NASCAR

NASCAR (the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is a fast-paced, high energy sport that is quickly becoming one of Americas most popular spectator sports.

The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are:

• The Craftsman Truck Series: This is the only NASCAR series to race modified pickup trucks. Craftsman has sponsored this truck racing series since 1995.
• The Nationwide Series: This is a racing event in which stock car drivers race to qualify for the premiere Sprint Cup Series. The Nationwide Series is a lot like a farm team, providing a place to cultivate younger, less experienced drivers. These races are usually held the day before the Sprint Cup race.
• The Sprint Cup Series: Due to the merge between Sprint and Nextel, 2008 marks the renaming of NASCARs premiere racing series to the Sprint Cup Series (replacing Nextel as the top sponsor).

Over 1,500 races are sanctioned by NASCAR each year at over 100 tracks in 39 states. Originally, drivers who wanted to race would buy brand new cars and race them on bumpy dirt tracks. However, because the cars could not withstand the abuse, NASCAR began to allow modifications to increase safety and durability. Over time, pre-made stock cars were done away with, and entire racecars, including the sheet metal, were being handmade.

A Sprint car weighs roughly 3,400 pounds and has over 750 horsepower. Thats almost double what a typical stock car with a V8 engine would have. NASCAR strictly monitors all modifications to racecars to ensure compliance at every race.

Racers earn points based on their finishing place in various races. At the end of every season, a new king or queen is crowned the leader of the pack.

The Competition

The biggest NASCAR race of the year in the Sprint Cup Series is the Daytona 500. As the first race of the year, the Daytona 500 is held at NASCARs headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida.

A typical Sprint Cup season runs from February to November, with 36 races held on 22 different tracks. Each car has a complete team of racing professionals, ranging from the driver to the mechanics to pit crews and coaches. Major companies sponsor cars and drivers in exchange for advertising. Sponsors are usually responsible for paying salaries, entry fees and numerous other expenses.

Races take approximately 2-3 hours to complete, and drivers go the distance of several hundred miles each race. Daytona is the longest race at 500 miles.

The Real NASCAR Fans

Just who are the real NASCAR fans? These are the people who help complete the family of NASCAR teams. They even have their own set of unspoken rules. Here are just a few of the NASCAR fan rules:

• Never cheer a wreck.
• Never leave a race early.
• Never throw items on the racetrack.
• Respect all drivers.

Buying NASCAR Tickets

Here are some tips for how to get even the most sought-after tickets for NASCAR races:

• Browse the Internet: By surfing the Web, you will most likely find plenty of die-hard race fans who, for whatever reason, are unable to make the race and want to sell their extra tickets. Be careful when buying from people you dont know. There is always the risk of being conned into buying fraudulent tickets.
• Check out ticket brokers: Try to use brokers as a last resort. Ticket brokers can most likely find you good seats for the race, but it will cost you a fair amount of money. Expect to pay significantly more than the face value of the ticket.

• Go directly to the track: You can go to the track ticket office and see if there are any available tickets for the day and time of the race you want to see. This is usually the easiest way to find tickets and get information, such as directions and camping or lodging information.

In some cases, you can get complete travel packages that include:

• hotel accommodations
• pit passes
• race day tickets
• race day transfers to and from the track
• VIP options.

Check online for different packages available.

Ticket Prices

Depending on which race you want to see and in which series, ticket prices can vary dramatically. Prices range anywhere from $25-$1000, based on the popularity of the race as well as the seat''s location.

Your best bet is to do your homework. Visit the racetrack, browse the Internet or read industry publications to increase your chance of getting a good ticket at a fair price.

The best way to learn about NASCAR is to simply attend a race in person. The sounds of screeching cars and the warm hospitality of other die-hard NASCAR fans are sure to be an experience you will never forget!

Resources

Nascar Staff. (n.d.). Nascar 101. Retrieved September 25, 2009, from the Nascar Web site: http://www.nascar.com/kyn/.

Nice, K. (2007). How nascar race cars work. Retrieved March 17, 2008, from the How Stuff Works Web site: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-racing/nascar/nascar-basics/nascar.htm.

Sparrow, S. (2009). Real nascar fans vs. wanna-be fans. Retrieved September 25, 2009, from the Speedway Media Web site: http://www.speedwaymedia.com/articles/Story.asp?S=4880821091639.