Are race car drivers 'athletes'?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sun, 31 May 2015 20:58:49 -0400

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?

Response by SGT Darryl Allen made May 31 at 2015 9:00 PM

SGT Darryl Allen — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:00:58 -0400

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.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 31 at 2015 9:13 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:13:30 -0400

Yes...just like golfers are athletes. (The picture is for satirical purposes only....most are athletes.)

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made May 31 at 2015 9:14 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:14:33 -0400

Response by SPC Carl K. made May 31 at 2015 9:22 PM

SPC Carl K. — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:22:10 -0400

I honestly do not consider the drivers athletes, and I do not consider NASCAR a true sport.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made May 31 at 2015 9:24 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:24:03 -0400

Yes they are and if you do not believe me ask Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Landon Cassell, and several others.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 31 at 2015 9:35 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:35:41 -0400

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.

Response by Sgt Israel Zinns made May 31 at 2015 9:45 PM

Sgt Israel Zinns — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:45:27 -0400

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.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 11:55 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2015 23:55:10 -0400

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

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Jun 1 at 2015 1:48 PM

CSM Michael Lynch — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:48:03 -0400

@CH (CPT) William Beaver I am with you I enjoy NASCAR a lot and if you ever watch the personal interviews they do with the drivers you will really hear how hard some of them work out. They do a lot more then people can imagine and there is a lot of force with in that car even with out hitting anything. In my book they are athletes>>>...

Response by SSG James Yellis made Jun 1 at 2015 5:31 PM

SSG James Yellis — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 17:31:48 -0400

I have followed NASCAR for Yrs, even was able to work with a few crews at California Speedway, and I say yes they are! It takes someone in great physical shape to do what they do week in and week out for the long season they have.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 5:21 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:21:56 -0400

I'm slightly amused by these responses. Questions I will pose:

1. Is everyone that has a workout program at the gym an athlete?

2. Are truck drivers athletes based on hours in the seat and miles driven?

Just because they drive really fast for a couple of hours doesn't make them an athlete. I would actually be more inclined to give the pit crew "athlete" status based on what they do during pit stops, but the sad truth is, the car is doing most of the work, not the person in it.

***side note for the heat and weight loss drivers experience--put any fat guy in a sauna for 5 hours and he will lose a lot of water weight.... what NASCAR drivers do is not easy or pleasant, but let's not give them a status based on enduring hardship...

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Jun 14 at 2015 4:42 PM

SGT Frank Leonardo — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 16:42:15 -0400

Been a NASCAR fan 32 years and yes they athletes work,out etc when not driving and what they endore while driving

Response by PO1 Joseph Gardner made Aug 25 at 2015 1:46 PM

PO1 Joseph Gardner — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:46:52 -0400

Whether it is the NASCAR Whelen series or CUP.Try to concentrate for 4 plus hour at temp approaching
150 degrees noise levels at 120 db & much higher.Plus the mechanical work,repairs & season long grind of 15 to 38 weeks length,baseball doesn't last that long.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made May 29 at 2019 9:28 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 29 May 2019 09:28:54 -0400

No.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 25 at 2021 10:01 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:01:56 -0400

Because they drive for a long time? By that logic, the long distance trucker in this photo is an athlete.