The sport of auto racing is played on tracks and they have cars that run at high speeds on paved surfaces made of concrete and asphalt. The auto racing sport is very popular. However, the sport has a good number of problems, including injury to both the drivers and the pit crew.

The top drivers in NASCAR have been around for a long time. What does a sport mean? What makes NASCAR the only sport where the drivers are not the stars? The drivers are also not considered the best since their focus is on driving. The drivers also are not like football players, hockey players or basketball players because they need to be fit for racing and they are not well-trained on the track. Pit crew workers need to be tough because they need to hold or change tires and parts of drivers’ cars. Racing is also a team sport and pit crew workers are a key component of the team. Drivers need to be well-rounded in their abilities.

So, NASCAR is not a sport, it is an entertainment.

What is the Definition of a Sport?

A sport or game which challenges or tests skill and strength and usually involves a contest of endurance or endurance sports; a contest.

1. NASCAR is an officially organized sport
2. NASCAR is governed by written rules
3. NASCAR is an American sport

If the definition above doesn’t get you to the realization that NASCAR is a sport, then there is no hope for you.

Why Do People Think NASCAR is Not a Sport?

It is Talent, not a True Sport

If you are a fan of motorsports, you will not be surprised to know that there are fans that think driving cars is not a sport. Some people are fans because they have a talent for racing, but some fans have no talent at all. Some people even think that driving cars is only for entertainment, but even entertainment can be done for many professions and careers.

Racing has always been a sport that people have played to see who can win a game. People used to play horse races to win a cash prize. Horse racing has been called a sport so long that the modern term horse racing is commonly used for any kind of racing where the horses are ridden.

The Drivers Sitting in a Car are not Athletes

Yes, NASCAR is different from the other sports. For instance, unlike the other sports, NASCAR drivers sit in their vehicles driving around a short course. The only physical exertion NASCAR drivers do is running to and from their vehicles to get the car ready and to take a few laps before the race starts. It is safe to say that NASCAR is not a sport similar to tennis or football.

The Cars are Doing All the Work

For those who want to see the mechanics do their thing, the NASCAR race track has three different types of races, all with different speeds. The speedway has a 200 mile per hour race, the intermediate race has a lap time of one lap every hundred yards and then there is the short track with a lap time of a half track.

The Competition is Just Driving in a Big Circle

NASCAR is more like the Olympics than formula one. Both events are not true’sports’, per se. But both sport events are’sport’ competitions. In the same way that the world cup of cycling is a’sports’ competition, even if a team from the Czech Republic is not the greatest.

It is Just a Niche Tournament in the South

A lot people have an extreme misconception of NASCAR. They don’t realize that NASCAR has a huge presence on a global scale. A lot of people know about NASCAR only for the Daytona 500, and don’t know the other three races, or other races in other states.

It is Not in the Olympics

This argument confuses the meaning of the word “Sport”. If something is a sport, it is a play in which one or more human beings use their physical and mental abilities to accomplish something. Many people might say that bowling a ball is not a sport, but that it is when one plays for a competition. Bowling is a sport if it is for a competition, and it is not a sport if it is just between two people.

How is NASCAR a Sport?

NASCAR is a sport because it is a competition where the cars in a race reach their destination over a set distance.
NASCAR is a sport because of the rules of the game. The rules regulate many aspects of a race.
NASCAR is a sport because it is a series of races.
NASCAR is a sport because it requires a lot of effort. When the driver hits the wall or spins out, they have no control of the vehicle.
NASCAR is a sport because it is an intense competition.
NASCAR is a sport because it requires skill and physical exertion.

It is a Sports Competition

 Teams work with drivers to develop the best car in each lane to win the race. During laps, drivers work with the team on strategy and when to go to the pit crews for car updates. While the driver is the one turning the car and racing, the pit crews and team are also working together on a strategy to give the driver the best chance to win the race.

Drivers Need to Be Physically Fit to Perform

During a NASCAR race, the driver sits behind the steering wheel in a specially-designed seat that is strapped to the cockpit of the car and has the steering wheel on the right side of the driver. The driver needs to apply all of their strength while sitting in this position to control the car.

One of the Most Popular Sports to Watch

The Daytona 500 is a motorsports race in the United States. It takes place every year at Daytona International Speedway and the season usually runs between February and March. The race is generally one of the most anticipated races of the year. It is the kick-off to the NASCAR season. Each year a different driver wins the race. The Daytona 500 is also called “The Great American Race”.

Pit Crews Need to be Physically Fit to Make Quick Changes

Pit crews need to be the heart of NASCAR because it is a team sport. They are like the quarterback, head coach, and the players. Pit crews need to know how to work on the car and make quick changes. Pit crews also need to know how to drive the car, because they are the only ones that ever go fast for that one spot.

Similar to how a driver has the skillset to drive NASCAR, the pit crew also have a unique talent. Making those improvements to the car precisely without making mistakes and completing the task quickly makes the crew athletes.

Pit crew are responsible for the car’s safety in the pits, and are usually referred to as the “red team”.

Conclusion: Is NASCAR a Sport?

Because of the physical and mental requirements of the sport, fans and drivers will enjoy being a part of NASCAR. The drivers push each other to win races and are the ones behind the scenes to maintain the sport at the highest level. These same fans and drivers enjoy being part of NASCAR.