This is terrible of me and I can't remember where I first heard it, but..

[docwebster]

NASCAR is drunk rednecks watching sober rednecks turn left for four hours.

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Well, sure. But that's DRUGS. ;)

(Joking aside, isn't NASCAR the race series, after all, whose unofficial motto is "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'"?)

[bassbone.livejournal.com]

Not anymore. They cracked down on cheaters in the '70s. It's probably cleaner than most sports these days.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

I can absolutely guarantee the article (in Car & Driver, iirc) that quoted one major-team crew chief as saying "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'" was within the last ten years, and I'm pretty certain it was within the last five.


Note that I'm not really complaining about "cheating". I think many race series these days are overregulated (particularly Formula One), and that the racing would become a lot more interesting with a stronger "run what ya brung" factor (like Formula Xtreme had for a while). I'm just saying that NASCAR in particular has always had a rep for, shall we say, irreverence where the rules are concerned. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Frankly, some of the insanely strict regulation of some leagues, like recent F1 requirements of a single spec tire, a single spec engine and a single spec ECU, make it bloody boring. You end up with packs of all-but-identical-except-for-paint cars circling the track for fifteen laps at a time before a single position changes. I've also heard numerous F1 drivers complain that recent rule changes are making F1 more dangerous, by deliberately limiting downforce in an attempt to force lower speeds.

(The gripping hand is, fairness compels me to admit I find NASCAR inherently boring in the first place.)

[bassbone.livejournal.com]

I, too, find NASCAR somewhat boring except when on a road course. But I feel I have to defend it as the cup series is my father's favorite racing series.

[shadowcat48li.livejournal.com]

they do pre and post race inspections, post race involves impounding the car, and they do make public any fines or suspensions when they catch somebody

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

That just means the art is to cheat without getting caught. :)