C.W. Nevius in the SF Chronicle provides a Bay area view of the rise of NASCAR as a spectator sport in: NASCAR RISING - Why are sports' newest superstars paunchy white men? And how did they take over your TV? But there's lots of amusement among the angst-laden, liberal handwringing about "diversity":
In some ways, the Bay Area is the test tube for it all. There is no more unlikely place for the rise of a Southern-based, self-proclaimed "redneck" recreation than sophisticated San Francisco. Sure, every major sport would like to have a presence in the fifth-largest population center in the United States, but isn't NASCAR a better fit somewhere more removed than the Napa- Sonoma vineyards?I'm sure that's a shock for the oh-so-sensitive ones.
"It probably didn't seem like a very good idea at the time," says Waltrip. "But part of the (sponsorship) deal with Winston was we had to have a race on the West Coast."
So, because no high-speed racing oval existed, one was dropped down here in 1989. The race itself was a strange hybrid in which the drivers horsed their big, lumpish sedans up and down the twisty, hilly road course of what was then Sears Point. It looked like elephant ballet.
But to the surprise of nearly everyone, it has turned into a traffic- clogging, campground-filling sensation - a Wine Country Woodstock. When the Dodge/Savemart 350 happens at Infineon Raceway (June 22), a little city springs up in the RV parking lot, complete with a temporary supermarket.
"It's like North Carolina has been plopped down in the Wine Country for a week," says Lasseter.
Lasseter, the Bay Area filmmaker, recalls a pilgrimage back to the famous Charlotte track. Although he watched most of the race from the owner's box, he was also escorted into the vast infield and taken to a small rise known proudly as "Redneck Hill."Yep, a shock indeed.
"They introduced me to a guy they said was the mayor of Redneck Hill," Lasseter said. "He said his name was "Mater." I said, "Excuse me?' He said, 'Mater. You know, like Toe-mater without the Toe.' They were the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. They're just glad you're here."
Ole C.W. also has some thoughts on NASCAR's appeal:
There's also the possibility that what is going on is less about race and more about the perception that wealthy professional athletes in traditional American sports have come to see themselves as rock stars.Ya think?
ESPN Magazine, for example, is cutting edge in the world of sports but is definitely playing to a young, urban mentality. A recent cover story on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick didn't show him throwing a pass or avoiding a tackle. Vick, by most accounts a pleasant and personable fellow, was decked out in black leather and heavy silver jewelry, standing in the dark street in front of a black Cadillac, practicing his rap star scowl.
That may be perfect for ESPN's youthful audience, but to the work-a-day daddy in the middle class, a picture like that - or the sight of an elaborately tattooed NBA player such as Allen Iverson - looks like a postcard from a parallel universe.
There is also a school of thought that says the average fan is finding it harder and harder to identify with today's athletes physically.Well yee haw! Much more by following the link.
"We have," says Page, "a collection of personalities that people can relate to. They don't seem to be genetic freaks."
The 370-pound football linemen, 7-foot-6 basketball centers and steroid- pumped home-run hitters look nothing like anyone the average couch potato has ever encountered. Meanwhile, NASCAR drivers look like the guy next door.
"Some of them are kind of portly old guys," says Lasseter. "There's a real cross section."
