NASCAR Nation by Chris Myers Read Free Book Online Page B

hard-working Americans, from the farmers to the carpenters to the soldiers who make up a big part of the NASCAR community, are highly patriotic. And fans from all colors of collars like to connect to American cars and support American business. Fortunately, once everyone had a better understanding of the rules and the nature of the business venture, they realized that they weren’t sacrificing anything. They were able to honor their roots while also branching out to sustain the future success of the sport.
    I don’t want to say that NASCAR fans are more patriotic than others, but I will say that they are more patriotic than most. Their sheer loyalty to the sport and to their country shows. The ratings we get are astounding. In one pre-race show – during a rained-out race, no less – we outdrew the ratings for basketball players Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. Even when the NASCAR ratings aren’t doing well, other sports don’t experience nearly that level of dedication.
    At the beginning of the chapter I mentioned a very memorable, rained-out race – the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend. That pre-race show, which I was broadcasting, outdrew the about 11.5 national baseball rating. We had a higher rating than America’s favorite pastime. And that was just us broadcasters – the engines hadn’t even started! How’d we do it? For one thing, we try to keep the broadcast homespun and down-to-earth, even though we are working through a bigger network. That’s what the fans are looking for, and we have it. But we also got such high ratings during that Memorial Day weekend because we were interviewing fans’ favorite drivers, talking about their favorite sport, and tying in patriotism with racing – something that our fans value quite a bit.
    NASCAR fans will never apologize for being patriotic. So much of what NASCAR is is about being American, whether it’s supporting Americanmanufactured cars, enjoying quality time with the family on race weekends, or watching the spectacle of race day. What fan doesn’t admire the modern, technological advancements that NASCAR showcases, evidence of the advancements that the United States has introduced to the world?
    NASCAR is defined by America; it is truly America’s sport. It’s not corporate America’s sport – all families can afford to be fans, no matter where they are or what they do for a living. And just like the rest of our country, NASCAR is growing and it’s strong. Whether you’re a savvy sports enthusiast like Joe Gibbs, a gearhead, a hard-working parent, or a kid who likes to watch cars burn rubber at high speeds, NASCAR has something for every American: a sense of pride. Watching America’s finest cars and sharpest drivers out on the race track, supported and sponsored by our admirable companies, makes them proud to be American.

4
SPEED
    H ere in the U.S.A., we do things fast. We eat our fast food racing down highways while rushing to little league games from the office. There’s no doubt about it: this is a fast-paced society. So it’s no surprise that the United States is home to the sport of speed. There’s a little speed demon in all of us.
    If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that none of us goes the speed limit all the time, not in ournine-to-five lives and certainly not on the road. We love going over the limit. It’s about pushing it to the edge. It’s the roller coaster we all want to ride but we’re a little bit afraid. NASCAR gives us that same rush.
    Speed is something fans can connect to in NASCAR. It’s the thrill felt when the pedal is pushed down, that feeling of control – two hands firmly gripping a smooth steering wheel, the rush of adrenaline and excitement. It’s a feeling Americans can’t have every day. In our daily lives, our inner speed demon is hampered by traffic jams, speed limits, flat tires, and