"Boogity, Boogity, Boogity" - D.W.

This may or may not come as a surprise, but I'm a huge NASCAR fan. No. Seriously. I will sit and watch a race through and through, constantly check the official website and have even participated in Fantasy Racing Leagues for it. I mean I wouldn't go as far to say that I am obsessed or have an unhealthy fixation on it, but I can say that Sunday and sometimes Saturdays can be made better when a race is on.

I can remember watching my first race. It was the Daytona 500. I got so caught up in it. Watching the cars go top speeds, wreck and learning all these new terms was invigorating. However, during my first experience with NASCAR, I was also exposed to the more sobering aspects of the sport. That Daytona 500 was the legendary Dale Earnhardt, Sr.'s last race. Ever. I watched the wreck that killed him. I watched him sacrifice his car (and ultimately himself) so that his son and teammate (a separate driver from Jr.) could go on to finish 1,2. I can't help but see the irony in the fact that my first race was his last. That was 9 years ago.

Feb. 18, 2001 Dale Earnhardt hit the wall head on. The wreck was fatal which lead NASCAR to make major advances in safety equipment for their drivers and fans.

Throughout those 9 years, I have changed and so has my love affair with NASCAR. I followed the sport and it's drivers (and teams) every week during the season until I went to college. I don't know what happened. I would catch a race every now and then, but mostly, I would hear about them from my mom. This season, though, I have been pretty faithful to watching or following the races online. I don't know how I got the bug again, but it's got a pretty good grip on me now.

I think it mostly has to do with introducing my boyfriend to the sport. He would tell me, "I just don't see what is interesting about watching cars go around in a circle." Then one day I convinced him to watch a race with me. Going through and explaining how the cars worked, how weather changed how controllable a car is, who the drivers were, how all the tracks are different from one another and the rules of the game worked, I realized how intricate and calculated the sport is again. Now he has picked out a driver to follow and would even watch the races with me.

Tonight I am writing a review of NASCAR (if that's even possible). This year they changed the rules. The drivers now race for more than points and ultimately the championship, they race for respect. Basically, NASCAR officials are letting the drivers do what they want on the track. This means more wrecks, fights and better racing. We are a third of the way through the season and, boy, has it been crazy. Just the race tonight (Coca Cola 600) there were fights after the race, crazy wreaks in the pits and nonstop action. I like the rule change. It has allowed the drivers to show themselves and not be afraid to handle their business with each on the track. And trust me. They have been taking full advantage of it.

Even though I pretty much am infatuated with NASCAR, there is one little draw back to it that keeps me from loving it. It's the lack of women in the sport. Really, I mean there isn't a written rule against allowing women to drive or be on a pit crew, but there isn't anyone that I know of. Of course, there are women who own teams or report or handle promotions (there's even a Miss NASCAR), but not a single driver or crew chief currently is a woman. Yes, there have been some women drivers to pop up, but you rarely hear about them. What is it about the sport that makes it hard for a woman to break through the ranks? I can only speculate about that. It might have to do with the fact that cars are more of a guy thing (stereotypical. I know.). Then, I'm sure there are some mighty tough walls or ideas that would need to be broken down. But honestly, I don't know.

Shannon Spake

What I do know, is when I was younger it was my secret dream to be a crew chief (the one who calls most of the shoots during a race for a driver/team). I doubt that my dream could happen now. But I would be willing to bet that my dream is not only mine, but it probably belongs to several younger girls. Hopefully, one day someone will rise up and have them change the most famous words in NASCAR from "Gentlemen start your engines" to "Drivers start your engines."

Because of this reason, I can't give NASCAR 5 roses. I really want to. I wish I could.

But do I recommend watching NASCAR or just talk to someone about it?

Yeah. I do.

4 out of 5 roses.