Are you more of a fan of racing in general or a particular driver?

DanicaFreak

DanicaFreak

She's crazy.
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Just wondering.

For me, I love racing, but DP was #1. I follow still, but not as closely.
 
I am a fan of good racing with High Horsepower, hi RPM, naturally aspirated, push rod, V-8 Engines in any class.

Matt Kenseth is my all time favorite driver.

I watch and like numerous drivers in Cup at this time with no particular one being the lead dog.

At this time my favorite Cup series is the Trucks.
 
I mean, Harvick has been my guy for almost two decades now, but when he retires I ain't gonna just stop watching. Custer is already my guy, because I still watch some Xfinity even without Harv (usually) there.
 
racing in general, drivers are becoming less relevant.
but after 40 years, its getting boring,
big money changes sport into scripted entertainment.
2021 will be a turning point for nascar and f1, lets hope they go in the correct direction.
 
I am a fan of the sports personalities, sadly we seem to have been getting rid or retiring the ones we had. Tony stewart popping off about something or another. I think what made nascar great is drivers came to the sport with a story. Now days its kids coming in with nothing interesting about them, really. Custer comes in because his dad works for haas. Ryan blaney gets in because his dad used to be in the sport. same with austin dillon. Heck the same thing for chase elliott, even though I am a big fan of his. We don't seem to have success stories of guys working up the ranks, anymore. I think its really hurting the sport. honestly my loyalty as a fan of the sport and watching every single race has waned.
 
Even when my boy Matt Kenseth was still active, I've always been more of a fan of the sport than any one driver. I don't care much about engine size, body design, stock or open wheeled, oval or road course. If it's going fast, making laps and having to pit, I'm usually good to go. I can watch forms that don't pit but they usually don't hold my interest as well; I like some strategy.

I can't watch drag racing, though; my attention span is too short.
 
Hmm Custer and Nemechek at Canadian Tire, Elliott and Hamlin"s incidents, Dillion's unpopular turning of Almirola to win Daytona. I really wonder if some people are paying attention sometimes. I like the sport in general, learned a long time ago that drivers come and go and the interesting part of that side is doing just that. Unlike most sports that are much simpler in nature, Motorsports changes as technology changes. I don't like every change, but at least I understand that is going to happen.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
I am a fan of the sports personalities, sadly we seem to have been getting rid or retiring the ones we had. Tony stewart popping off about something or another. I think what made nascar great is drivers came to the sport with a story. Now days its kids coming in with nothing interesting about them, really. Custer comes in because his dad works for haas. Ryan blaney gets in because his dad used to be in the sport. same with austin dillon. Heck the same thing for chase elliott, even though I am a big fan of his. We don't seem to have success stories of guys working up the ranks, anymore. I think its really hurting the sport. honestly my loyalty as a fan of the sport and watching every single race has waned.
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This post is hilarious. You realize Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett all got silver spoons from their daddies, right?
 
Joker said:
This post is hilarious. You realize Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett all got silver spoons from their daddies, right?
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Shhh don't tell em Ryan Blaney's dad Dave was a silver spooner also. Let's forget about the Busch's, Harvick, Johnson, Newman, Keselowski, on and on who worked their way up the ranks and are currently in the series. Racing is a FAMILY sport.
 
I am a racing fan first. I will go to most any track when I get a chance. Heck, I will even watch the go karts at the local amusement center. Having some favorite drivers does make it more interesting and exciting.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
I am a fan of the sports personalities, sadly we seem to have been getting rid or retiring the ones we had. Tony stewart popping off about something or another. I think what made nascar great is drivers came to the sport with a story. Now days its kids coming in with nothing interesting about them, really. Custer comes in because his dad works for haas. Ryan blaney gets in because his dad used to be in the sport. same with austin dillon. Heck the same thing for chase elliott, even though I am a big fan of his. We don't seem to have success stories of guys working up the ranks, anymore. I think its really hurting the sport. honestly my loyalty as a fan of the sport and watching every single race has waned.
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Rick Hendrick buying those corvettes is what’s really hurting the sport
 
I love racing. I’ll watch anything at anytime. Im a fan of NASCAR, Indy Car, IMSA, F1 and NHRA. I’ll watch anything that’s on, and play any racing video game too. Jeff Gordon was my guy and still is, to be really transparent watching NASCAR hasn’t been the same since he retired but in a way that’s enhanced the viewing experience for me in that I don’t live or die on every race every lap depending on what Jeff is doing or how he finished. I can experience even more of the sport and what else is going on in a race. But I sure do miss that dude competing in races, same for Dale Jr and Tony Stewart ( I don’t get to see Smoke race, not good at finding when his dirt series is on or what channel they race). I support a few drivers now like Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Busch Brothers, Austin Dillon, and Chris Buescher (think he’s going to kill at Roush this year, maybe a small Roush Resurgence) I’ve divided my Gordon fandom into many pieces and in some way that’s just so much more meaningful on raceday for me as a fan.
 
1. Bill Elliott
2. Ford Stable

But, I enjoy watching Chase have success and KyLar putting on a show. If a driver puts on a great performance, I feel satisfied with the race even if it is Kyle Busch -- though I may not be "happy" with the outcome.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Is it possible for anybody to be more over the top than Bubba Wallace or Clint Bowyer? Kez is usually a good interview. Blaney and Elliott are good for some off-track antics.
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Yep. In racing you never know what is going to happen or what the driver is going to say. Nothing has changed but the faces in that area. Anyone who listens to any of the Radioactive clips would know that. Now more than ever with instant information, some drivers try to keep their mouths shut while others use places like twitter and other media to build their fan base and keep their name in the headlines.
 
I got into racing because my uncle raced in the 60's and 70's. Once we started going to see him, I would aggravate my dad to take me every week. We went a lot, I guess I was hooked from then. I saw my first NASCAR race in 1975 at Atlanta. I had heard of Richard Petty, but that was my first time seeing him. He took the lead early and dominated for the win. I was a fan of his ever since. I transitioned Kyle Petty when Richard retired, then moved to Tony Stewart once he went to Cup. I really don't have a driver now, sort of a Bubba fan. I am mainly an impartial observer, but I still watch.
 
I always pick a driver in any series I watch, even if I watch lightly. I started out a Jeff Burton fan when I was little. Been following Larson's rise since 2012. Obviously keeping my eye on Harrison Burton in Xfinity, and love Hailie Deegan. Like Max Verstappen a lot in F1. Local dirt modified racer Mat Williamson has been my favorite since about 3 years ago and he had a breakout year this year. Same goes for any other sport I watch as well. Chargers in the NFL, Everton in the Premier League. (Going to my first Everton game Saturday!)

The most important part, though, is that the race is exciting. I was still pretty bored until the last few laps in the stands at Dover last year even though Larson won. I had much more fun at the 2016 race when Larson came in 2nd to Matt Kenseth because it was a hell of a race.
 
I'll ALWAYS watch good intense hard nosed racing, no matter WHO it is, but if I'm going to stay engaged for very long, I either have to find a driver, a car, a team to cheer for, or if all else fails, somebody to root against. Sometimes I'll be in a sports bar stuck watching New Mexico VS Montana State football game or some other equally anonymous match up, and within five minutes I have picked a team to cheer for, even though I don't know and certainly don't CARE about either team. I MIGHT root against one of the teams because their name is stupid, or Their uniforms are ugly.
 
StandOnIt said:
Shhh don't tell em Ryan Blaney's dad Dave was a silver spooner also. Let's forget about the Busch's, Harvick, Johnson, Newman, Keselowski, on and on who worked their way up the ranks and are currently in the series. Racing is a FAMILY sport.
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Eh. To be fair, Harv had a silver spoon of his own. His dad had money and funded his early truck teams, but there was some sort of behind-closed-doors falling out by the time Harv was already established, so that ended that. I honestly don't know much about it other than Harvick not wanting to talk about it.
 
Joker said:
Eh. To be fair, Harv had a silver spoon of his own. His dad had money and funded his early truck teams, but there was some sort of behind-closed-doors falling out by the time Harv was already established, so that ended that. I honestly don't know much about it other than Harvick not wanting to talk about it.
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Eh put Boyer in there if that makes ya happy then. I remember Harvick talking about couch surfing at Hornaday's so he couldn't have been that flush.
 
I've always been more of a fan of racing in general, than in particular drivers. Particularly in stock cars, where you can't see the driver. But I'm not brand specific - I like to see close action and lead changes and don't worry about what manufacturer(s) are involved... although I do prefer to watch different makes compete more than a race where most (or all) of the cars are the same make.

I do pull for underdogs, and like to see the drivers who come from less fortunate circumstances prevail. I respect the drivers and teams who do more with less, the most.

I quit picking favorite drivers. Went through a period where every time I picked one, he would meet his demise. Maybe I'm superstitious, but I don't want to push that anymore. Not after five in a row in five years.
 
A little bit from column A and little from column B

I started off being a NASCAR fan because of the car( NASCAR model kits ), and then became a fan of a driver( Irvan), Ive pretty much leaned more towards the technical side more than the driver side.
 
Good question. I've went the past two years without a favorite driver since Gordon and McMurray retired. Last season, I wasn't interested in the sport nearly as much as I have been in the past, though I did still watch. Not sure if that loss of interest is because I didn't really have a driver to watch. After long consideration, I have chosen Byron as my new driver to watch and have just purchased my first William Byron apparel. We'll see if having a driver to root for makes me enjoy the racing more.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
I am a fan of the sports personalities, sadly we seem to have been getting rid or retiring the ones we had. Tony stewart popping off about something or another. I think what made nascar great is drivers came to the sport with a story. Now days its kids coming in with nothing interesting about them, really. Custer comes in because his dad works for haas. Ryan blaney gets in because his dad used to be in the sport. same with austin dillon. Heck the same thing for chase elliott, even though I am a big fan of his. We don't seem to have success stories of guys working up the ranks, anymore. I think its really hurting the sport. honestly my loyalty as a fan of the sport and watching every single race has waned.
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40 cars hit the track and your focused on a few that had some personal pull to get their ride? What about the other 35 drivers trying to be the best? Have you noticed that quite a few sons of recently retired drivers have failed to get a good ride? I am sure that there are much better drivers out there that can't get a ride but that is the same every where.
 
On dirt, I'm a fan of racing. I'll watch whoever is putting on a show, don't care who it is or where they start. For pavement, never been much of a fan, but will readily admit I watch with tunnel vision on the 42 car, because of how and when we met. I will also be watching CBell this year also. With that said, I'm anxious to get the NASCAR series started.
 
I am a fan of MY manufacturer.....there should be a third choice in the thread title IMO......
 
I watch just about any racing series that exists, be it stock cars, touring cars, endurance races, open-wheelers, motorcycles, drag races, air races... you name it.

I usually do have a favorite driver in almost all competitions I watch. MTJ, JJ, and KuBu are my three favorite drivers in NASCAR. Kimi Raikkonen remains my favorite driver in F1, and I'm really not quite sure who will be taking the baton once he departs the sport. Maverick Vinales is the guy I root for in MotoGP, even though I can't help but marvel at Marc Marquez's flat-out dominance and technique.
 
I have owned more Fords than anything. They have always been good dependable vehicles. I root almost exclusively for Chevy drivers. I dont know why. Maybe its because Jr. drove Chevys and until he retired he was my driver.
 
Racing in general, nothing better than intense door to door or wheel to wheel racing, clean or otherwise. Doesn't matter what series, if it's Rossi going wild in the Indy 500, or Elliott putting on a show after nosing into a tire barrier. (think Kez Ambrose at the Glen). That's what I like to see. My rooting interests for NASCAR fluctuate since I use fantasy picks to establish my favorites each week for added excitement. I am still partial to certain driver's, but there's no single driver that I can't do without.
 
Biffle has retired so we prefer Blaney now.

I just hope he gets to finish his season. Other than that, it’s all about the race.
 
Long story, was a Darrell Waltrip fan when I was a kid in the early 80's because I liked the Mountain Dew car for whatever reason. I was also what you might call a bandwagon fan of the King even though he was past his prime, he was just cool back then, and still is.

In the mid to late 80's thru to the mid 90's I was a Bill Elliot fan and hard core Ford fan. Somewhere around the time of Jeff Gordon coming into and winning all the time I lost interest in the sport. Never forgave him for switching to Chevy from Ford when he came to cup. Hated it when Bill Elliot switched to Dodge. Never did like the #3 car.

Got back into following the sport sporadically around 2009 or so pulling for Tony Stewart because he was who my girlfriend pulled for and he's cool even though he was in a Chevy. Went to see a fall race in Atlanta in 2013 which was an awesome experience except for the fact that Kyle Busch won. Mark Martin was subbing in the 14 car that night and I always liked Mark from his earlier Ford days but was a tad disappointed that Tony wasn't driving.

Started pulling for Kurt Busch when he was doing a lot with a little 2014 at FRR in the #78 car. He didn't win a race but he was up near the front and even in the front more than anyone really expected. I was pretty stoked when he switched to SHR. When Tony retired the 41 was my car. Was really pleased when SHR ditched Chevy. When SHR ditched Kurt I just couldn't go back to pulling for a Chevy team so I jumped on Harvick's bandwagon.

When he retires I dunno just yet who to pull for. I enjoy good racing, as long as a select few characters don't win anything, and will watch it regardless but will most likely be pulling for a new driver at that point.
 
10-4 said:
Long story, was a Darrell Waltrip fan when I was a kid in the early 80's because I liked the Mountain Dew car for whatever reason. I was also what you might call a bandwagon fan of the King even though he was past his prime, he was just cool back then, and still is.

In the mid to late 80's thru to the mid 90's I was a Bill Elliot fan and hard core Ford fan. Somewhere around the time of Jeff Gordon coming into and winning all the time I lost interest in the sport. Never forgave him for switching to Chevy from Ford when he came to cup. Hated it when Bill Elliot switched to Dodge. Never did like the #3 car.

Got back into following the sport sporadically around 2009 or so pulling for Tony Stewart because he was who my girlfriend pulled for and he's cool even though he was in a Chevy. Went to see a fall race in Atlanta in 2013 which was an awesome experience except for the fact that Kyle Busch won. Mark Martin was subbing in the 14 car that night and I always liked Mark from his earlier Ford days but was a tad disappointed that Tony wasn't driving.

Started pulling for Kurt Busch when he was doing a lot with a little 2014 at FRR in the #78 car. He didn't win a race but he was up near the front and even in the front more than anyone really expected. I was pretty stoked when he switched to SHR. When Tony retired the 41 was my car. Was really pleased when SHR ditched Chevy. When SHR ditched Kurt I just couldn't go back to pulling for a Chevy team so I jumped on Harvick's bandwagon.

When he retires I dunno just yet who to pull for. I enjoy good racing, as long as a select few characters don't win anything, and will watch it regardless but will most likely be pulling for a new driver at that point.
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I find it interesting about why fans say they like or dislike certain drivers or car brands - particularly their reasons for changing their opinions.

For example, you're a hard core Ford fan. You have switched support for drivers and teams who changed from Ford to Chevy. But you also like some drivers who didn't drive Fords much (like Waltrip and Petty and Stewart).

Gordon didn't really have much choice in switching from Ford to Chevy. He was driving a mediocre Ford in the Busch Series when Roush considered putting him in a Winston Cup car. But Gordon needed Evernham as crew chief - which Roush didn't want (but Hendrick was willing to do). So Gordon made a career choice and ended up in a Hendrick Chevy. Looking back at his success vs. Roush's success, it looks like Gordon made a good choice.

Elliott left his Thunderbird for a Jr. Johnson Chevy years before he switched to Dodge. He went to the Dodge mainly as a late career attempt to stay in Winston Cup. Did you lose interest in Elliott when he went to Johnson's team, or not until he went to Evernham's Dodge?

When you started liking Martin, did you consider that Martin was a Chevy driver in the ASA and during his first attempts in the Winston Cup? Or did his second chance with Roush (as well as his attitude adjustment) win you over?
Interesting side note: Martin used to have a car museum in Daytona near the race track. It mainly housed his Corvette collection (he had at least one of every year produced).

Of course, Harvick started out driving that #3 car that you didn't like (although Childress changed its number to 29).

Anyway, please don't think that I'm criticizing you or your choices. I just try to figure out what causes fans to pull for or against drivers and teams, since I try to help some guys earn reputation points to further their marketability.
 
I had forgotten when Elliott went to a chevy and wasn't sure if that was before or after the Dodge. I just remember being disappointed in it at the time. Back in the 80's about the only race I ever remember seeing on TV was the Daytona 500 and Talladega. In the 90's I was a teenager and didnt sit around inside the house for 3 or 4 hours to watch every race. I followed the sport and at school it's what we'd all talk about in shop class. I always thought of Martin as a Ford guy and remember the disappointment of him coming in second behind Earnhardt that year. I remember the Skoal Bandit race car as cool and remember when Harry Gant went on that tear winning 4 in a row. The only way I can explain picking some Chevy drivers but mostly not others is because of personality. It doesn't make sense I guess but they seem like people it would be cool to drink a beer with and BS and so it can be overlooked that they drive a GM.
 
aunty dive said:
Biffle has retired so we prefer Blaney now.

I just hope he gets to finish his season. Other than that, it’s all about the race.
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We? you have a
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in your pocket? ;)
 
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