[Shotimes] (OT) Re: NASCAR numbnuts

[Mark Nunnally]

> I'm stunned anyone would ever refer to NASCAR as "Real Racing."  It's
racing
> alright, but it damn sure doesn't deserve a title like that.  You're still
> only making left turns.

Left turns are easy.  Left turns hanging it on the ragged edge lap after lap
aren't.  Please, show of hands here from those who comment "it's not hard"
who have been on an oval, while on a lap timer, headed off into a corner at
well over triple digits with a concrete wall in your face.  Trust me, it's
hard.

I'd much rather be on a road course but I've been on enough ovals to know
it's tough to go really quick lap after lap, taking care of your stuff and
not burning the RF tire off it, hitting your marks, etc.

>It requires skill, but not any kind of skill that
> has anything to do with handling of a vehicle in varied driving
conditions.
> I guarantee you put a NASCAR boy in the WRC he'd flip his car in less than
5
> mins, hit a tree, or mow down a bunch of those idiot spectators that stand
> like 5" from a hairpin in the rain.

Don't forget a lot of the NASCAR guys come from (winning) 800 hp 1100 sprint
cars on dirt.  If you can drive one of those fast, you can drive anything
fast.  Jimmie Johnson and R. Gordon both raced (or raced) off road trucks on
dirt, most of those guys come from all different series, they are plenty
skilled.  The NASCAR ranks are littered with driver's of similar
backgrounds, plenty of skill, regardless of if you like the series or not.

I'm not defending NASCAR as a series BTW, were it up to me I'd change a
bunch of rules, but don't take anything out on the drivers (of any series).
They are all Pro's, Trust me, they'd blow your doors off in any car.
There's a reason they are out testing at 180 mph today while you are writing
emails on your computer, and it's not because you have more skill.

>But what do you expect, the
> game has nothing to do with actual driving ability.  It's about efficient
> fuel usage, drafting, pitting at the right time, the correct outfit of
your
> vehicle for conditions, and not hitting other cars or the wall.

You've obviously never been on a track in any car related race event, as
you'll soon learn it's more than just jumping in a seat and putting in a
fast lap.  It's consistancy, and including being able to do all the above.
There is a lot involved in racing than driver skill, and it's the good teams
and driver's who do ALL of the things well, that are champions and winners.

mark