Posted on May 31, 2015
CH (MAJ) William Beaver
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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?
Posted in these groups: Nascaroriginal NascarAuto racing logo Auto RacingArmyfb SportsLogo no word s Fitness
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Responses: 15
SGT Frank Leonardo
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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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Sgt Israel Zinns
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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.
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LTC Paul Labrador
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Edited >1 y ago
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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