Whenever I tell someone that I’m a fan of NASCAR racing, they give me “the look” — you may know it as the once-up-once-down, kind of head-to-toe sizing up. What usually follows is a genuinely confused, “But, why?” as the individual tries to understand why anyone would subject themselves to watching a car drive around in circles for hours. Those who are much bolder tend to simply assert that NASCAR racing could not possibly be a sport. I beg to differ.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” The way I see, if it is commonly acceptable to call chess, video gaming, bowling, fishing and competitive eating sports, then NASCAR racing deserves to be right up there with those activities, since it fits the above criteria.
NASCAR racing is a sport that requires much skill, planning and patience. I’m not sure about you, but having been an a few road trips, I can attest that driving for long periods of time can be exhausting. Couple that with the idea that these drivers are moving at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour — while they try to overtake other vehicles driving at similar speeds around corners — while communicating with pit crews, without being able to get out to stretch or use the restroom, how could racing not be a sport?
Plus, I’m not sure how many calories video gamers lose, but according to the Bleacher Report, NASCAR drivers can lose up to 10 pounds due to physical exertion after an afternoon spent in a heavy, hot, flame-retardant suit in a car that has no air conditioning. Moreover, according to HowStuffWorks.com, racers can experience up to 3.2 Gs around the turns; 3.2 times the force of the Earth’s gravity. For reference, one G is equal to 32 feet per second. Typically, rides on roller coasters reach three Gs, but only for a few seconds in length. Imagine being in a roller coaster for three hours.
Then, there is the drama and excitement of it all that keeps viewers glued to their seats. Forget courtside squabbles. Have you ever seen two drivers get into an altercation after crashing into each other while other drivers whiz past? What about watching in awe as a driver — still going at a top speed — steers his car with only his grip after losing his steering wheel, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. did in 2016 following a crash? Also, I’ve certainly never been to an automotive shop where they’ve been able to clean my windshield, change four of my tires and give me a full tank of gas in under 16 seconds. Have you?
Sports can go beyond an athlete kicking, running with or bouncing a ball. Although, NASCAR racing doesn’t take any of those forms, based on the skills required and dictionary definition, it definitely still isl a sport.
