Entry # 8 NASCAR

 While a lot of younger people do not enjoy the sport of NASCAR (National Automotive Stock Car Auto Racing), I grew up watching it with my grandpa and have fallen in love with the sport as I have grown older. While most people just think it is a lot of left turns with some occasional right hand turns it is much more than that. A sport formed from running from bootleggers' tunning cars to outrun the cops with illegal moonshine turned to a nationally watched sport.

image

NASCAR is a motorsport consisting of the world's best stock car racers. These drivers go through a grueling 38 races throughout the year starting in early February and ending in early November. February hosts the Daytona 500 and as of the last few years the championship in November has been hosted by Phoenix, Arizona. The entire field consists of around 40 drivers per week coming from all sorts of driving backgrounds. Backgrounds from go carting from a young age or I-racing and sim driving. What is unique about this sport is that there is not one driver that dominates over everyone else. Throughout the season around about 15-18 different drivers will get a win throughout the season on various different types of tracks. 

The diversity of tracks:

Throughout the season drivers travel the country racing on all sorts of racing surfaces, old and new. Some of the most popular like Daytona International Super Speedway is one of the most known tracks where a non-fan of the sport might recognize the name. This track is a very big track that is about 2.5 miles long with an insane 31 degree banking all the way around. A track like this sees very high speeds and a lot of very close racing called plate racing or pack racing. The tracks range from 2.5 miles all the way down to .5-mile tracks. These small tracks allow the drivers to use their prestige techniques to maneuver their way around. 

daytona

martinsville

Superstar in the making:

My favorite driver drives the number 5 car. His name is Kyle Larson. He is one of the most popular drivers within the sport. He is in reality a superstar in the making and the face of the sport. He won a championship in 2020. He is one of the best drivers at every type of track. He has also competed in the Indy 500. I have been grateful to be able to watch him drive in person twice. 

All in all, NASCAR is a very interesting sport that is definitely more fun in person. I have been lucky to go 2 times this past year. I actually was just at the championship race last weekend and the experience was insane. How loud these cars are unmatched. There is not a sound that I can use to describe it unless someone has experienced it themselves. Every Sunday I got something to look forward to watching even if it is by myself.