So you think NASCAR is all about a bunch of rednecks making left turns? You believe your morning commute on 95 is more trying than any racetrack oval? And what about all those NASCAR fans? Do they keep the RV industry alive year after year?

OK, that was me until last year. I had certain opinions about the sport that were, well, less than generous. Having only been exposed to the sport on television, I found it contrived and rather boring.

That was until I went to the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

A NASCAR race is truly an event. Did you know that just one NASCAR race attracts more people than attend a Super Bowl or a World Series game? And in many cases that is combined! So why do so many people love the sport that so many people love to hate?

Here are my top-ten reasons why you should consider attending the 2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR race. Or try winning the tickets through Casino Connection.

1. Speed. Watching a NASCAR race on TV waters down the impact of the race. Because everyone is going relatively the same speed, it looks like a Sunday drive.

At the track, it’s completely different. When you see the leaders coming down the straightaway at something around 200 m.p.h., it is breathtaking.

2. Noise. OK, not everyone likes noise. But the sound created by a NASCAR race is more than just noise. It’s a deep, gut-churning rumble that physically moves you, another impact that you don’t get from TV.

3. Fans. Contrary to my previous opinion, race fans are a true cross-section of Americans. They all don’t come from the South. They live next door to you in many cases. They’re professionals. They’re knowledgeable. And overall, they’re not obnoxious!

4. Sponsors. Many people complain about the commercialization of NASCAR and lament that this kind of thing is spreading to football and baseball. But for the fan who actually attends the event, it’s great. Getting little goodie bags, samples and logo merchandise makes it fun!

5. Tracks. Like baseball’s Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field, or football’s Lambeau Field and the Big House, NASCAR has some great and legendary tracks. Rockingham, Bristol, Talladega, and of course, Daytona have long and storied histories. The short oval tracks and road courses make each one different. And Las Vegas is beginning to launch its reputation. Last year’s resurfacing pleased most of the drivers, and improvements continue.

6. Cars. This year the three major auto manufacturers—Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler—are being joined by the first foreign interloper, Toyota. While supposedly basic “stock” models, the only resemblance they have to those models is that they have an engine. The cars are incredible and the technology that goes into them may eventually turn up in street cars, making them safer and more dependable.

7. Race for the Chase. This is a recent development implemented to create more interest in the championship run. It narrows the field to 10 drivers for the last 10 races of the 36-week season. While there are still some complaints, they’ve tinkered with the rules a bit this year to make the Chase more exciting than ever

8. History. Like the gaming industry, NASCAR has a spotted past. The roots of the sport are based in the moonshine operators of the south, who depended upon fast and furious drivers to get their products to market. Like Bugsy Siegel, NASCAR has “colorful” founding fathers, but like the gaming industry, the sport is today All-American.

9. Strategy. If you think all they do is point the cars to the track, you’re mistaken. Before, during and after a race, the race teams are applying tactics and strategies that are as complex as they are interesting. From the car design and starting position to pit stops and drafting, NASCAR is truly a thinking-man’s sport.

10. Drivers. What would a race be without the drivers, and the NASCAR drivers are some of the sharpest athletes in the world. The good guys with the white hats (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson) to the bad guys with the black hats (Jeff Gordon and Tony Steward), there is a wide spectrum of drivers. The drama that builds from week to week is worthy of a soap opera.

So put your bias on hold. If you like sports, there’s no reason you can’t like NASCAR. You’ve just read ten of them.

By Roger Gros

Roger Gros is publisher of Casino Connection and editor and publisher of Global Gaming Business magazine, the industry’s leading gaming trade publication. Prior to joining Global Gaming Business, Gros was president of Inlet Communications, an independent consulting firm. He was vice president of Casino Journal Publishing Group from 1984-2000, and held virtually every editorial title during his tenure. Gros was editor of Casino Journal, the National Gaming Summary and the Atlantic City Insider, and was the founding editor of Casino Player magazine. He was a co-founder of the American Gaming Summit and the Southern Gaming Summit conferences and trade shows. He is the author of the best-selling book, How to Win at Casino Gambling (Carlton Books, 1995), now in its third edition. Gros was named “Businessman of the Year” for 1998 by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce.

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