Oct 4, 09:01 PM
People who collect stamps are geeky loners. Only men belong to classic and antique car clubs. Anyone who is a hunter has a heartless soul. The only folks who attend Bible studies are fanatics or the elderly.
All of the statements above are certainly untrue, but unfortunately are believed by at least a small segment of the population. Stereotyping, while sometimes fun when used in satire or comedies, is an unfair generalization about various groups of people. Worse, these generalizations can become outright prejudice, and we all know the depths to which certain individuals can lower themselves to when seized by those kinds of thoughts.
As an ardent NASCAR fan, I am aware of and enjoy the stories of my favorite sport’s history, most notably which began by some gentlemen who ran moonshine. While I do not endorse breaking speed limits and dealing in illegal substances, I cannot deny it being the roots of NASCAR. Whatever it took to bring about the racing that I love on weekends is fine by me.
NASCAR has come a long way from old dirt roads and sandy beaches, but has still not completely shaken that image of being the entertainment for brainless white hillbillies. That Hollywood continues to portray racing stars as characters like Ricky Bobby doesn’t help much, with all due respect to the movie, ‘Talladega Nights’.
A few years ago I was working a table for the Penna. Tourette Syndrome Assn. at the National Tourette Syndrome Conference in Alexandria, VA. We had some NASCAR-themed items donated to us for fundraising purposes and I was so excited at the blending of two of my passions (NASCAR, and Tourette Syndrome awareness). While I proudly stood by the table of unique and/or autographed items, a Hollywood music producer came by.
I asked him, “Are you a fan of NASCAR?”
His response, after a moment’s hesitation, was, “um. No. Should I be?”
His tone meant, “Are you kidding me?” I was so disappointed, but let the conversation go elsewhere. Sometimes you know when to just let it go.
As more proof NASCAR has a long way to go, think of this past Tuesday night’s episode of ‘Nip/Tuck’: Rosie O’Donnell made a guest appearance as a ‘wrong-side-of-the-tracks’ woman who had hit the lottery, and was trying to improve herself by getting some plastic surgery. At one point she took the doctor on a tour of the mansion she had bought and decorated, which horrified him at the gaudiness. He told her she had to re-decorate, and she began whining about it. Most specifically she was worried about her NASCAR-themed decorations and the Dale Earnhardt shrine in one of her rooms. The doctor rolled his eyes like she was insufferably stupid.
Once again NASCAR takes a Hollywood slap. The underlying message of the whole Rosie O’Donnell character was that no matter what plastic surgery she had done, she was born and bred ‘trailer trash’ that no amount of money could fix, and while you could take the NASCAR items out of her house, you couldn’t take the NASCAR out of the girl. I winced at the characterization.
Like the really cool stamp collector or the woman who belongs to her local antique car club, NASCAR fans need to show everyone that they are the bright, compassionate, exciting and diverse people that they really are, and hope at some point that the world catches on.
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barry avery Says:
Oct 5, 07:32 AMHello,
I read your well-eritten story. I can’t believe that as a fan you would offer to changing the appearence of the sport that you love to appease the likes of Hollywood. The only reason Hollywood made a movie “Talladega Nights” is beacuse of the blue collar image. That is the appeal for the story writers in Hollywood. I say keep the image and leave it to the others to accept or reject. The movies will not make or break the sport. The image lies in the eye of the beholder. The fans like to kick back and not have to follow any rules of protocol based on Hollywood.
Sincerely,
Barry
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Mike Says:
Oct 5, 09:14 AMThat kind of needy please love me at any cost attitude is going to destroy NASCAR. I am more than a little tired of the Hollywood and music industry trash NASCAR has associated itself with in the last few years to try and make NASCAR more acceptable to bigoted clowns who cannot get by their narrow minded prejudices about NASCAR and its fans.
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Stephen Shores Says:
Oct 5, 01:14 PMHave to agree, too.
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Keri Says:
Oct 5, 03:51 PMI’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way.
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Mary P Says:
Oct 11, 01:27 AMI have to say, that as avid a fan as I am about NASCAR, I enjoyed Talladega Nights. The people who care about the ridiculousness of it without realizing the stereotypes, are the ones who read the reviews and will read it’s entirely satire.
In fact, that whole movie, has jokes that other fans have made about themselves (wives of NASCAR nowadays, who hasn’t said, ‘I’d bet a dollar she’s with him for money’). Frankly, anyone who believes that sort of movie done by someone like Will Ferrel, who doesn’t have a sense of humor, I’m not sure I want them in the stands next to me anyways. They probably wouldn’t understand the natural ribbing that happens when a Jeff fan sits next to a Jr. fan.
I think that comparison to Nip/Tuck is different. That show directly insulted NASCAR with intention as opposed to a satirical notion like the TN:LoRB.
HeartRacers~HeartBreakers: Banquet 400 presented by ConAgra Foods edition Commercial breakdown for the CTS ‘John Deere 250’ Race
Oct 5, 03:43 AM
one word : AMEN