Somewhere between the fans of NFL Football and World Wrestling Entertainment there lies a place for fans of what we affectionately called the "round and round" races when I was growing up in Texas.  Almost 30 years later NASCAR has grown into a dynasty of overzealous fans, superstar drivers, and many millions of dollars in sponsorships.  Every season fans set out in a rag tag train of cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles to follow the drivers as they try for points and cash at places like Talladega, Bristol, and Daytona.  A track can be found close to most major cities in the United States.

Many of you still think of NASCAR fans as redneck, stump dump, beer drinking southerners. Now, I have a lot of friends that resemble that stereotype, many of which will shed their shirts in the hot Alabama sun at Talladega Motor Speedway.  These really are individuals who should not take their shirts off in public.  They insist they feel free at the motor sports events.  While we stand aghast, and slightly sickened at their lack of modesty, we pray feverishly that the women they love and that love them will keep their shirts on!  As Jeff Gordon's number 24 car comes within view of the stands after turn two, my friends yell "HIT THE WALL" at the driver who is oblivious to the shouts of the crowd.  However, I am sure the drivers are occasionally blinded by the sun bouncing off the exposed lily white torsos of my friends. 

On my mother's 60^th birthday I took her to a race in Talladega.  She was a race fan in the late seventies.  She followed Dale Earnhardt, the Intimidator, and cried as if she lost a good friend when he was killed in an accident.  We were amazed by what happens outside the race track before during and after the events.  For a long weekend, Talladega is transformed into a gypsy village of driver trailers, fans, corporate tents, and entrepreneurs.  I have never seen so much beer consumed before 10 a.m. in my life.  Over 120,000 people converge on each of these races to hear the thunder of the cars and the watch for the inevitable wrecks that will make the day memorable.

Although a segment of my redneck friends will always follow the "round and round" races, the stereotype is changing and NASCAR is main stream.  Fans can be found all over, even NBC Nightly New Anchor Brian Williams admits to being an avid fan.  Sitting next my buddies in the stands you will find professionals who will pay $100-$350 over the ticket price to rent or buy headsets that will allow them to hear direct conversations between drivers and their pit crews.   If they are lucky enough to get to the race early, they could have even purchased a pass to visit the pits and meet those that make this sport so popular.

Driver Mark Martin and his #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet is the point leader going into the race on March 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  The U.S. Army is his new sponsor since changing from driving the blue Viagra car.  He found that in the Viagra car it was too hard to win.

Middle aged males can be found throughout a NASCAR event.  Are you a fan?  Tell us why.