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• NASCAR

  Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008 3:51PM / Standard Entry / Members only
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  I was blown away by my first NASCAR experience last week in Las Vegas.  I have seen NASCAR races on TV, but nothing can compare to 170,000 screaming fans on their feet cheering for their drivers.  They even drown out the roaring engines of over 40 super souped up "stock cars".
  
  The race covered 400 miles on a 1.5 mile oval course which means 267 laps.  The average speed was 170 mph.  Cars were crashing into walls and each other.  Surprisingly, all the drivers walked away a little shaken up but otherwise unhurt.  Why can't our cars be safe like that?
  
  Stock cars racing started in the 1930s when country folks were running moonshines.  They souped up their cars to out run the police.  Nowadays, the cars are altered so much that they bear little resemblance to the "stock" they come from.  It is a big business and a sub culture that is no longer limited to the rural South.  Some of the fans came all the way from Canada and Europe.  It is a high testosterone and beer chugging crowd.  A true slice of Americana.