NASCAR Nation by Chris Myers Read Free Book Online

important to be proud of who you are and where you come from and to remember whatbeing an American means. If we forget that and fail to respect ourselves and our leaders, then what do we have?
    When Keith said that he would never apologize for being patriotic, this is what he was talking about. Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, George Bush or Barack Obama, we need to stand behind our country and our leaders together, in the same way that those NASCAR fans stood together after 9/11 – without prompting, in thankfulness, in solidarity, and with pride. Those are the kinds of Americans who fill the stands at NASCAR races. They’re the people we should all strive to imitate: hard-working, patriotic, loyal, sincere, and proudly filled with the American values that make both our country and the sport of racing great.
    It’s no surprise that this mentality and spirit attract major fans from all walks of life. There’s also an enormous appeal for other sports leaders to come over to NASCAR. People who have excelled in playing, coaching, and owning in other sports find themselves drawn to the spirit of NASCAR.
    There are several examples of this. Take a look at Joe Gibbs, a man who had a very successful career in the National Football League. He was drawn into the world of NASCAR and created his own team: Joe Gibbs Racing. He hasn’t done too badly for himself, either, since switching to NASCAR. He’s employedthe likes of Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, and has taken home three NASCAR Sprint Cup championship trophies. He was apparently retired for some time – I suppose he defines retirement differently than the rest of us, since he came out of “retirement” to go back to work for the Washington Redskins. From Daytona to the Super Bowl, Gibbs has really played the field in the sports world. No great sports enthusiast can stay away from NASCAR for long.
    John Henry is another example. Henry is a fascinating person and a fine example of the American dream. His parents were farmers and now he is a trading advisor, owner of the Red Sox, founder of John W. Henry and Company, and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing.
    Both Henry and Gibbs are intelligent businessmen and savvy sports enthusiasts. They’re attracted to NASCAR not only for its worth as a sport, but also as a business venture. They know how loyal the fans are, and they know that NASCAR is constantly growing and spreading in popularity while it advances as a sport. They’re probably attracted to the sport for the same reason many fans and drivers are: the challenge of a good competition and the ongoing battle of man and machine.
    Gibbs won three NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, two NASCAR Nationwide Series owner championships in 2008 and 2009, and aNASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship in 2009. He once told me that he always wanted to be Richard Petty, not famous football coach Vince Lombardi. Petty was the king of NASCAR, a multi-championship winner, victor of two hundred races, and second-generation driver who lived a fast youth. Yet Gibb’s life path seemed to go in another direction. He said his football-coaching career fueled his NASCAR habit. This is a Hall of Famer with three Super Bowl rings talking – the same guy who fielded drivers who went on to claim four different championships in NASCAR. NASCAR became his passion. He simply grew up, like so many Americans, in a culture that encouraged a love for cars, watching a sport that created an obsession with speed, risk, and challenge. He’s a man who is very deep in his faith, a deeply patriotic American who is deeply in love with NASCAR.
    There are entire families who catch the NASCAR bug. Take, for example, the Gilletts. They’re very involved in everything from hockey to stock-car racing. They know racing is a costly sport and difficult to sponsor, but they also know that being involved in this type of sport puts them on the map in the eyes of