NASCAR NATION- ALL OVER THE ‘NET

Ya know, it wasn’t always like this for me. My first season of following NASCAR up close started with my little brood of four huddled around the living room watching Daytona. We were treated what still may be the best race of 2007, watching NASCAR’s resident “bridesmaid but never a bride” Mark Martin lead the way, only to be nosed out by one of NASCAR’s “resident rebels” Kevin Harvick at the end. As the two crossed the line, there was new breed racer Clint Bowyer, crossing the line on his roof, but escaping to safety.

As the season progressed, I got more hooked. I needed more conversation, more information about the sport disparagingly known as the “Left Turn League.” I was at Yahoo’s web page for NASCAR, and I see these avatars below with questions and answers. I discovered “Yahoo Answers” in late May. It’s a wide open world in Y/A, with fans who have identified themselves to be as young as 13, and as old as 54. They’re from all over and come in all shapes and sizes. You have your NASCAR groupies who can tell you all the latest social exploits of Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, and Junior. You have your “old school” fans who hate the chase and long for the days of more paint tradin’. Then there’s the “new breed” fans who love their Hendrick Motorsports team that takes a lot of flack from Tony Stewart fans, and each has their own reasons for who they like, and it seems like if you like Gordon, you don’t like Stewart and vice versa. There are just as many ladies there as there are men. Unfortunately, you have your fair share of trolls (non-fans who come in just to make trouble), and a collection of others who just seem to ask the same questions over and over again like how do drivers go to the bathroom doing the race, what number is Junior driving this year, is Kasey Kahne really going out with Paris Hilton and on and on. It’s still fun, but some times I need deeper conversation, and thankfully I have pesonally experienced three answers.

First- I started this blog. Actually, my web logging fanatic wife got me started. She thought it would be a good way to write and express- something I love to do (although some days I’m better at it than others). I will admit to be long-winded, sometimes too long-winded for a message board, and this, in a way, gives me a chance to be something of an online, NASCAR version of Rush Limbaugh. Except I don’t get his money. Still, there’s a need for an interactive format, and I have found two good outlets.

Let me start with “Nascar Drivers Rule.” “Schiz” and “shortnstoudt” have teamed up with several others to make a site full of fun conversation. I’ve seen it truly go all over the place (I mean in a good way): jokes, recipes, and yes, good ol’ adult conversation about our favorite cars and drivers. There are a couple of lively characters there that keep it interesting. Better be careful,the Gordon fans are taking over, BUT there are some equally vocal Kenseth and Junior fans on board.

Then there’s “NASCAR For Dummies.” “Kodiak” and “johnsonfan4ever” have teamed together to create site devoted to newer and older fans alike. Kind of a cool place where no question is off limits, but you can bet it will be a question with some forethought and intelligence behind it, and not the garbage that stirs up strife in Y/A. The owners are working hard to create a great site, and I’m helping them promote it with the button on my blog site home page. They even got me to consent to being a moderator. I’m honored.

I’m really having fun with this. I’m enjoying the opportunity to get to know and share a laugh with these fine people. I speak for all groups when I say that if you love NASCAR half as much as we do, then you are by all means welcome to join us. There’s always room for more.