Nascar, or any high speed competitive racing requires physical stamina and endurance which is part of the definition of an athlete. That “and” the fact that it is highly competitive with large amounts of money on the line makes it a sport. Poker and chess for that matter is not a sport, it is a game, because it involves “mental” endurance only, not physical endurance.

———

You first, champ.

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/6789712/nascar-golden-tate-coming-drivers-athletes

Oh, and Race car drivers as a whole are much better athletes than football players are.

Just review the results from the American College of Sports Medicine report from 2002.

http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home_Page&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=4285

Then come back an appology about your ignorance.

There is a difference between sports and athletics…….race-car driving IS a sport……it is NOT athletics…..basketball & football are athletics…..and yes, a sport………but athletics ARENT required for something to be a sport. Bowling, golf, skeet-shooting, hunting, racecar driving are ALL sports…not athletics!!!!!!!!!!

Stop saying something is not a sport because you dont have to be an athlete……..WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

Sorry Nascar homers….its not a sport…its what guys do who have limited athletic ability.

boom!

Nope sorry, body mass index doesn’t define ones athleticism. Bottom Line, you sit in a car and go around in a circle. Any way you slice it, it’s not a sport, nor are they athletes. Ping Pong players are more athletic than NASCAR drivers.

NASCAR had an “athlete” busted for using meth. Freaking meth?

Thats almost the same as getting crushed by ray lewis twice a lap. When they crash they can take a split second of 20-30 g’s. And it does get up to 120 degrees inside the car during the race.

At least have to respect the guys.

—————————————————————————————-

Golfers aren’t athletes either and neither are drivers. John Daly can barely WALK 18 holes without looking like he’s going to start flopping like a flounder. Tom Watson, a senior citizen can still compete with the young guys. Golf is not a sport. It’s a game. Just because it’s popular doesn’t make it a sport.

Also, fat lineman ARE athletes…….they aren’t chiseled athletes like a Terrell Owens but they are still athletes…they train with weights…they ARE strong (which they need to be for their sport) and they do have (at least to some degree) some cardio training…

Those of you who say you have to be fit, Pat Williams isnt exactly the most chiseled bodied specimen out there. Ortiz on the Sox looks pretty hefty, Tony Gwynn didnt exactly light the scale on fire.

Those of you who think its merely sitting in a seat and driving on a freeway, you’re as ignorant as they come. Perhaps they don’t fit your definition of an athlete, or a sport, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fit (95% of them anyway) and is no different than many other sports in the same way.

In fact if you wanted to go the body mass route, only soccer and basketball would be considered sports, but even in basketball you see some heftier guys (yeah you Shaq).

Oh, and about the whole alcohol deal, more fights break out at baseball and football games than at a NASCAR even which houses more people at each venue then a football and baseball game combined.

Suck on those facts.

The end is on the horizon however. As it’s growth continues, does anyone really believe the coolers of beer will be continued to be allowed?

Of course not. The track owners will see all the potential $7 beer sales and move to take full advantage.

For those of you not familiar with the sport, imagine strapping yourself in a machine for 3 straight hours, over 100 degree heat, keep your focus and attention at 100% for those three hours except for the occasional caution flag.

Those guys are exhausted when they get out, even top-shape guys like Edwards.

NASCAR is definitely competitive, but you definitely don’t have to be a professional-level athlete all around to make it in that sport.

Same goes for bowling…

*******************************************

AND GOLF!!!

I think they’re athletes. There are no overweight slobs driving on sleep apnea in NASCAR.

If NASCAR drivers aren’t athletes, neither are golfers. Tiger Woods is not an athlete.

Go fast, turn left!

If driving a car at 150mph and maintaining control of it as other drives try to shunt and overtake you isn’t a sport, you go and do it.

Let’s see how long you last.

My reckoning is less than half a lap before you crash.

Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks!