Many times I have been confronted by the question, is Nascar a sport? Well, it is a motor sport. But when that is said some people don’t comply. So let us examine the definition of a sport.

Sport- An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Well, first off is physical exertion. The drivers definitely have physical exertion happening. It is over 120 degrees in the car, and the drivers are in the car for over three hours. Then there’s the crew members. They are some of the most physical men in sports. Just take a look at them. They lift fifty pound tires and sixty pound gas cans. several seconds at a time and several times a race. They jack several ton cars off the ground. So that is a check mark on physical exertion. Oh, and there is the occasional punching match on pit road. That’s physical.

Next in the definition is skill. I don’t even need to explain this one. But I will. Does anyone know the skill it takes to race a car at 200 miles per hour? Add to that how hard it is to pass and bump at that speed. I have raced a go-kart at 30 mph and that was hard. Undeniably that takes great skill. The pit crew also has great skill. Just try to change a tire in a mere 11 seconds. I have changed a tire, and it took over twenty minutes. So that is a check mark on skill.

Next on the definition is individual or team competing against another or others. Well, Nascar is a team sport. And as for competing against others, there are dozens of teams racing against each other every weekend, so Nascar fits that description pretty well.

Last in the definition is the for entertainment part. Hmm, let me see, over a hundred thousand fans watching every race at the track. And many more watching at home. Without a doubt for entertainment. The punching matches previously mentioned are also very entertaining. So that is a check mark on entertaining.

So Nascar fits the dictionary’s description of a sport. Well, that is a weight off my shoulders. Next time some person walks up and says Nascar isn’t a sport, just show them this article.

This article is for every person who has dared confront me on this subject. Mostly to you Mr. Steven.