Survey names NASCAR top U.S. motorsports brand
In what can only be described as a piercing glimpse into the obvious, a survey conducted by ESPN Sports has revealed that motorsports fans love watching racecars turn left. The sports network released the findings of a poll it conduted last year gauging viewers' favorite brands in U.S. motorsports-- the verdict? Some 59.5 percent of the tally sided with NASCAR, dwarfing the second place 13.4 percent showing of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) backers. The survey's results were rounded out in order by motorcycle racing, Formula One, IndyCar and Champ Car, the latter of which netted just 1.4 percent.
[Sources: The Charlotte Observer via The Star Telegram; Funnyhub.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve 12:40PM (5/16/2006)
Top 5 greatest pictures ever.
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Jason 12:45PM (5/16/2006)
Considering NASCAR fans, it's entirely possible that the person on the right is a woman, also.
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Howard Kerr 12:48PM (5/16/2006)
Isn't this sort of a "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" question. I mean, NASCAR is now shown on FOX during primetime...but is that because it's popular, or does it help to keep it popular?
I guess it could almost be said that part of NASCAR's current success lies in how well it has been mass-marketed/prostituted.
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GDUB 12:50PM (5/16/2006)
"WOW"
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David Pratt 1:05PM (5/16/2006)
Thanks Tony George for saving American open wheel racing!
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Doogs 1:16PM (5/16/2006)
I blame "Days of Thunder"
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Da wookie 1:21PM (5/16/2006)
Last time i checked, f1 was on speed at some ungodly hour and not primetime...too bad the rest of the world doesnt think NASCAR is good..get r done!!!
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steve s 1:36PM (5/16/2006)
Wow a picture really is worth a 1000 words.
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Corey W. 1:38PM (5/16/2006)
That picture is a classic!!
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Pedro 1:45PM (5/16/2006)
file this under N for No Shit!
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GT 2:19PM (5/16/2006)
To Da Wookie:
F1 is on speed at ungodly hours because the events are broadcast live. The Euorpean races are on at 8:00 am Eastern time and the GP of Japan starts at midnight. I have stayed up unitl 2:00 am to watch. It was well worthwhile. Speed generally rebroadcasts at more normal hours for the weaker fans...
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Ronin 2:41PM (5/16/2006)
Considering the US networks are out of touch with the real world the results are not surprising at all. Speed Channel was too bull headed to air the WRC races this year and almost didn't air the F1 races. Considering F1 is the most watched sporting event in the world it is a pretty sad statement on what the US networks will broadcast.
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mavkato 3:04PM (5/16/2006)
@ #12 Ronin:
Because the rest of the world watches it, Americans should too? Should we also be watching soccer instead of football too?
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David 3:26PM (5/16/2006)
I've been a fan of Nascar, FI, various versions of what we now call the LeMans series, CanAM and Indy cars since I was a kid. I love racing and I even like both forms of football. But I make time for Nascar on TV in a way that I won't any longer for FI.
I do that because while FI is at the cutting edge of technology and it is (along with WRC) probably the most challenging for drivers, the F1 TV show is simply boring. Unless you've memorized the circuit, the constant cuts from car entering and exiting corner to car entering and exiting the next corner leave me lost as to where the cars are on the track and where the competition is. F1 cars are very fast but Nascar does a much better job of showing what fast is on television with fixed camera positions that don't "follow" the cars and with on-board shots. I can't remember the last time I saw an entire lap on the in-car camera on an F1 broadcast. What passing their is, and there isn't much, is often missed on the live feed and shown only on replay.
And how often is a F1 race in doubt as to who will win within the last ten laps barring an accident or a mechanical failure, much less the last lap. I now logon the F1 website and follow the race on Live Timing because I actually find it more dramatic than watching Speed.
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Hung2 3:42PM (5/16/2006)
I BLAME TOM CRUISE!!
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JIM 3:48PM (5/16/2006)
"What you guys think of my friend's new escalade?"
Did you miss a few days of English class, Kennyboy?
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Ronin 4:23PM (5/16/2006)
mavkato - my point is there are a lot of Americans that like other forms of motorsports than just the roundy round turn left stuff. The issue is the US broadcasters don't even try to air other motorsports even though they are very popular here in the US as well as abroad. And who said it has to be an either/or. Give us both Nascar and F1. Give us both football and football (soccer in your terms).
The other problem as David expressed is that the US coverage that is done is terrible. Probably because the US broadcasters don't understand the other forms of motorsports. Look at OLN's coverage of the Dakar Rally. They spent 90% of their time on the US drivers like Robby Gordon. Robby is an excellent Baja racer which lasts one to two days, but is out of his league in the Dakar that lasts two weeks.
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Yaroukh 4:55PM (5/16/2006)
mavkato> Should we also be watching soccer instead of football too?
... one day you WILL be :o)
(and you will be calling it eventually the proper way ;o))
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Joey (Kev) 5:46AM (5/17/2006)
mavkato
Isn't Nascar scripted (like the WWF)? F1 is not. When there is no reason for technical improvements and real competition there is no sport. I couldn't watch a F1 race (boring except for 10 minutes out of a whole weekend) but I wouldn't even consider Nascar.
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Galley 7:56AM (5/17/2006)
Real men (and women) don't drive in circles!
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