The Quintessential American Sport

BY JARED TURNER

While most NASCAR fans are proud to wear the colors of their favorite driver, those same fans oftentimes possess an even deeper loyalty to the “Red, White and Blue.” And they show it with patriotic T-shirts and bumper stickers and, of course, by displaying the American flag – a frequently seen symbol at most NASCAR events. Following are four reasons NASCAR is the true American sport.

2 Military Support: As great as waving an American flag or singing along to a patriotic song might be, some drivers take their support of their country – and, in particular, the U.S. military – to a whole other level. One of those drivers is Brad Keselowski, whose Checkered Flag Foundation has been known to raise upward of $450,000 in a single year to support veterans and first responders.

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American-Made Cars: Nothing about NASCAR is more synonymous with the American way of life than the race cars themselves. Built to resemble the cars that motorists drive every day of the week, NASCAR stock cars look more like street cars than the vehicles used in any other genre of motorsports. Appropriately, all three of the vehicles involved in NASCAR Cup Series racing – Ford Mustang, Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Camaro – are manufactured in the United States.

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Patriotic Paint Schemes: Whether for the annual race held during July 4 week or the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway every Memorial Day weekend, patriotic paint schemes are a familiar sight when America’s two most patriotic holidays are nearby on the calendar. These special car designs have historically been a major hit with fans, who tend to buy the corresponding apparel and, especially, die-cast cars in vast quantities.

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Robust Tailgates: It’s hard to find something much more American than a group of people standing around the bed of a pickup truck throwing back cold beverages, listening to country music and playing cornhole while they wait for a sporting event to officially get underway. This happens every weekend at NASCAR races, where fans congregate both inside and outside of the track for tailgating experiences typically of the more robust variety.

NASCAR and the Outdoors Go Hand in Hand

A weekend becomes a spectacle when NASCAR comes to town, and whether it’s through spectating, tailgating or camping, NASCAR and its fans enjoy the pleasures of being outdoors.

While the fans bask in the sunshine and light breezes during a beautiful afternoon, the drivers go to battle in an effort to cross the finish line and take home the checkered flag. When drivers have time away from the track, they too choose to spend it outdoors. Between hobbies that include fishing, cycling, skiing, running and golf, NASCAR’s biggest stars are no strangers to Mother Nature.

Martin Truex Jr.: A self-described hunter and fisherman in his Twitter bio, Martin Truex Jr.’s love for the outdoors began at an early age and came full circle with his Bass Pro Shops sponsorship.

Joey Logano: Joey Logano enjoys 4-wheeling and ATVs as a hobby and spent part of the offseason racing around a dirt path with his son Hudson.

Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch enjoys spending his free time outdoors, in and out of the water, and he rang in the new year by boating on vacation.

Daniel Suarez: Whether it’s through cycling, hiking on trails or enjoying beautiful views, Daniel Suarez enjoys the outdoors and its relaxing nature.

Aric Almirola: Aric Almirola loves the outdoors and enjoys being in the mountains at any time of the year. He spent part of the offseason skiing with his family.

Austin Dillon: Through Bass Pro Shops’ Johnny Morris and grandfather Richard Childress, Austin Dillon developed a fondness for the outdoors and currently spends his free time hunting and fishing.

Chase Elliott: Chase Elliott has recently taken up fly-fishing as a hobby, and he also spends time experiencing the outdoors as a solo pilot.