Why do you root for your favorite?

buckaroo

buckaroo

Here kitty, kitty, kitty
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This might not be a new thread, but I haven't seen it since I've joined, so my question is why do you root for the driver you root for? I believe that it comes down to two or three main reasons. First and foremost, I think that a person picks someone as a favorite because he is probably the biggest winner the fan has watch from his beginning. In other words, when I really began to watch Winston Cup racing (thanks to ESPN) I was a Petty, DW fan and there was this new guy who set the world on fire in '85...Bill Elliott. While he was burning up the big tracks and making a name for himself, another driver was doing pretty good during that time too and that was Tim Richmond. Bill went on to greatness and Tim died. If Tim had lived, I would have probably liked him as much as I do Elliott, but who's to know. Now the second reason I believe a driver becomes a favorite is that he comes to drive either for a favorite owner, or a particular sponsor. Maybe someone works for Home Depot, or Lowe's, or Coors or whatever. And the third way is because the fan knows personally someone on the team, or the driver or owner. What's your reason?
 
Mostly your first reason for me, Buck. However, I have developed a liking for drivers after initially not caring for them. Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart being just a couple. And that goes the other way too...........Kevin Harvick and Kyle Petty. Some I like about the same from day one..........Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin. There are only a very few drivers I can say I really don't like much..........but there are a lot that I can say I like very much! An all time favorite............of course, I'm sure you can figure that out quite easily. That happened when he come to the big time with the attitude that so many dislike about him........actually, started watching him because of all the negative hype about him. Then when it turned out that he was, in fact, really "that good"........I stuck with him ever since. Right now, no one's come along to take his place.........so I settle on his son for the time being.:)
 
When I first came to the sport I started liking Dale Jarrett because of his sponsor (Ford Credit). I got to tell you the truth thought, I watched for the crashes. (I don't anymore because I have seen how much time and effort goes into building a racecar)
Then early 2000, I was watching a busch race and Harvick was being interviewed because he didn't qualify for the first Rockingham race. I didn't know anything about him but I liked his "will not let anything stop us" attitude during the interview. I decided to do some research about him and found out he is from Bakersfield, about 40 miles away. So I started watching him and I liked how he drove the racecar and have been a fan ever since.
 
Boy, mustang, I bet that was hard to type since Kevin drives a Chevy!!!:ROFLMFAO:
 
Yep, the same for me. One thing though, I was a huge ABE fan, but when his son came along, I jumped on his band wagon cause I genuinely liked him. There are those drivers, like you said, that just sort of hang around, not much to root for and nothing to make you dislike them. Then, something happens and you either like them, or dislike them. Ricky Craven had that effect on me after he won his race. He was truely humble and that got to me. Since then, I have really liked him. Yeah, he's not at the top of the list for me, but a lot higher than he had ever been before.

When Jeffy came on the scene in the Busch series, I rooted for the boy cause I had been watching him whup some serious butt in those open wheeled cars. I liked the kid and wanted to see him succeed. I still like Jeff, but his worth to my has diminished some and I don't really know why. I guess it is because I have put so much effort into other drivers.
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
Boy, mustang, I bet that was hard to type since Kevin drives a Chevy!!!:ROFLMFAO:
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Everybody has their faults. In this case, he drives a chevy...oops I can't say such dirty words around my little sisters. Anyways, I'm a fan of the driver, not the car. Plus having him a hometown driver makes it easy to strike up a conversation with alot of people.
 
From the "old days" I was a Richard Petty, Cale Yarboro fan.

I fell for Jeff Gordon when he won the Inagural Brickyard 400.
Talent and charisma. Others have grown on me. There are only a couple of drivers I don't care for, but as my AKA says, Respect All and Wish No Harm.
 
There's another reason to like your favorite...he drives such and such car. I've got a friend, bless his heart, who was such an Earnhardt fan that he lived and breathed DE. However, I'm sure he would have commited hari kari if Dale had switched to a Ford. This man hated Ford that much. :)
 
I know the feeling mustang.......my driver drove Chevies almost his entire career, yet I've have so much more luck with Fords that I've owned!! Manufacturers have little, if any, bearing on who wins and loses in this sport.:)
 
My non-favorites are Shane Hmiel, Robby Gordon, Todd Bodine, Greg Biffle, and Jeremy Mayfield
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
IManufacturers have little, if any, bearing on who wins and loses in this sport.:)
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I can't quite agree with that statement, but I will say this though...Ford rules when it comes to rearends. Every car out there has a Ford part...everyone of them. :)
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
I know the feeling mustang.......my driver drove Chevies almost his entire career, yet I've have so much more luck with Fords that I've owned!!  Manufacturers have little, if any, bearing on who wins and loses in this sport.:)
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I know, they are so alike. I would be happy if he drove a Ford but it doesn't bother me too much that he drives a chevy.
 
Originally posted by buckaroo
Name em Kat.  You can respect them but still name em.  ;)
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ok, just 2..Robby Gordon and Robert Presley. I'm also not that fond of Rusty "whiner" Wallace and his loud mouth brother Kenny.
 
Originally posted by kat2220
ok, just 2..Robby Gordon and Robert Presley. I'm also not that fond of Rusty "whiner" Wallace and his loud mouth brother Kenny.
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Ooops, that's four. You only said you'd name two. :) I don't care for Rusty or Kenny either. Robby excites me so I can't say I don't like him, at least not just yet. Presley is an also ran, so I don't pay him no never mind. (a little southern lingo there.)

Ever notice how there are certain drivers that your favorite seems to always be around and have more problems with? Because of that, I've come to dislike a couple others that in the past, I didn't mind. Sterling Marlin and Mike Wallace are two that have gone that road with me. If I were a Rusty fan, I know that Bobby Hamilton would fit into that category, but since I'm not a Rusty fan, Bobby is just another also ran.
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
That was three, Kat.:)
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What? Did you fail math in the first grade? Let's count em...Robby, Robert, Rusty and Kenny. Looks like four to me, but then again...:p
 
Originally posted by DE Wrangler 2
OK, OK..........my glasses were dirty!!:ROFLMFAO:
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I understand DE, it happens to us older folk a lot :D Now where is that dang Geritol!

Buckster, I think pbunch has been tied to the whipping post by Mrs.PB:headbang:
 
I started paying attention to Michael Waltrip when I bought a diecast car of his. The more I paid attention to him on the track and looked up about him online, the more I began to like him and his personality. Meeting him is what really sold me about him, and I've been pulling for him ever since. I like other drivers, but I am proud to call Michael Waltrip my favorite.
 
lol pettyfan4life. When it comes down to it, doesn't really matter why you first started liking them, just why you like them now.

I just get tired of when people jump on the band-wagon and pull for the driver that is doing the best. But if they want to, that's fine. I'll stick with my underdog, thank you very much.

Doesn't matter who you pull as long as you are a Nascar fan.
 
Well the reson why I like Kyle now is because all the hard work he puts into the team plus all the work that he does not have to do for all the sick children in the world. Kyle is a true gentelman. He is funny, smart, great with people, and most importantly a family man.

Kyle left the Sabco to be able to start a team for adam. Ever since Kyle started PE2, the goal was for Adam to take the ride. Eventualy PE2 joined efforts with PE and became one team. That was only after Ricahrd and Kyle setteled some diffrences. If kyle would not have left the #42, to start the 44, who knows what could have happened he possibly could have had a championship or at leats a couple more top 5 points finishes. NASCAR is a family sport and Kyle brings that to a whole new meaning.

Now for the reason why I first started to root for Kyle. I liked his car. the 7-11 car, and the Peak cars. hey i was not even 10 back then. I am just glad that I am a Kyle fan now. I was nto a Richard fan first I was a Kyle fan first then I went to become a fan of all of PE's drivers.


Now for JB. I kept a close eye out on him back in 1996 when he joined the #30 car. he had 2 great years there and when he went to the #26, I was extremly happy because it was a great team. Well boy did that ever faulter. During those 2 years I lost intrest in JB. But as soon as he hit the track during Speedweeks in 2000 with a fast car I started to notice him again. Then he almost pulled off the upset win at the 500, that was too much. Ever since then I have been a JB fan and I keep becoming a bigger fan as the years go by. When Kyle retires, Johnny will be moved to #1 driver, and who ever drives the #45 will be my #2 driver.


Over the years i have had a couple of drivers that I was a secondary fan of such as Jermey mayfeild in 1998, Tony in 1999, DW just about all of the 90's. All of them were just secondary favorites. I kept an eye on then and rooted for them when ever Kyle was out or not running good.
 
He was doing alot when I first came into the sport, but the biggest reason I started likeing jeff as much as I do now is because of everyone makeing fun of him or talking negative about him around here. I started watching him more checking more into what he was doing and became a fan.
 
I like the guy I do because he gets up on the wheel. I've been a fan of his since his second race in the truck series, and feel a Winston Cup title is in the offing in the near future.
 
Reasons I pull for Ward Burton:

1. He ain't in a &*#@! Chevy.
2. That accent. I'd listen to him read the phone book.
3. After meeting him, I KNOW he is one of the nicest people alive.
4. His wildlife foundation. Thank God we finally have an athlete who donates to outdoors education, preservation, conservation, and habitats. Nothing against the other worthwhile charities, but this is a cause near and dear to my heart as well, and I'm grateful that Ward tries to get kids to appreciate the woods more than a Nintendo.
5. Did I mention that he does not drive a %@*&! Chevy?
6. I think he's one of the better drivers on the circuit. In equal cars, he can hold his own with any of them.
7. He does well at my favorite track, Darlington.
8. Then there's that whole "He ain't in a piece of %#@*! Chevy" thing...


Hey, you asked. :D
 
You'd listen to him read a phone book??? I have trouble trying to listen to him through an interview!!!

"I'd just liked ta thank da Cat tam, the tam did a good jawb dis weekend"

I like him, but that accent is just too much.
 
Hehehehe...at least he doesn't lisssssssssssssssp like Richard Simmons.


Sorry, you opened the door on that one...
 
Hmmm...well, the reason I like the Elliotts is how they came from no where to accomplish what they have. As a long time Ford fan, I absolutely hated NASCAR for the things that occurred during the 70s. But kept tabs of the rules.

The '83 season looked like it showed the potential to get things back on a more even keel. What with no weight breaks and carb restrictions. This one particular group of "country bumkins" from Georgia seemed liked they had something to prove and over the next few seasons did. I liked the way they came from nowhere to become as successful as they did. I know they had some help from Jody Ridley and a couple of others, but they really came from out of the blue...hey get it? Blue Oval. OK comedy is not my strong suite. I liked that about AK too.

Is Bill Elliott the greatest of all time? No. But I don't care.
 
I like Harvick. He is a great driver and a agresssive one. Like a lot of the older drivers that help build Nascar.
 
How I became a Jeff Gordon fan. Well I grew up watching nascar but through the years drifted away from it. A couple years ago I went to work for a construction company that sponored local dirt cars. 450 employees that mostly hated Jeff Gordon. I decided that seeing as how alot of them didn't appear to smart that Jeff Gordon must be good. I sat down to watch the Daytona 500 the 2001 race with Jeff Gordon as my driver. The day that shook the racing world-- Dale Earnhardt's final lap.
Jeff was caught up in a 19-car wreck on the backstretch on lap 174. Michael Waltrip's first win. in that race. Tony Stewart would land on his teammates roof, roof to roof. I was hooked. Even though Jeff had had a bad day his record spoke for it'self. Now I not only choose Jeff as my driver solely because of fellow workers but the man has proved he is a winner. He did of course have 3 titles at that time and he went on to win his 4th that year. I had choosen the right driver.
 
i have always liked Jeffy for what he stood for after i saw his testimony, how he accepted Christ i liked him!
 
I agree totally with TN-Ward-Fan! Actually Ward's accent was the very first thing I noticed about him. He's a very talented driver and a very caring person.

GO WARD IN 2003!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I became a race fan in 1970 thanks to my mom, and grew up in a family that loves racing and FORDS so naturally I was drawn to the Ford teams. Cale was my first favorite tho I secretly rooted for Bobbie and Donnie during that same time. Anybody that drove for the Wood Brothers was allright with me so I guess that I had formed an allegiance to Teams rather than drivers. When Robert/Davey and the 28 came into the series I was hooked on that smile, the determination of that team and the family ties to racing. . Davey had surfaced as a big favorite tho and with his passing I was devastated and considered not watching or going to MIS anymore. I was at the race at MIS where Davey had to take second to Dale Jarrett, Dales first win ever, and as much as I hated that Davey got beat Dale had run a great race and earned my respect. I laid low for a little while and returned to watching near the end of that same season. I absolutely hated that Robert had put a different driver in that car but I was drawn to that team. And still am. I like Robert's style and DJ's style. I am excited about the addition of Elliott Sadler to the team and still do root for the Wood Brothers drivers.

Kel
 
Tony Stewart. So many reasons.

1. I was watching him run his first IRL race at Indy. While leading, he blew up. The announcers asked him how he felt (frankly the stupidest question ever!) and he told them. Someone not afraid to tell it like it is.

2. Honesty. Which is the frist thing I look for in anyone I associate myself with. He certainly isn't a fake like some other drivers.

3. Sense of Humor

4. Kindness. Alot of drivers have done alot for other people. DE took care of alot of people. Well Tony's the same way, and just like DE he refuses to take the pub for it.

5. He loves what he does as much or more than anyone. He really is a racer.

6. The way he treated all of us when he came up to Minnesota. 10,000 fans came out to a local dirt track to see him. He signed autographs for hours before racing that night. I was already a fan of his, but he was awesome to his fans that night.

7. Everyone bad mouths him, why? Jealousy I think. Even yesterday as I was buying my Dad the old #2 Coke car DE drove in 1980, there was a guy in front of me whinning about Stewart. If Martin only got a fair shake, he would have beaten the punk. Don't even get me started on DJ helping him win it. Then he turned around and saw me in my Stewart get up from head to toe. I was laughing so hard, he goes why ya laughing? I said because your still whinning a month later. Because DJ is the most loyal Ford guy I've ever seen. I go when has Martin come up here? When has Martin signed autographs for 5-6 hours over a weekend in Minnesota? When has Martin come up here and autographed items for donations? Don't get me wrong Martin is a good man, but if your calling Stewart a punk, you don't know sh_t about him :) Typical Stewart hater. He didn't even know Tony was in town. He didn't know about Tony giving Kenny's parents his plane. He didn't know about the kids he visited in the hospital. (Yeah I know alot of drivers do this too!) All he knew about Stewart was his push of a photgrapher (who shouldn't be there anyway) and that Martin couldn't beat him in points. After about 15-20 minutes I set him straight.

8. A northern boy who doesn't cater to just the SE USA.

9. Love his book and fan club.

10. good, clean racer who has arned alot of respect around the garage.

I was a huge Stewart fan before he won a NASCAR title or even one NASCAR race. I'm not a bandwagon guy, I don't root for who is winning. But now that he won the title, its that much more sweet!!

My other fav drivers are: Kyle Petty, Kenny Schrader, Jr., and Kenny Wallace. Like I said, not a bandwagon guy!
 
:) My fav is the 4X WC Champeen. We are both from the same town in northern California although I'm old enough to be his mom. I've watched him grow up, he is exciting to watch and a proven winner.

Saying that, there are a lot I like and if Jeff doesn't win are happy that they did well or won. I do not care for Rusty, Toni, DJ or Rubbie Gordon for many different reasons.



DRIVE FOR #5!!
 
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