Qustion: IS NASCAR REALLY A SPORT?

[TRITON4ME]

Ok, I want to settle this once and for all: In your opinion, Is NASCAR a sport? Yes or No and Why? or Why Not?

I just want to know what you guys think

ALSO IMPORTANT: The word "red-neck" shall not be used AT ALL in this thread! Remeber: this is not a war, it is just simply a group discussion of opinions! Just state your opinion and do not criticize any of the previous posts because you disgree with it.

 

[ogryn]

If F1 and WRC are sports, then NASCAR is also a sport... just not a very challenging one

 

[barnum42]

I don't think any form of motor racing is a sport.

A competition or game, certainly but not a sport.

I still enjoy watching it, but not so much the oval stuff - not that we get that over here - or the parade the F1 has become.

 

[Erika]

I'm torn. I understand that it takes a lot of skill, hard work and most of all bravery but I still don't think I'd classify it as a sport. I have to give props to the drivers, though. You'd never catch me doing that

Along the same lines: horse racing, no, polo, yes.

Edit- I guess it would fit under the 2nd and 3rd definitions.
I still say no


port Audio pronunciation of "sport" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt)
n.

1.
1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.
4.
1. Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks.
2. An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport.
3. A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport.
5.
1. One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport.
2. Informal. One who accepts rules or difficult situations well.
3. Informal. A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip.
6. Informal.
1. A person who lives a jolly, extravagant life.
2. A gambler at sporting events.
7. Biology. An organism that shows a marked change from the normal type or parent stock, typically as a result of mutation.
8. Maine. See summercater. See Regional Note at summercater.
9. Obsolete. Amorous dalliance; lovemaking.

 

[ogryn]

9.Amorous dalliance; lovemaking.

Umm... OK :lookaroun

Is that a sport too? :drevil:

 

[wannab@dis]

Of course it's a sport. It requires skill, techniques, physical fitness and meets the requirements based on the definition that Erika posted. I have no doubt that most people would not be able to competively finish a nascar event. They wouldn't have the endurance!

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

I vote no. It's a game using a vehicle to propel a contestant (driver) to a victory. I also view the following as games and not sport: golfing, bowling, horseracing (except for the horse), fishing.

 

[wannab@dis]

I vote no. It's a game using a vehicle to propel a contestant (driver) to a victory. I also view the following as games and not sport: golfing, bowling, horseracing (except for the horse), fishing.

All of your "non-sports" involve skill sets and rules. When used competively, it can be defined as a sport. If you are just going out for the evening to bowl, then I wouldn't consider it a sport. But if you bowl in some league, then I would think it was a sport.

 

[diz420]

YES. End of story. Why limit this to NASCAR I can think of a whole list of sports, err.....not sports.

 

[wdwhoneymooner]

All of your "non-sports" involve skill sets and rules. When used competively, it can be defined as a sport. If you are just going out for the evening to bowl, then I wouldn't consider it a sport. But if you bowl in some league, then I would think it was a sport.

Point taken and I agree: If any activity were placed in a competitive league of some sort, then it may be considered a sport. But still, I wouldn't consider cooking (Iron Chef), baking (Pillsbury bake-offs), painting/drawing, or poetry writing sport. And I think we can agree all of the above require skill and some rules to follow.

BTW - I used to belong to both a golf and bowling league and I can tell you that many didn't have the body of an athlete. :lol:

 

[tigsmom]

Umm... OK :lookaroun

Is that a sport too? :drevil:

Well, it does require skill.... :lookaroun

I'm voting No. I'm a fan of car racing and have been to my share of races on the dirt oval. It requires skill, but I don't think I'd call it a sport.

 

[TRITON4ME]

Alright I'm gonna thorw in my two cents:

NASCAR: NOT a sport

Golf: IS a sport, you try it, it is much more difficult than what you see on TV

Bowling: Is a sport, requires strength and very good muscle cordination

Just my opinion though

 

[diz420]

NASCAR is a TEAM SPORT

It does have Teams. I do think it is a team sport. The driver's can not do it alone.The pit crew is fit and ready to go. They do pratice. Have coaches and all the rest. It is not driver vs. driver but Team vs. Team.

 

[Gucci65]

Normally I would say Nascar is not a sport, its a car race period.

BUT since you say bowling is a sport then I had to change my answer.
"bowling requires strength and muscle coordination".

Okay Nascar also requires strength (you try turning left for 3 1/2 hours), strength of bladder & bowel (for the ability to sit in a car for that length of time). It also requires excellent hand & eye coordination. At 200 mph you have to know the limits of your equipment and lets not even talk about how they get thru a massive wreck unscathed. Nascar is 80% skill & 20% luck.

I spent many years at Nascar events (ex worked security in Atlanta Motor Speedway for the races). Most of the drivers today consider themselves athletes and keep fit in order to endure the weekly wear & tear on their body.
Check out Mark Martin.

 

[Enderikari]

Heck everything is a sport nowadays, someone asked me if I thought poker (the only "sport" I participate in with any regularity) was a sport, since it was being shown on ESPN. Of course not, its a mind game....

 

[Lauriebar]

It does have Teams. I do think it is a team sport. The driver's can not do it alone.The pit crew is fit and ready to go. They do pratice. Have coaches and all the rest. It is not driver vs. driver but Team vs. Team.

You have a point. My take on the debate is this...In so much as NASCAR drivers/teams do compete to win in a somewhat physical challenge against each other it can be considered a sport. However, it should not be compared with traditional ball sports because the level of athleticism required for basketball, football, soccer, etc. is so much higher than that of a NASCAR driver/team.

One other factor to be considered is that in NASCAR a large part of a driver/team's success can be attributed to their car and engine. Traditional ball type atheletes can only rely on their own bodies for success.


I do not doubt or question the commitment of a NASCAR driver/team to his sport but, commitment and athletic ability are not neccessarily interchangeable.

 

[Legacy]

It's a sport. Just because it doesn't involve a ball doesn't mean it's not a sport.

According to the definention highlighted by Erika, I would definitely say that Nascar Racing is a sport. I know as an athlete, I probably would not have the mental and physical traits to make me an effective racer. Those drivers and teams put a great deal of mental, physical and technocal effort into what they do. If Nascar isn't a sport... than is cheerleading a sport?

 

[TRITON4ME]

It's a sport. Just because it doesn't involve a ball doesn't mean it's not a sport.

According to the definention highlighted by Erika, I would definitely say that Nascar Racing is a sport. I know as an athlete, I probably would not have the mental and physical traits to make me an effective racer. Those drivers and teams put a great deal of mental, physical and technocal effort into what they do. If Nascar isn't a sport... than is cheerleading a sport?

Excellent Point! Lets do this: Everyone define what you think a sport is? This is your opinion and shouldn't be taken from Websters. THAT'S RIGHT CLOSE THE DICTIONARY!

 

[Lauriebar]

It's a sport. Just because it doesn't involve a ball doesn't mean it's not a sport.

I was using ball sports as an example. I didn't mean a sport had to involve a ball. Please reread my post, I do believe that NASCAR should be considered a sport. My arguement is that it is not in the same catagory with other sports(some which involve a ball) because of the different level of atheticism involved. It isn't a fair comparison.

 

[Not For Sale]

Well by the defenition it says recreation (I don't remember the exact words). Recreation is an amusement or pastime. I come on here for recreation. Does that make going on WDWMagic a sport?