Monday, October 1, 2007
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Kansas Speedway Saturday was the face of the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. painted on the side of a merchandise bus. While admiring the Intimidator’s strong, thick mustache, a man wearing a baseball cap and glasses stood next to me.
“You know, he’s been dead for years,” the man said.
“Yeah, but that’s about all I know about racing,” I replied.
“Well then, just know that people in the South take him very seriously. Many believe that when Jesus comes back, so will Dale — along with Elvis.”
Right then, a different man sporting a Dale Earnhardt hat walked by, laughed and nodded his head in agreement.
At that moment, I realized that I knew even less about NASCAR culture than I thought. I bet many people don’t know about NASCAR culture. These are a few things that I learned during my first NASCAR event:
— This is consumerism at its best. There are dozens of merchandise busses and many of them sell the same exact things. This really is the most American sport ever. Advertising is everywhere and competition is at every turn. All happening under the good-old red, white and blue.
— Southern stereotypes are there, but not overwhelming. Expect to see a few missing teeth, motorcycles and mullets. Also expect to see a few Confederate flags and know that they aren’t a symbol of racism, but a symbol of southern pride. I don’t agree, but then again, what do I know about NASCAR culture?
— NASCAR has groupies and they have a name. They are called Waffle Bellies. Say it. Let it roll off of your tongue. Waffle Bellies. I, like you probably are, was confused the first time I heard this term. The name comes from the grid-shaped tan lines that certain female fans have on their stomachs because of their short tops, the sun and standing too close to the fence that separates fans from the drivers.
— On the more wholesome side of things, the race included a petting zoo, although the selection was a little sparse. There were only Clydesdale’s to be exact. The reason being Anheiser-Busch’s sponsorship of the Busch Series. Children and adults alike enjoyed the pilsner-provided ponies.
— Racing itself isn’t all left turns and going as fast as you can. There is strategy and team work. The crew chief, spotter and driver all work together to strategically move through the pack. Winning a race is more than just having the fastest car. There is a fair amount of contact and the cars are designed to take punishment as well as dish it out. Closed-wheel racing is intense. It isn’t just watched, but heard and felt.
— Even with all of the extra attractions at the Kansas Speedway, I found that once I took the time to try and understand the sport, it was easy and exciting. Go ahead and attend a race and see whether you like it. If the sport doesn’t really catch your attention, one of the other distractions will.
— Edited by Meghan Murphy
Speedway hosts diehard fans
Fans showed up very early for the NASCAR races in Kansas City ...
Nextel Cup race a spectacle
A NASCAR race may seem like nothing more than 43 vehicles making ...
Montemayor: Don’t underestimate NASCAR
Racing boasts one of the largest sub-cultures in modern America.
Wheeler: Native Kansan seeks bragging rights at ...
Clint Bowyer, an Emporia native, hopes to climb higher in the Chase ...
Busch wins race at Kansas City Speedway
Clint Bowyer, Emporia native, finished fifth in the Busch Series race Yellow ...
Montemayor: Motorized beasts, elk heads highlight NASCAR ...
Sportswriters get carte blanche at NASCAR race.
NASCAR driver makes pit stop to campus
Clint Bowyer, a native Kansan and KU fan, got a sneak peak ...
Five questions
Two sportscasters answer the same questions. See how they stack up.
Border war comes to Kansas Speedway
Sunday’s race a homecoming event for two racers from rival states.
First race under new lights at the ...
Bowman, Keslowski and Johnson won their respective races last weekend at the ...
SAVE the date: Skip dinner and a ...
Skip dinner and a movie and do date night right.
Jayhawk Dirty Talk
Peter speaks to matters of size in the southern regions.
Jayhawk Dirty Talk
Peter expands on a long-running debate.
Q&A with women’s cross country runner Alicia ...
we have a Chat with cross country runner Alicia McGregor on goals, ...
Roelser: Fox College Sports features KU
KU is featured on Fox College Sports’ new show “My Campus.”
Clint Bowyer announces team change at Kansas ...
Bowyer, a native of Emporia, announced Friday that he will leave Richard ...
Unlicensed: A T-Shirt Tale
Meet Larry Sinks, the man behind JoeCollege.com and its controversial T-shirts.
Food Review
Ice Cream
Movie review: Due Date
Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
Colonel Sanders stencil artists don't want to ...
Jayhawk Dirty Talk
This week Peter helps a woman with a scheduling problem.
Cross country teammates rely on one another
The team is hoping to decrease the time between its first and ...
Kansan Departments
Your guide to surviving the week.
Jenks: Webb may be reviving the sport
Track and field star Alan Webb’s first place finish provoked unusual energy ...
Sport Specs
Rowing
Freshmen compete for senate
Freshmen make their pitch for why they should be a senator.
High school sophomore commits to Kansas
Zach Peters is the first player to commit to Kansas in the ...
KU alumnus brings back orienteering
An old tradition of racing through unknown territory is making a comeback ...
Shocking columnist's interests encompass everything
Coxswain calls the shots
Engineering team takes third place in competition
Students competed against more than 60 universities in the Formula SAE California ...
Jorgensen: Royals give fans no hope
For most, the start of the baseball season is an exciting time. ...
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
KU students and members of the Lawrence community raise cultural awareness
Men’s cross country runner makes history on ...
After seven years of running long distance, earning titles such as Big ...
Students, businesses use social media to stay ...
Facebook and Twitter keep students in the loop and in the bars.
KJHK music competition needs entries
Eight bands will compete in Farmer’s Ball to win recording time and ...
Man donates $100,000 for research
Class campaigns for smart drinking
Office of the Provost teams with students to combat binge drinking.
Home regatta to honor seniors
Q&A: Eric Frederic of Wallpaper.
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID