NASCAR
RACING IN LOUDON, N.H.!
While New Hampshire may not have any big league pro
sports teams, it does have the
New Hampshire Motor Speedway. And auto racing
attracts more spectators than any other
sport in America. So twice a year, when
NHMS hosts a NASCAR Sprint Cup event,
Loudon, N.H., becomes the Granite State’s
version of Green Bay, Wisconsin—a small
community temporarily transformed by
sport into a Major League City.
The stands in Loudon can accommodate around 110,000
fans, more than Fenway Park
and Gillette Stadium combined. That’s Major League, baby!
The most recent example of this phenomenon occurred
on July 14 when NHMS hosted
the NH 301, meaning that the 100,000 people
traveling Rt. 106 to the Speedway included
the likes of Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton,
and other top
drivers.
I mentioned the event to a friend visiting from
California who’d never been to a race before.
“I am strenuously and morally opposed to NASCAR,” she
replied with a wide smile,
hoping, perhaps to tweak my sportsman’s
sensibilities.
Her “progressive leanings” apparently led her to
believe that auto racing was too loud,
too fuel inefficient, too grandiose, too
dangerous, and too male, among other things.
But when I mentioned I had tickets and easy access to
the track, she changed her tune.
“Well, I was raised by an
engineer/mechanic,” she explained. “I
had three older brothers,
and our nightly dinner table conversation revolved
around cars and planes. Maybe I could
give it a chance.”
“Danica Patrick will be racing,” I replied. “She’s a
girl!”
“Awesome!” said my feminist friend, whom I’ll
forthwith refer to as Non-Danica. “Let’s
go!”
So Non-Danica and I made our way to the Magic Mile.
She was quickly captivated by
the energy and all the people as we walked
through the extensive concessions areas
before ascending into the stands where
she was soon surrounded by around 100,000
of my amicable NASCAR friends. She
struck up a conversation with a couple from
upstate New York sitting to our
right and was given a quick primer on NASCAR, and
the joys of camping out in
Winnebagos right next to the track.
Helicopters and planes circled overhead.
“Is this on TV?” queried Non-Danica, the Golden
Stater.
“Yep. National television. TNT.”
As engines roared to life and revved in the pit
areas, crews went through final checks,
their impact wrenches whirring and
whizzing. Non-Danica’s enthusiasm mounted.
Soon she was sending text messages and photos all over the country to
friends and
family members.
“Wow!” she shouted.
“This is so exciting!”
Pre-race activities included a recognition of Granite
State first-responders, a wonderful
rendition of our National Anthem by Miss
New Hampshire, and an invocation from a
clergyman.
“Wow. I didn’t expect such a long prayer,” said
Non-Danica.
“Hey, this is New Hampshire, not California,” I
responded. “It’s NASCAR. It’s
Sunday.
Live Free or Die!”
A giant bearded man wearing a biker shirt and
carrying a large cooler soon settled in
front of us. He looked back and said
“Who needs a beer?”
Then the race started and the roar of the engines of
America’s top drivers drowned out
the public address announcer.
“Oh my gosh!” laughed Non-Danica, beverage in
hand. “This is so exciting! I’m
so
ashamed that I like this so much!”
During the first yellow caution, when things quieted
a bit, Non-Danica remarked that her
consciousness was suddenly flooded with
those dinner-table car conversations between
her brothers and late father. She also recalled that her attendance at the
high school’s
introductory auto-mechanics class was required before driving the
family car.
“I want to know more about these cars, engines,
tires, drivers, crews, and racing
strategies,” said Non-Danica.
Next, Non-Danica wondered aloud whether car-racing
was a sport, or something else.
The
debate as to whether or not NASCAR drivers are athletes will never end, but
there
is no question that the race crews showed incredible teamwork, changing
four tires
while re-fueling a car and sending it back out in less than 20
seconds.
Danica Patrick’s car was knocked out late in the
race, which Tony Stewart led for over a
hundred laps. But with 12 laps to go,
Brian Vickers took the lead and held on for an
emotional win.
Non-Danica was moved by the spectacle.
“What a thrill,” she said. “The power, the speed, the
crowd, the energy!”
I responded that NHMS would host another Sprint Cup
event in September.
“There is something quintessentially American in all this,”
observed Non-Danica, the
California Progressive and temporary NASCAR fan, who
suddenly reminded me of
Diane, from the TV show Cheers. “It’s a fascinating cultural study.”
We stood and made our way down the stands, passing
our new buddy, the giant
bearded man in the biker shirt, who again asked us if
we needed any beer.
Non-Danica gave him a big smile, as did I.
Next mission: “Give Wal-Mart a chance!”
