One night a few weeks ago, a friend was trying to explain the popularity of NASCAR, otherwise known as the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. Rather, this friend was trying to explain the reasons for that popularity, because I’ve never quite understood why people think that watching a bunch of advertisement-plastered cars going in circles (or ovals) was at all entertaining or exciting.
“Couldn’t I just sit on a Dan Ryan Expressway embankment and get the same sort of thrills?” I asked, admittedly adding fuel to the discussion.
“The numbers don’t lie,” said our friend.
She had a good point: Since the start of the decade, annual attendance at NASCAR races has increased fivefold, to 6.2 million. The average crowd at races, which usually take place on Sundays, is a stunning 150,000 to 300,000.
The “sport” (and its “stars,” such as Jeff Gordon) is so popular that it has spawned a syndicated comic strip and editorial cartoon.
It has, on an even bigger scale, been the reason for the birth of three weekly newspaper supplements.
One, Track & Speed, is produced by locally based Thompson Target Media and is distributed to some 30 papers nationwide.
There are all sorts of theories to explain the boom. Beth Kujawski, who used to work at the Tribune and is now editor of Track & Speed, offers this: “The drivers are accessible to the fans. They give autographs. I think a lot of people are disgruntled with big-business athletes in baseball, football and basketball.”
Solid theory.
But I still don’t get it.
