The NASCAR season is now fast upon us. The 50th running of the Daytona 500 is now in the record books and for years hunting and racing went hand in hand. Is that still the case? I don’t know.
Sure there are a lot of hunters who are diehard race fans, but there is the question, “How has the popularity of NASCAR changed the mix of its fans?”
What about you? Did you watch the Daytona 500?
Nowadays, I consider myself a “casual” race fan. Nothing more, nothing less.
Since the death of my pal, Dale Earnhardt, I have admittedly lost interest in the sport. I used to really enjoy going to the track and watching a race when that black #3 was in the mix, but since that day in 2001, I’ve never been back to a track for a race. I watch the “big, fast” races like Daytona and Talladega but still only then as a “fair weather fan”.
It dawned on me about a year after Dale was killed that maybe I was an Earnhardt fan more than I was a racing fan.
Bill still loves the sport tremendously and remains one of Richard Childress’ closest friends, hence the Realtree sponsorship this past Saturday on the car of Bobby Labonte.
It was a cool looking car and people say that Realtree got a lot of television time out of the deal.
Who’s your driver? Did you watch/like the Daytona 500 this year? Finally, do you think hunters are a big part of the racing fan base? I’d love to know.
Sure there are a lot of hunters who are diehard race fans, but there is the question, “How has the popularity of NASCAR changed the mix of its fans?”
What about you? Did you watch the Daytona 500?
Nowadays, I consider myself a “casual” race fan. Nothing more, nothing less.
Since the death of my pal, Dale Earnhardt, I have admittedly lost interest in the sport. I used to really enjoy going to the track and watching a race when that black #3 was in the mix, but since that day in 2001, I’ve never been back to a track for a race. I watch the “big, fast” races like Daytona and Talladega but still only then as a “fair weather fan”.
It dawned on me about a year after Dale was killed that maybe I was an Earnhardt fan more than I was a racing fan.
Bill still loves the sport tremendously and remains one of Richard Childress’ closest friends, hence the Realtree sponsorship this past Saturday on the car of Bobby Labonte.
It was a cool looking car and people say that Realtree got a lot of television time out of the deal.
Who’s your driver? Did you watch/like the Daytona 500 this year? Finally, do you think hunters are a big part of the racing fan base? I’d love to know.
Hey David,
I have never been a big NASCAR fan but I am a huge hunting fan. When Dale Earnhardt passed away I think it hit everybody no matter if you like NASCAR or not. I did not watch the race this pass weekend but I think that there is more fans than before. Yes, I think hunters are a huge part of racing but I don't know. Talk to ya later.
God Bless & Good Gobble Gobble Huntin'
Kristle Oberlander-GA
PS Hope to see ya at the NWTF Convention this weekend. I don't know if I am going to make it or not.
I kinda know what you mean. But I may have different reasons for being a fair weather fan.
I have never had a particular driver that I was a fan of. I think I was just a huge fan of NASCAR racing. I would love to see the underdogs, or that single car owner with little money have a good day and possibly pull off the occasional win over the big dogs.
But over the past few years the sport has changed so much, and has grown so big that I find I am not as much a fan as I used to be. I still find my self anticipating certain races through out the year. I set aside time to watch the race, but then find that I fell asleep about 50 laps into the race. That never used to happen!
Maybe it has been a downhill slide since the death of Dale Earnhardt. I have a feeling a lot of these changes probably would not have taken place so fast if he was still around. The time of his death definatly seems to be the beginning of the massive change of the sport. I don't mind change, but I like to take it a bite at a time. Its kinda like being raised on meat and taters, then some changes your meals to chinese food. Sure it is good, but I need the meat and taters.
Nice talk'n to ya
Todd - Indiana
David for many years I think hunting and racing went hand in hand. I know guys if a race was on they would be watching it ,but if there was not you would find them in a blind or deer stand. I haven't seen this as much lately. But I do believe people are taking in more live racing events because the crowds are growing. Take for instance my Dad and Grandfather went to their first NASCAR event this past weekend, absorbing into the Daytona 500 and other races. They even ran into several people across the US but to note people specifically from Iowa, Louisiana, and Ohio. I think for several years the NASCAR fan base was the Good Ol' Boys; hunters, fishermen, and outdoorsmen, but because of its popularity I think the faces of the fans are changing. Going on to Dale Earnhardt. Mr. Earnhardt possessed passion in what he did and for that people followed him. He made it interesting to watch. Since his death its kind of like no one has had that similar passion as he did in his driving and as a real person. Many of the things in NASCAR have become to commercialized. In a way its kind of like watching the Super Bowl. Have the people gone from watching the best men use their God given talents to fight their way to becoming a champion or have the people gone to watch the commercials. That's what was different about the era of Earnhardt. People watched NASCAR because they wanted to see a man use his God given talents to out smart and out race the opponent to become a champion. As for my favorite driver I don't have one. As for watching the race no I didn't I was at church. Hope this helps. By the way I received my Christian Sportsman Mag the other day their was a strange looking guy on the front. Kidding, thanks for sharing your passion. Hope to see you on Friday in Atlanta.
Anthony Smith - Tennessee
All I can say is GO JUNIOR!!!!!
Brian -Tx
Big Hello David,
Sorry i haven't commented in a while but the trade shows have kept me on the go. I can honestly say that i know what your going through with NASCAR. When i was a kid I grew up watching "Pistol" Pete Maravich play basketball since growing up so close to LSU we were all fans of his and how could you not be. I followed his career all the way through the pros but after his death i really didn't look at basketball the same. As years past i have come to realize that if it weren't for Great human beings like "PISTOL" or "DALE" that WE may have never shown such great interest or excitement in Basketball or NASCAR. So whenever the opportunity arises to remind my children of people who have made a positive difference in the lives of others i also remind them of how easily it can be taken away. Afterall i hope we can agree that "#23" and "#3" were VERY GOOD at what they did but it's what they left behind for us to cherish is what has made them "GREAT"
I'll be at TALLADEGA watching the race with alot of your co-workers and always look forward to seeing them I know #3 will be there Will You???
Tommy Daigle
John Marshall Design
Facilities/Property Manager
Hey David, I can't speak for all hunters but I do know that I and most my hunting friends are very serious hunters and have no interest in NASCAR what so ever. I know I live in a very different part of the country then yourself (Frederick, MD. 30 mins from Washington, DC) but I can account for dozens of hunters in my area all between the ages of 17-23 that feel the same way about racing. I believe it is because we are a younger generations and have interest in many other things. I have been told by many "older" hunters that I and my friends are "hybrid" hunters. As odd as it sounds to you we don't listen to country music, a red neck is what you dress up for on Halloween (no disrespect intended), and there is NO INTEREST in NASCAR! We are city boys that have an absolute passion for the outdoors and live to hunt! I’m sure it sounds weird to you and many hunters who might read this but I’m willing to bet it’s more prevalent among the youth than we realize. Due to these traits and the interest in other things could mean that there is a smaller following of hunters in NASCAR and may get even smaller in the future.
Hope this helps,
Keith Kellinger
I was a big Dale fan also. Now I pull for Jr. My wife pulls for Jimmy Johnson. I think a lot of hunters enjoy Nascar. I'm a big hunter and I love country music. I think a large percentage of hunters are Nascar fans. I think it all is a part of our culture and I'm not ashamed of it. All though I have met people who thought that I should be ashamed to be a hunter that loves country music and loves Nascar. If that makes me a redneck so be it. I'm proud to be a part of hunting an american heritage.
DAVID'MY NAME IS DARYL WOODS AND I AM FROM PALATKA FLA.NOT TO WRITE A BOOK I WAS DOING SOME GENEALOGY AND FOUND YOUR FAMILY NAME ON MY GRANDMOTHER'S SIDE from georgia the rowell's and blanton's are about 5-7 times kin. my other side of the bunch are some kin to the hershey's and the bear's .I am kin to the the parker's but have my mama's last name for my last name .I FOUND THE EARNHARDT NAME IN N.C. BUT DONT KNOW WHAT KIN THEY ARE IT'S EITHER THE PARKERS OR THE WILSON . IN PERRY FLORIDA WHERE MY FAMILY IS FROM THERE ARE A BUNCH OF BLANTON'S AND THEY AND THE HENDRY'S AND THE ROWELL'S ARE KIN. my mothers last request before she died was to find our family and to try and unite them .dont know how much i can do but i really enjoy yall's show and if you have any info cuz i am on my space lindaryl91@yahoo.com . my phone number is 334-723-3033 and on the subject of dale i was in s.c. the week before the race in pickens picking up nightcrawlers and listing to john boy and billy show when all of a sudden B'C' AND BUBBA CUT IN AND RUSTY WALLACE AND BILL ELLIOT AND A COUPLE OTHER DODGE BOYS WHERE RUNNING THERE MOUTHS ABOUT DEI AND THE LAST COMMENT RUSTY MADE WAS AFTER THIS WEEKEND YOU WANT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEI' THAT SATURDAY BEFORE THE SUNDAY RACE MY STEPSON AND IGOT 3 DEER AND WAS COMING HOME THAT SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER THE RACE WHEN I ALLMOST CRASHED HEARING THE NEWS . TAKE OFF THE RESTRICTOR PLATES LIKE DALE SAID IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IF YOU CANT RUN 200MPH OR ARE SCARED TO THEY NEED TO PUT TURPENTINE AROUND THERE PANTS LEGGS TO KEEP THE ANTS FROM CRAWLING UP THERE PANTS AND EATTING THERE CANDY TALES . ANYWAY GODBLESS OUR SOLDIERS AND ALL YALL TO . sincerely daryl william woods
I am a die hard hunter and I dont really care for nascar. That being said out of all my friends between the ages of 24 and 30 most of them are die hard hunters and the ones that dont hunt a whole lot are the big nascar fans. Only one of them is a big fan of nascar and hunting. If I do happen to watch a race I look for the car with team realtree on it and thats who I pull for.
Scott Withers-Michigan
I think Nascar racing hits a broad spectrum of people that have diverse interest! May be why it has become so commercial! Dale was a true racer. I saw him in the late 70's at Martinsville speedway as a very young and impressionable 10 year old. Needless to say, I was a fan for life. It was very difficult to watch the action that day when we all lost our hero. As for hunting and Nascar, I think with such a diverse fan base Realtree would definitely pick up some fans by advertising on a top race teams car! I don't think racing in California is as good as Rockingham or North Wilkesboro but they didn't ask me!!
David, I have been a huge Nascar fan for years but when Dale passed I had a hard time watching it and finally just stopped. Well last season I watched a race and it got the fire burning again, I quess being a huge fan of Dale I had to step away from it for awhile. All of my hunting buddies are fans also, so I do think it has a large hunter fan base. My wife and I watched the Daytona 500 and decieded after all these years of watching them we were going to our first race this year, so we bought tickets and pit passes to the Atlanta race. We can't wait! Take care.
Scott Brady- Ga.