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I enjoy sports. But when I tell folks I enjoy watching NASCAR and following the exploits of my favorite Stewart-Haas drivers, I'm often laughed at and told, "Racing cars isn't a real sport because it doesn't involve a ball or a puck." And "drivers are not athletes." I beg to differ. Many (but not all) of today's drivers train and diet as an athlete to stay mentally sharp and physically fit for the conditions of driving a car at nearly 200 mph and often intenionally bumping another car into the wall - or hitting the wall themselves. What say you, Bubba?
Nascar
Auto Racing
Sports
Fitness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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The definition of an athlete as per Merriam Webster: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.
I don't think they qualify to be called an athlete as a race car driver. They may be athletic, but their actual athleticism I don't think directly affects their driving. The stamina piece makes me give them a slight nod for sitting in a car for that long, but if they aren't doing all 3 then I don't think I can call them athletes.
I don't think they qualify to be called an athlete as a race car driver. They may be athletic, but their actual athleticism I don't think directly affects their driving. The stamina piece makes me give them a slight nod for sitting in a car for that long, but if they aren't doing all 3 then I don't think I can call them athletes.
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Different sports require different attributes out of the participants. Driving a racecar does not require the driver to be able to run 10miles. However, it DOES require the driver to have very finely honed hand-eye coordination, fast reflexes and the upper body strength and stamina to be able to drive at high speeds for 500miles.
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Yes...just like golfers are athletes. (The picture is for satirical purposes only....most are athletes.)
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I'd call them athletes, although they're not physically exerting a whole lot, I'd say that having the mental quickness to make maneuvers like that at ~200mph takes a good bit of skill. To that effect, I'd call anyone that participates in a competitive activity and is the best in their respective field an athlete.
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Been a NASCAR fan 32 years and yes they athletes work,out etc when not driving and what they endore while driving
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So am I sir, I'm a fan of nascar as well and I get told all they do is turn left. But they are athletes, because in addition to their training outside the car, when they wear the fire suits and with how hot a car gets during a race they lose 10-14 pounds a race. So racing is a sport and I'll fully support NASCAR and all the other Motorsports
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Because they drive for a long time? By that logic, the long distance trucker in this photo is an athlete.
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