening under the good-old red, white and blue.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
— Southern stereotypes are there, but not overwhelming. Expect to see a few missing teeth, motorcycles and mutiles. Also expect to see a few Confederate flags and know that they aren't a symbol of racism, but a symbol of southern pride. I don't agree, but then again, what do I know about NASCAR culture?
Governor Kathine Sebellus hugs Clint Bowyer, clint of the No. 7 Jack Daniel's Chevy, during driver introductions at Sunday's Nextek Cup. Amid some controversy, Bowyer placed second in the race.
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of contact and the cars are designed to take punishment as well as dish it out. Closed-wheel racing is intense. It isn't just watched, but heard and felt.
NASCAR has groups and they have a name. They are called Waffle Bellies, Say it. Let it roll off of your tongue. Waffle Bellies, I, like you probably are, was confused the first time I heard this term. The name comes from the grid-shaped tan lines that certain female fans have on their stomachs because of their short tops, the sun and standing too close to the fence that separates fans from the drivers.
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of things, the race included a petting zoo, although the selection was a little sparse. There were only Clydesdale's to be exact. The reason being Anheiser-Busch's sponsorship of the Busch Series. Children and adults alike enjoyed the pilsner-provided ponies.
Edited by Meghan Murphy
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— Even with all of the extra attractions at the Kansas Speedway, I found that once I took the time to try and understand the sport, it was easy and exciting. Go ahead and attend a race and see whether you like it. If the sport doesn't really catch your attention, one of the other distractions will.
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— Racing itself isn't all left turns and going as fast as you can. There is strategy and team work. The crew chief, spotter and driver all work together to strategically move through the pack. Winning a race is more than just having the fastest car. There is a fair amount
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Crew members finish covering the No. 88 Snackers car driven by Kenny Wallace as the rain set in over Kansas Speedway for the second time Sunday afternoon. The race was cut short by 85 miles because of rain and darkness.