Originally Posted by AuthorEditor
Dumb question. Never found NASCAR compelling watching, but is there any actual Ford, Chevy, Toyota, or whatever component in the cars labeled as such? Any tiny bit? Sitting watching false advertising go 'round and 'round drinking beers waiting for a crash is not my idea of a good time.
You live in a highly regulated state. Most folks in your area of the country seem to appreciate being told exactly what they can and can't do, every waking minute of their lives.
Can you tell me a roadway in the US where one could take a car capable of running 200 MPH through a 33 degree banked curved and then slow down in record time and run it like a scalded dog for 400 miles like that?
The cars are labeled as a "Toyota", "Chevrolet" and "Ford" because the manufacturers provide enormous support ($$$$) to the teams. No, they aren't using factory engines. No, they aren't using factory transmissions or rear gears. They aren't using factory braking systems, steering wheels or infotainment systems.
If you think racing is boring, I challenge you to go to a dirt track near you that operates on Saturday night. Buy a pit pass, usually $10 more than grandstand admission. You'll get all the access you want to the teams/drivers. Watch them work on the cars. Get to know some, get familiar with what goes on and how much engineering goes into running a raggedy ole car turning left on a hillbilly dirt track. Figure out how much money it takes to do it. I promise you that you will be surprised.
The average late model dirt car running in the Super division (open) will cost between $70,000 and $125,000 to roll onto the track to take the first round of hot laps and qualifying for the night.
They are probably out there trying to win $2500 at most.... They've got $200 in entry fees among the driver and crew, probably in a $400,000 truck/trailer, $100,000 car with $100,000 in spare parts on the truck, 5 shocks on the car at $1500 each and go through 3 right rear tires that night at $200 each.
