Hello, and welcome to the wonderful world of Nascar! If you’re a new fan of stock car racing, this is the place for you! In this ten-part series we’ll take a look at what you should and could know about America’s #1 auto racing organization. Let’s get started!
8. PICKING A DRIVER—Who to Root For
While its possible to just enjoy a race for itself, things are much more fun when you have a driver to root for. Here’s the best way to pick a favorite:
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| 2019 Nascar Playoff lineup--courtesy US News |
—First time’s the charm. Whoever wins the first race you see. This is pretty much how I picked MY first favorite driver. Just turn on a race or go to the track and whoever wins your first time, that’ll be your driver for the rest of their career.
—What do you drive? If you have a Ford, Chevy, or Toyota, you could pick one of their drivers for the “home car advantage”.
—Lucky numbers. If your lucky number lines up with a successful driver, pick that driver. After all, the number is lucky for a reason.
—Sponsoriffic. Sponsorships are such a big part of the sport, they’re a good way to pick a favorite driver, too. Maybe you love M&M’s. Maybe you work for Dow Chemical. Heck—maybe your name is Ally.
—All in the family. Its easy to pick the favorite driver of an older relative. But you can keep the chain going too. Maybe your uncle was a Bill Elliott fan, and you can be a fan of Chase. Or perhaps your grandpa was a huge Richard Petty guy—you can be an Erik Jones backer.
—Location, location, location. More than ever drivers are from all over the country. Check and see if any drivers are from where you are from. Maybe you can make a hometown connection.
—Prospecting. Don’t want to jump on a bandwagon? Pick a race and see who’s the best-finishing rookie. Boom—you now have a new driver you can follow throughout their (hopefully lengthy) career. Or if you like to play the long game, pick someone in the developmental series and follow them to Cup.
—Social networking. Virtually every driver today uses Twitter as a way to communicate with fans, with others also using Instagram and/or Facebook. Follow some drivers you think you might like, and you’ll get a pretty good idea which ones’ attitudes and interests line up best with yours.
—Give till it helps. Most drivers are involved in various charities. Find one that donates money (or time) to one that you believe in.
—He’s got the look. If you’re into guys, heck—just pick the best-looking driver you can find.