Progression of the NASCAR Fan: Evolution with Momentum Becoming Self Conscious


When I was little my Daddy took me to the “Stock Car Races”,, it was definitely different than it is today,,,, We, the Fan, have taken strides so large that no one has a scale to measure it with,,,, Let me explain,,


Old Timers


A Fan used to be just a person who watched races, usually when they (the races) were in town or close by,, some had ways or lived close enough to the larger tracks to go there and make us (the Fan) known there,, But, overall we were just ‘Watchers’,, was enough for a while,, a short while, then something happened,, it was about the same time that TV Broadcast Station aired that race,, you know the one,, yea,, that one,,,,


Where the Money Goes, So Goes Big Business


About that time is when the boys in the their big conference rooms started to take notice that these cars racing around, in what they seen was a circle, meant Big Bucks to the ones (companies) who had enough foresight to know they were on a threshold to the future of their very being,, Sponsorship became a “Must Have” for most of the big names in every industry we have,, it touched areas that no one ever imagine,, they marketed towards the Housewife by using Tide and other similar products as a sponsor,, the Beer Boys were not to be out done by one another,, so of course Bud and Miller was there,, a huge assortment of names, products, and Brands were thrown at us so fast some barely noticed that it was the Fan who they wanted,, we just seen racing,,, so then, there,, the Fan become a integrated part of the business known as NASCAR


Progression of Fascination


Today, Years Later, with almost every known event is scheduled around us,, the Fan,, even this, the nascar.com site and every facet that it hosts is for us,,, now,, we are as much a part of NASCAR as any other part,,, tires by Goodyear,,, fuel by Sunoco,, cars from different manufacturers, sponsors that target us,, every aspect,, every nook and cranny is for, about,, and is referenced towards the NASCAR Fan,, so we are a very large voice in racing,,


We Ask, They Give


NASCAR.COM’s community, to me, is one of if, not the best place for a fan,, they allow us to tell them what we want,, then as if by Magic,, it happens,, When nascar.com first launched many years ago,, there is now way they knew how far they would go to see this race through,, a race mind you that many at the time thought was a no win for many but for the developers, owners, and even NASCAR itself,, little did the ‘Nay Sayers’ know,, What they (NASCAR) was if they made it possible for us (the fan) to have a voice,, to, in some way make our wants and desires about racing known,, then they (NASCAR) could use us as a way of self regulating the very sport we know and love,, even without ever sitting in a car or stepping foot on a track,, nascar.com has made sure that we have everything we need and even some things we didn’t know ourselves that we wanted,, till they gave it to us,, now please don’t be taking it away,,,,


Contacts in Time: Acquaintances Made; Window to the World


When I became ill,, after waking up from a 93 day sleep (coma),, I was very hesitant to do anything,,, a friend of mine named Ed Martin from the ONMC challenged me to Cowboy Up,, I took the challenge,, never looking back,, meeting people on line at first was a trial, one I failed at often,, not knowing anything about the web or even how to type, was a tremendous burr under my saddle,, then people like SpeedDiva24,, Raven,, FlippinforCarl,, helped guide me through the fog and now,, look around,, I am as wealthy as Mr. Hendrick or Mr. Childress or any other owner out there,, people who write with emotional talent which leaves no question pertaining to their “Fandom” or love of this sport,, ‘Bloggers’ such as Rubbercatfish,, KarinB, Amp88Guard,, others such as 29thebomb, Frevr3fan, tab1956, and who could forget LuvJGordon, Challanger or CEFan6099,,{no one here can I assure you,, all because we all have the same thing in common,, the one thing that can make us all the same,, NASCAR and the Love we have for it},, even our own community leader, linedrives20 is a Fan,, you can see it in her words,,,, all these people and many, many more (too many to name individually) have put me in the Top 10 Richest Men in the USA,,Yes, I am a Rich Man,, now,, if we can just get that wealth to somehow pay for a Gallon of Gas,, I would be set,,,,,,


Personal Evolution: Disposition Inspection


In my life I have a rare opportunity to both meet and know many people,, Cowboys from my days on the Local Rodeo circuit were some of the best,, many great memories were made,, 82nd Airborne/1st Cav. lead me to the doors of a many new friends that became More Like Brothers than Friends,, Marriage brought both smiles and new friends that have the same bloodline as I do,, Then as many people do,, I concentrated on Me,, What was in it for me or how could I have fun at it,, then,, y’all came around,, y’all,, keep me active both mentally as well as physically, which is what keeps me getting back in that saddle,, looking to my new herd,, here in the community,,,, I have been very lucky,,,,, I have become a Rich Man Indeed,,, men do not know for sure what happens when time comes to race the Big Race,, one can only hope, and Pray,, that when that time does come for me,, or you,, that when that time comes,, we are able to look around,, and perhaps see a Familiar Smiling Face,, maybe,, just maybe,, ahh heck,,, Race Ya!


Keeping the Faith