Though I grew up in central Florida, just an hour or so away from Daytona International Speedway, I sort of stumbled upon racing.
I touched on this in Tuesday's Feud of the Week feature, but the first race I recall watching was the 1987 All-Star race. I was 12.
I'm not sure exactly how or why I started watching the race. I think my dad was watching something on the living room TV that I did't care for so I went to my room to watch my little bedroom TV. Now this was before the days of 300+ cable channels. I may have had -- at best -- a choice of about 10 channels.
Now the All-Star race was probably the perfect race to stumble upon to make a fan of somebody because it's no holds barred. This particular event would go down in NASCAR's annuls as the race of Dale Earnhardt's famed "Pass in the Grass." I was amazed, it looked like so much fun, all the beating and banging. And I was awed by Earnhardt's determination.
I was hooked. Especially by the driver of that yellow and blue No. 3 car. I just had to see what he'd do next, and he rarely disappointed.
But I was pretty alone in my racing fanhood through my youth. Through middle school and high school I can't recall knowing anyone who enjoyed racing as I did. It wasn't until I landed at the sports department of the Orlando Sentinel where racing was more socially accepted. Of course, it was the sports department, so what would you expect.
To this day though, even though NASCAR has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years, I don't see it as accepted by the mainstream as football, baseball and basketball. I think part of the problem is that -- at least for most of us -- it's not just something you can go out and do in your backyards.
Becoming a race fan is nearly all vicarious. Few of us will have a chance feel what it's like to drive a racecar like we can throw a football, shoot a basketball or hit a baseball.
In any case, I would like to know how you got into racing. Was it just something your family enjoyed since the time you were born? Like me, did you stumble upon a race in your youth and become hooked? Was attending a race your turning point? Just how and when did you become a fan?
I'd like to hear from you. Add your comment below.
