How can auto racing be considered athletic?

Question

I just don't see it. No disrespect.

Answer 1

btw, I like football, basketball and baseball as well.  But, guess what, in all of those sports, they at least get a break occasionally.

Answer 2

Drivers lose 8-10 pounds every weekend.

They dehydrate quickly

They have a firesuit, helmet on and sit in 125 degree car.

They are very athletic and have workout sessins before and after races. Why don't you go sit in your car w/o AC on with a winter jacket on and sit there for four hours? these guys are very athletic. Even their pit crew members are athletic. Watch a race and see for yourself.

No Offense but football and basketball are games not sports

NASCAR is a sport

Answer 3

They have a firesuit & helmet on & sit in a VERY hot car for about 4 hours.

They have to stay in shape & work out ALOT.

it takes alot of strength & stamina.

how about you get into one of the cars & see how you feel during & especially after the race...i can garantee you'd feel whipped.

Even their pit crews are athletic....the tires are heavy & they have to be quick too.

watch a race & actually learn some stuff.

Answer 4

No disrespect taken. Here is a great article explaining how Nascar drivers are athletes. Have a great day!

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4243400/

Answer 5

A person who was not in great shape certainly could not handle what they go through during a race.  They go through lots of mental and physical strain in completing a race.

Answer 6

You need to have the skill and athletism {sp?] to drive a 800 horsepower racecar that goes 180 mph+ in 140 degrees every weekend for four hours. You also need to know the parts of the car, what they do, and how to fix them to make your car better.

Answer 7

They are in a car 4-6 hours at a time they get very little water, no restroom breaks, no halftime like the other sports. It's go-go-go there is no stopping unless there is a red flag. You imagine driving in a cramped race car going 200 mph around and around for hours.

Answer 8

You try driving for 4 hours in 140 degree heat and tell me if you have to be athletic. No offense.

Answer 9

Of football, basketball or baseball, in which of these sports can one mistake cost you your life?

I also agree with most of what everyone else here is saying.

I would call race drivers a daredevil athlete.

Young Gun Mike Said:

Drivers lose 8-10 pounds every weekend.

Which brings up a good point, since Race Drivers are smaller in stature, this consists of about 5% of their body weight or more!!!  A 350 lb lineman would have to lose twice that amount (16-20 lbs) to compare.

Answer 10

young gun mike i agree with everything except, drivers have cool air pumped into their helmets. also Football and basketball are sports. They all have to be in physical shape. also football, they play in any weather. in nascar it sprinkles and the race is over. Nascar drivers do get a little break, its called caution. Its not much but its something.

Answer 11

You said no disrespect, so that is all that will stop me from storming off at you.

I'm just gona say get in one of those cars and see how athletic it really is. Not as athletic as other sports, but trust me. Those drivers ARE doing something in there.

Answer 12

Try driving the 500 mile races in the summer. 3 1/2 -4 hours, 140 degrees F inside the car, (the cool suit helps, unless it fizzles out or they have to turn it off), at up to 205 mph within inches of 42 other cars.

Not a problem.. Simple.

Answer 13

Because they have the talent to drive a 850 horsepower machine at 130-140 degrees for 4 hours. Plus, they lose a lot of weight every race.

Answer 14

They also have one of the longest and roughest seasons of any sport. 36 races is alot. Granted baseball and other sports have more games they dont play week after week for months on end. They generally get 1 week off a month. Nascar drivers get what 2-3 weeks out of the entire season. They have to travel acrossed the country every week (except for those rare none-race days and even then some still race).

The racing itsself is pretty rough. 4 hours per race not including the practices (depending on how the car is can be anyhwere from an hour total to a few hours), qualifying the car, practice (is generally 3-4 hours), and all the sponsorship deals and fan events.  The cars are 100+ degrees, get some water but not alot, get some cool air enless the power starts draining then your s.o.l. there. You cant get up and walk around, if you have a cramp no one will come massage it for you, and no bathrooms so you gotta hold it in for 4 hours not including the redflag. Most other sports your not staring death in the face for 4 hours...that can s***w with the mind. And alot of the racers are extremely fit. Carl Edwards is probably the most fit out of the racers and he runs every single day. I see alot of baseball and football players that are rounder around the waste than tony stewart and he is probably one of the chunkiest racers in the sport.

Also if you look at other sports compared to nascar, racers are still very underpaid for what these guys do. Other athletes are able to be at home and spend time with family alot more than a racer is able to.

Answer 15

Who cares and who said it was?  It takes a certain amount of athleticism, endurance and strength to be one of the best drivers in NASCAR.  We are OK if you don't think so or don't get it, what's your point?  BTW, there are no timeouts or halftimes in racing.

3 STR8 N 08!!!