How To Be A Better NASCAR Fan

Want to prove you’re a

serious and passionate NASCAR fan? It’s not all that difficult, really. But it is probably going to require more than just watching a race on TV once a month or attending one race a decade.

Yes, to show the world you’re truly sold out to the sport you love, it’s a good idea to go the extra mile – even if it costs you a little money, time and effort along the way.

The truth is, if you’re really devoted to NASCAR and making sure your fandom is on full display, you won’t mind being a little inconvenienced because, well, that’s all part of the fun.

Following are several sure ways to wear your fandom on your sleeve and let everyone in your world know just how devoted you are to the guys and gals who drive fast stock cars and turn left – and sometimes right – for your entertainment.

BY JARED TURNER & AARON BURNS

One of the most revealing signs of a diehard NASCAR fan is often found in the display cases in his or her home. That’s where diecast collectibles – usually dozens and sometimes hundreds, if not thousands, of them – tend to be.

In short, there’s no better or more tangible way to show your allegiance to your favorite driver or the sport in general than by buying 1:64 and 1:24 scale diecasts.

“We’ve always believed the diecast car in our sport is sort of the jersey of the sport,” said Howard Hitchcock, the CEO of Lionel Racing, the Official Diecast of NASCAR. “In traditional stick-and-ball sports, folks collect jerseys or wear jerseys to sort of symbolize their fandom for a particular team or player. In our case, there’s certainly driver uniform-type stuff, but the reality is the car oftentimes is as big of a star as the driver is in terms of the way people sort of connect to the sport. … So, us having authentic replications of the car is a very, very important piece of it.”

The most devoted fans tend to purchase diecast collectibles not only of their favorite driver’s primary paint scheme but of other paint schemes their driver might campaign during a season. With Lionel Racing, fans can even purchase diecasts designed to mirror the exact way their favorite driver’s car looked just moments after winning a race.

Although the larger 1:24 scale cars are more expensive than the smaller 1:64, it’s worth it to purchase the biggest and most realistic version of the car you can possibly find.

Paying a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, is typically a bucket-list item for even the most casual NASCAR fan – much less those who are truly sold out to the sport. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s “Uptown” area, this head-turning 93,000-square-foot museum serves as the ultimate shrine to the history, heritage and future of NASCAR. With more than 50 interactive fan experiences, which include no fewer than 15 iRacing simulators along with opportunities to simulate pit stops and more, visitors can engage in a true race-day experience from the unique perspective of the drivers and crew members they cheer for on Sunday afternoons.

Of course, the Hall isn’t just a place to play games; it’s a place to carefully study and soak up the history of the sport. One of the best ways to do this is stopping by the Hall of Honor where personally selected artifacts are on display paying tribute to the 55 legends currently enshrined in the Hall.

Another can’t-miss stop here is the High Octane Theater, a 278-seat, stateof-the-art auditorium featuring a roughly 15-minute film designed to serve as an introduction to the history of NASCAR.

Perhaps the Hall’s most popular and well-known attraction is Glory Road, a signature exhibit on the first floor featuring a banked ramp leading to the second floor. The display showcases 18 historic cars and 43 current and historic tracks with two ways for fans to walk up and experience race track banking of 14 and 33 degrees, respectively.

“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That’s an old adage in NASCAR, which refers to the idea that an automaker a full 36-race season. Now to the crux of the matter: If you’re a true Chase Elliott fan, why would you consider going – Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota – sells more vehicles anywhere but NAPA – Elliott’s main primary sponsoon after one of its cars wins a race. sor – for your auto parts? If you’re a Kyle Busch

Of course, strategically buying the same kind fan, it would serve you well – and solidify your of vehicle that your favorite driver races on fanhood – to go and buy a pack of M&M’s every day Sunday afternoon or, in rare instances, Satur- or at least a couple of times a week. You can make day night is just one of many examples of ways Busch proud and satisfy your sweet tooth at the fans can express their fandom by the things same time. they purchase. In addition to purchasing the product associ-

After all, every NASCAR Cup Series driver has ated with your driver’s primary sponsors, you can a primary sponsor, and these days, most drivers also show love for NASCAR itself by buying from or and teams have several primary sponsors since shopping at businesses tied to NASCAR’s official it has become increasingly difficult in recent corporate partners, which include but are not times for a single sponsor to bear the financial limited to Coca-Cola, GEICO, Monster Energy, Visa, load that comes with being a primary backer for Goodyear and Advance Auto Parts.

One of the easiest ways to prove you’re a NASCAR fan is to wear merchandise supporting your favorite driver or team. While it’s not as permanent as getting a tattoo, it’s probably a more affordable method for new fans looking to showcase their support.

Fanatics.com and NASCAR.com offer fans a plethora of merchandise options, from the traditional shirts and hats to loungewear, hoodies and jackets, visors and bandanas. Polo shirts and button-downs are also easily available if you’re more interested in what pairs well with a work outfit.

In addition to traditional retailers, race tracks and race team shops also offer lots of swag for fans to wear at the track, in the living room or in the office.

If you’re a Chase Elliott fan, you’ve got lots of options for new apparel featuring the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion – but you’d be well-served to move quickly.

Some of Elliott’s hats sold out on his website’s store soon after they went on sale late last season, prompting a slew of fans to request a warpspeed restocking. He’s the most in-demand of all active NASCAR drivers, but if you fancy one of the sport’s underdogs, don’t worry. There are shirts and hats for pretty much every driver in the field if you’re into the newest gear.

If you’re more like Ryan Blaney – or, you just like Ryan Blaney – go with the old-school option and check out throwback merchandise on eBay.

After all, a Tim Richmond hat looks good on any fan.

Long thought of as

a way for NASCAR drivers to give back to important causes, driver charities are another avenue for fans to show how much they’re invested in the sport. It’s also an impactful way to influence society.

Some high-profile examples of charities include:  The Kyle Busch Foundation’s “Bundle of Joy” fund advocates infertility education, awareness and grants to give opportunities to couples needing financial assistance to have their own bundle of joy.

The group began its journey with the REACH (Reproductive

Endocrinology Associates of

Charlotte) infertility clinic.  The Dale Jr. Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, by providing the resources to improve their confidence and education and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. TDJF frequently partners with organizations including Blessings in a Backpack, Make-A-Wish and the Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In some cases, driver charities were borne of drivers’ families experiencing the difficulties their charities work to overcome. “We knew this was our calling and we knew that there weren’t many groups out there supporting IVF financially for couples,” said Samantha Busch, Kyle Busch’s wife and the co-founder of the Bundle of Joy fund. “We really felt like we always prayed about it and God was like, ‘You’re going through this journey for a reason.’ “Seeing the couple (who received a grant) – it was like a visible weight was lifted off their shoulders when we told them that we would be paying for their treatment. We started working really hard for that.”

While this comes with a big asterisk for 2021 (*depending on track safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the VIP experiences are the perks that most ONMC members rave about. These experiences include NASCAR Cup Series garage tours, entry to driver meetings, the opportunity to high-five drivers at introductions, and entry to the Winner’s Circle post-race. Future plans include providing ONMC members the opportunity to wave the green flag during practice and joining the parade laps during driver introductions.

Many ONMC members become lifelong friends after meeting at tracks and sharing their love for NASCAR. From a social media perspective, members can stay up to date on NASCAR news as it happens and gain access to content from NASCAR’s most respected writers and insiders.

If a member has a question before heading to the track, he or she is encouraged to reach out to ONMC Member Services for guidance and peace of mind. ONMC staff will respond to emails or calls between Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). Web: www.onmc.com Phone: 877-696-2722 Email: memberservice@onmc.com

Passionate NASCAR

fans can express their fandom by joining the Official NASCAR Members Club. Members receive a slew of benefits, including:

Save up to 70% on NASCAR and driver products on the ONMC online store, which is exclusive to members. Get exclusive first looks at deals. The Official NASCAR Members Club can offer the best prices on memorabilia due to its partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers of products and services.

Buying a driver’s shirt or hat shows off your fandom whenever you wear it, but a tattoo lasts forever (unless the driver’s number changes – then you’ve got a conundrum on your hands).

Fans have gotten driver, car and number tattoos for decades, but as the tattoo industry continues to expand, the number of fans who’ve inked up their arms and legs with NASCAR tattoos has likewise grown.

Scott McNew, a NASCAR fan from Monroe, Michigan, has followed the sport since the mid-1990s. McNew has an Earnhardt sleeve, with ornate tattoos of Dale Earnhardt’s No. 3 car and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 machine along with each driver’s signature, likeness and even logos of the Brickyard 400 and the Pepsi 400 covering an entire arm.

“I’ve always been an Earnhardt fan, so I thought getting the No. 3 on my upper arm looked really cool,” McNew said. “I decided to add his signature on there and then I figured, why not just turn it into a whole sleeve with Dale Sr. on the upper arm and Dale Jr. on the lower arm?”

Talk about being expressive!

“Getting a driver tattoo shows how passionate you are about your favorite drivers and it shows that you’ll stick with them through thick and thin,” McNew added. “If there are fans out there thinking about getting a driver tattoo, I say ‘Go for it.’

“It may not be cheap and it will take time to get done, but in the end, it is most definitely worth it.”

It’s going to require

Elkhart Lake Michigan

Indy Watkins Glen

Pocono Dover Richmond Martinsville

some time, travel, money and, yes, patience, but if you really want to show how sold out you are to the sport of NASCAR, it would be well worth attempting to visit every NASCAR Cup Series track at some point in your lifetime.

Forty years ago, this would have been much easier, of course. That’s because back then, most all tracks were located in the Southeast corner of the United States and therefore a drivable distance from each other. Not so anymore. These days, you’ll find NASCAR Cup Series tracks all the way from California to North Carolina and from New Hampshire to South Florida.

If you’re not into air travel, visiting every race track is going to be tough, but let’s assume you’re good with flying. Since there are

Sonoma

Las Vegas

Phoenix Kansas City

Fort Worth

Austin Bristol

Nashville Talladega

Charlotte Darlington Atlanta

Daytona

Miami

just over 20 tracks, maybe plan on visiting one a year if you’re under the age of 45. If you’re over 45, it might not be a bad idea to hit at least a couple of tracks every year, just in case you’re not as excited about traveling in your later years.

However, regardless of how and when you do it, it’s worth every NASCAR fan’s time to visit every track at some point. Not only will you get to experience different parts of the country and see what makes each track unique, but you will make sweet memories with family and perhaps friends while doing it – especially if you go in your RV or motorhome so you can arrive a couple of days early and enjoy the full fan experience.

There are numerous ways NASCAR fans can show-

case their passion for America’s fastest sport. Perhaps the easiest is to be actively involved and engaged on social media, where NASCAR’s foremost drivers, team owners and personalities frequently interact.

Twitter has become the de facto location for NASCAR’s elite competitors to speak to and hear from their ardent supporters, and it’s been a beehive of activity since the 2012 Daytona 500 – when Brad Keselowski snapped a cellphone photo from his cockpit during a red flag. Keselowski’s impromptu photo provided that year’s eventual champion with two things: a threefold increase in Twitter followers, and a $25,000 fine from NASCAR for tweeting during a race.

Despite the lightened wallet, Keselowski’s “transgression” gave other drivers the green light to become more involved on Twitter. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano are but a handful of drivers who frequently post on Twitter after – but not during – their races.

Jumping in the conversation can give any fan the platform needed to jumpstart a new conversation, or in some cases, a new opportunity. It’s where many social media influencers, including “Out of the Groove” host Eric Estepp, build a base of followers who flock to Estepp’s Twitter and YouTube pages for the latest news and informed takes on what’s happening in NASCAR.

Fans seeking to show off their photos, opinions, memorabilia collections and marriage proposals can enjoy the same benefits of increased enjoyment and social media engagement without worrying about a $25,000 fine. Sounds like a good deal!

Naming someone af-

ter a driver leaves a lasting legacy – and can be a very flattering honor for the subject.

Aaron White, the quality engineer for ECR Engines, collaborated with his wife, Leslie, on a special name for their son: Rex, after Rex White, the 1960 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

“Little Rex” was born on Dec. 15 of last year.

“I’m a huge supporter of not forgetting our history in NASCAR and having the last name ‘White’ presented an opportunity that just couldn’t be missed,” Aaron White said. “We were looking for a simple, easy-to-say but also not an overly common name. (My wife) liked it because it checked the boxes. I liked it because I knew the significance and my dad knows Rex personally.

“I think it’s great that we can tie in our son’s name to not only NASCAR history, but history in general. Roots are important to me and it’s great to remember the people who came before us. I’m looking forward to putting a No. 4 on the side of little Rex’s first Power Wheels car.”

For his part, the original Rex White – now 90 years old – loved it.

“In all my years, I’ve never had anyone named after me,” White, a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, said. “I have to say it is such an honor to have my name passed down to someone else. My hope for little Rex is to always be happy, healthy, find his direction in life and make a lot of money.”

• Little Rex White • NASCAR’s Rex White

MY DRIVERS by Jesse C., Salt Lake City, UT

CUP: William Byron, XFINITY: Austin Cindric, TRUCK: Zane Smith, ARCA: Gracie Trotter

Want to really boost

your bona fides as a NASCAR fan? Support at least one driver in all three major series – the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – as well as the NASCARsanctioned ARCA Menards Series.

Now, doing this is going to take some real time, research and commitment since it can be hard to block out just the 3-4 hours a week required to watch a Cup Series race, much less a race in one of the other series. But if you want to be the quintessential NASCAR fan, you will educate yourself on all four series enough to know who’s who in terms of personalities, driving style and background in the sport.

Of course, picking a favorite driver in four series isn’t as hard as it might seem. Consider, for example, that Joe Gibbs Racing has a heavy presence in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. On top of that, one of JGR’s Cup Series drivers – Kyle Busch – is a preeminent team owner in the Camping World Truck Series. Meanwhile, team owner Joe Gibbs has a grandson, Ty Gibbs, who has competed in the ARCA Menards Series the past two years.

So, if you’re a fan of one of JGR’s Cup drivers, it might not be a bad idea to go ahead and support a JGR Xfinity Series driver, one of Busch’s Camping World Truck Series drivers, and Ty Gibbs in ARCA.

And, if there’s no natural connection among your favorite drivers from one series to the next, that’s OK, too; if anything, it may mean you’re just an even more dedicated NASCAR fan.

Fantasy football has

become a staple of late-summer football season preparation, much like how fantasy baseball has been a popular springtime go-to for decades.

Why not try the four-wheeled version?

Fantasy NASCAR has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years, with NASCAR.com, FanDuel and DraftKings serving as de facto stops for fans to assemble a lineup of drivers for every race weekend. The format is similar to other fantasy sports: Pick a team of drivers and “start” the ones most likely to compete for the checkered flag every week.

NASCAR Fantasy Live, a free service on NASCAR.com, enables fans to play the role of team owner by selecting five drivers per race for their lineup. Each driver is given points based on their finishing position, place differential, pass differential, laps led and fastest laps.

If you had Kevin Harvick last year, you probably had a pretty fun season – even more so if Harvick and Chase Elliott were in your lineup.

Fantasy NASCAR is a phenomenal way for fans to not only show off their strategic skill and NASCAR knowledge, but to also make friends (and enemies) by joining leagues, winning races and trash-talking like they’re in Victory Lane with their driver.

Most leagues offer prizes for winners, so there’s often more at stake than simply your reputation as a team-builder. Being an expert fantasy owner can also lead to raking in some cash, as places like DraftKings pay big money to the most skilled and active players.

Many of the biggest

names in NASCAR cut their teeth at short tracks across the country. In addition to catching all of the NASCAR Cup Series races on television – or, at the track – fans can do their part to support the sport’s future by attending races at local short tracks.

Fans who attend local Saturday-night short-track races will also get to see some of NASCAR’s up-and-comers before they reach the big time.

And, who knows? Depending on which tracks are closest to you, you may find an unexpected name in the Late Model lineup. Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott are two of NASCAR’s biggest stars who not only support their roots in racing, but they go one further by going to short tracks to compete against the quickest hot-shoes in town.

While he’s a proud Georgian who’s raced on bullrings like Watermelon Capital Speedway in his home state, Elliott is also a devout Late-Model fanatic who’s spent plenty of time on short tracks throughout the Southeast.

Last December, Elliott nearly became a three-time winner of the prestigious Snowball Derby at Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, a track that has also seen Busch, Darrell Waltrip and Donnie Allison enjoy the thrill of victory.

“It’s important to support short-track racing in places like Pensacola (home of the Snowball Derby),” Elliott said. “Getting to know the crowd growing up there and the crowd getting to know me, it makes it special to not only win but to return as often as I can.”

• Bowman Gray Stadium (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

• Madison International Speedway (Oregon, Wis.)