It’s More Than Four Left Turns for 500 Miles

Matthew Blazofsky | Writer

Photos taken by Matt Blazofsky

Many people will say NASCAR is “boring,” or that “it’s just cars going in circles for hours," but it's much more than that.

I was introduced to cars and racing at a young age. My father is a mechanic and avid NASCAR fan, so it was natural for me to gravitate to those things as a kid. At the age of 4, I got my first race car and started dirt track racing weekly. I also started watching NASCAR and dirt track races every weekend.

After competitively racing for 12 years until the age of 16 and going to watch plenty of races with my dad, I saw behind the scenes of the racing world. 

The hours spent in the shop working on the car, cleaning it, adjusting the setup, and planning for the next week. Traveling across the state or country weekly to different speedways. The time spent at and on the track testing the car and setup. Trying different pit strategies to gain a competitive edge. The physical and metal strain on the driver throughout the race. Going over 100 mph inches apart from another car and not crashing. The heartbreak of defeat. The pain of a violent crash. The champagne shower after a win.

So, the next time you see a race on TV or hear someone talking passionately about NASCAR, remember it’s more than four left turns and cars going in circles.