Poll of the Day > Is NASCAR a sport?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I won't give out names but there was a guy on another board claiming NASCAR is NOT a sport, I disagree. If you think its not a sport, read this: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/34488-once-and-for-all-why-nascar-is-a-sport
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lol.
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Yes, but it's essentially a semantics argument.
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NASCAR, in itself is not a sport.

Auto racing is the sport. More specifically, stock car racing. So one could like the sport of auto racing and like to watch NASCAR races, just as one might like football, and like to watch NFL games. Sports are probably a blend of athleticism, competition, and strategy.

Here's the first paragraph taken directly from the Wikipedia page for "Sport":

"Sport includes all forms of competitive
physical activity or games which, through
casual or organised participation, aim to use,
maintain or improve physical ability and skills
while providing enjoyment to participants, and in
some cases, entertainment for spectators.
Usually the contest or game is between two sides,
each attempting to exceed the other. Some sports
allow a tie game; others provide tie-breaking
methods, to ensure one winner and one loser. A
number of such two-sided contests may be
arranged in a tournament producing a champion.
Many sports leagues make an annual champion
by arranging games in a regular sports season,
followed in some cases by playoffs. Hundreds of
sports exist, from those between single
contestants, through to those with hundreds of
simultaneous participants, either in teams or
competing as individuals. In certain sports such
as racing, many contestants may compete, each
against each other, with one winner."

NASCAR fits all those requirements. Here's a link
for the full Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport
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Or you could've just linked the dictionary definition of what a sport is and your post would've been half as long.
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No, car racing is not a sport. Just because you get all sweaty and nasty b/c it's hot in the car doesn't mean you got any semblance of exercise.
I also don't think Chess is a sport, but if car racing is, chess absolutely is as well, it involves at least as much physical activity.

@streamofthesky said: "Just because you get
all sweaty and nasty b/c it's hot in the car doesn't
mean you got any semblance of exercise."

So your saying that racing a stock car around a track at 190 MPH while being under the pressure of 2-3 G forces for 3 hours does not require you to be fit? Did you not read the article I gave a link to in my original post?
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OlorinTheOtaku posted...

So your saying that racing a stock car around a track at 190 MPH while being under the pressure of 2-3 G forces for 3 hours does not require you to be fit? Did you not read the article I gave a link to in my original post?

Yes, I'm saying that.
And no, I'm not reading some article on a non-sport I don't give a shit about.

I didn't realize being an astronaut and going into space was a sport. Thanks for educating me.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sport

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

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Is competitive cheerleading a sport?
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Blaqthourne posted...

Is competitive cheerleading a sport?

Probably? Makes a much better case for itself than fucking car racing does.

Blaqthourne posted...

Is competitive cheerleading a sport?

no
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

Blaqthourne posted...

Is competitive cheerleading a sport?

no

Are diving and figure skating sports?
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Yeah, anything skill-based with a winner is a sport.
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streamofthesky posted...

OlorinTheOtaku posted...

So your saying that racing a stock car around a track at 190 MPH while being under the pressure of 2-3 G forces for 3 hours does not require you to be fit? Did you not read the article I gave a link to in my original post?

Yes, I'm saying that.
And no, I'm not reading some article on a non-sport I don't give a shit about.

I didn't realize being an astronaut and going into space was a sport. Thanks for educating me.

It's not eastbound to drive that car around when there is 39-40 other cars around you traveling the same speed you are for 3 hours in a car that can get up up to 150 degrees inside. Heat exhaustion is always a danger. Plus the crews have to be in shape. Carrying a 75-pound tire over a three foot high wall quickly isn't easy either nor carrying a 11-gallon fuel tank. Plus the tire changers have to be spot-on when taking off the lug nuts on the old tire, taking the tire off, putting the new tire on, tightening the new lug nuts (making sure to hit all five or else it's a penalty, moving around to the other side and repeating the process, and the entire team finishing in less than 12 seconds.
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NASCAR isn't a sport the same way NFL isn't a sport.

Racing and football are sports.
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just because you need to be fit doesnt mean its a sport. firemen need to be fit, doesnt mean firefighting is a sport
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Auto racing is definitely a sport.
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/topic
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TyVulpine posted...

streamofthesky posted...

OlorinTheOtaku posted...

So your saying that racing a stock car around a track at 190 MPH while being under the pressure of 2-3 G forces for 3 hours does not require you to be fit? Did you not read the article I gave a link to in my original post?

Yes, I'm saying that.
And no, I'm not reading some article on a non-sport I don't give a shit about.

I didn't realize being an astronaut and going into space was a sport. Thanks for educating me.

It's not eastbound to drive that car around when there is 39-40 other cars around you traveling the same speed you are for 3 hours in a car that can get up up to 150 degrees inside. Heat exhaustion is always a danger. Plus the crews have to be in shape. Carrying a 75-pound tire over a three foot high wall quickly isn't easy either nor carrying a 11-gallon fuel tank. Plus the tire changers have to be spot-on when taking off the lug nuts on the old tire, taking the tire off, putting the new tire on, tightening the new lug nuts (making sure to hit all five or else it's a penalty, moving around to the other side and repeating the process, and the entire team finishing in less than 12 seconds.

Dude, work in some factories and you can easily get that sort of thing happening.

Nascar fits all reasonable descriptions of a sport, and requires more physical exertion than at least some sports, so yeah, it's definitely a sport.
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It doesn't matter what anyone thinks cause it is a sport.
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If you get paid for winning, it's a sport
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DarkKirby2500 posted...

Yes, but it's essentially a semantics argument.

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MrMelodramatic posted...

NASCAR isn't a sport the same way NFL isn't a sport.

Technically this, but yeah, racing is a sport, just like competitive figure skating or archery.
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Drivers lose like 2-10 pounds or some shit every race. That's crazy.

Still not a sport tho

I see alot of people saying things like "Just because its physically taxing doesn't make racing a sport" but its not just that, that makes NASCAR a sport, other wise construction work would be considered a sport. No, a sport is an activity that serves no greater meaning other then to be competitive, it should require commitment, skill & disciple to master & it should be based around a system of rules & regulations that govern a form of competition.

Every one that says "Oh, so being an astronaut or being a furniture delivery man is a sport" just because its also a physical activity, is forgetting & leaving out alot of the other things that make a sport, a sport.

Not to mention Wikipedia officially classes Motorsport & racing (That includes NASCAR) as a sport.

Also, FIA (Federation Internationale de
l'Automobile) an association established as the
Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs
Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users & is mostly known as the governing body for many auto racing events, is officially recognized as a SPORTS federation for auto racing. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fédération_Internationale_de_l'Automobile
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OlorinTheOtaku posted...

No, a sport is an activity that serves no greater meaning other then to be competitive, it should require commitment, skill & disciple to master & it should be based around a system of rules & regulations that govern a form of competition.

Well shit, I guess Chess is a sport after all!

Sarcasm; neither is a sport

@streamofthesky Yes actually. You'll probably be surprised to hear but Chess is indeed considered a sport. Here's a portion of Wikipedia's Sport page:

"SportAccord recognise that sport can be primarily physical (such as rugby or athletics), primarily mind (such as CHESS or go), predominantly motorised (such as Formula 1 or powerboating), primarily co-ordination (such as billiard sports), or primarily animal-supported (such as equestrian sport)."

And yes, Of course sarcasm is not a sport. Could every one please be serious. If you believe NASCAR is not a sport, could you please give a valid reason for that opinion, instead of just making dumb comparisons like construction work or being an astronaut.
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OlorinTheOtaku posted...

Could every one please be serious.

You are asking the impossible.
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NASCAR is not serious. Why should I be serious?

Is mayonnaise an instrument?
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OlorinTheOtaku posted...

@streamofthesky Yes actually. You'll probably be surprised to hear but Chess is indeed considered a sport. Here's a portion of Wikipedia's Sport page:

"SportAccord recognise that sport can be primarily physical (such as rugby or athletics), primarily mind (such as CHESS or go), predominantly motorised (such as Formula 1 or powerboating), primarily co-ordination (such as billiard sports), or primarily animal-supported (such as equestrian sport)."

And yes, Of course sarcasm is not a sport. Could every one please be serious. If you believe NASCAR is not a sport, could you please give a valid reason for that opinion, instead of just making dumb comparisons like construction work or being an astronaut.

you've been claiming its a sport because you need to be physically fit. what about everything else in life where you need to be physically fit? are those sports too?
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SpeeDLeemon posted...

NASCAR is not serious. Why should I be serious?

"an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

So nascar is a sport. You are exerting yourself behind the wheel. Competitive gaming is a sport. E sports which are now getting recognized and put on sport channels and such. Look at fighting games or team shooters. There's lots of heavy competition, training, and lightning quick super precise exertions, even if its just with your hands/thumbs.

You may scoff because certain things sports aren't as alike as the sports you grew up with, but they are sports nonetheless by definition.

Case closed.
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faramir77 posted...

Is mayonnaise an instrument?

Yes

@Krazy_Kirby Everything else in life where you have to be fit dose not revolve around a pointless competition governed by rules upheld by an actual sport franchise like NASCAR does.

Honestly I am really surprised by the reasons you guys are trying to list for why NASCAR is not a sport, most people would ignorantly try & claim "NASCAR is not a sport because its not physically taxing" but everyone here seems to recognise that it actually is, & then try to use that against it being a sport, disregarding everything else about it & basically saying "NASCAR is not a sport because its physical taxing" WTF!? You've gotta come up with a better reason then that.
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im saying physical taxing =/= a sport. (which was the basis of your original arguement)
competition =/= sport, chess isn't a sport despite being competitive.
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@The_Numerous gets it. In post #36 he/she makes some really good points.

Honestly, if one wants to say NASCAR or motorsport is not a sport, your basically going against Wikipedia & Google in general.
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@Krazy_Kirby said: " im saying Competition =/= sport, chess isn't a sport despite being competitive."

So you first state "competition = sport", then immediately contradict your own statement by saying "Chess isn't a sport despite being competitive" I just don't understand your logic & you didn't even give a reason for why you say Chess is not a sport.
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streamofthesky posted...

SpeeDLeemon posted...

NASCAR is not serious. Why should I be serious?

Sadly, ever since Dale Earnhardt died, I have to agree with this. It's become a joke with the yearly points changes, the Chase and now the "divide the races into "stages"" crap.
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Krazy_Kirby posted...

OlorinTheOtaku posted...

@streamofthesky Yes actually. You'll probably be surprised to hear but Chess is indeed considered a sport. Here's a portion of Wikipedia's Sport page:

"SportAccord recognise that sport can be primarily physical (such as rugby or athletics), primarily mind (such as CHESS or go), predominantly motorised (such as Formula 1 or powerboating), primarily co-ordination (such as billiard sports), or primarily animal-supported (such as equestrian sport)."

And yes, Of course sarcasm is not a sport. Could every one please be serious. If you believe NASCAR is not a sport, could you please give a valid reason for that opinion, instead of just making dumb comparisons like construction work or being an astronaut.

you've been claiming its a sport because you need to be physically fit. what about everything else in life where you need to be physically fit? are those sports too?

He's not just saying it because of the need to be physically fit, it's that in combination with the other factors. Also, as others have pointed out, doesn't REALLY matter what we think since it's officially recognized as a sport. I mean I don't personally think Chess should be considered a sport but it is.
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The_Numerous posted...

"an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

So nascar is a sport. You are exerting yourself behind the wheel. Competitive gaming is a sport. E sports which are now getting recognized and put on sport channels and such. Look at fighting games or team shooters. There's lots of heavy competition, training, and lightning quick super precise exertions, even if its just with your hands/thumbs.

You may scoff because certain things sports aren't as alike as the sports you grew up with, but they are sports nonetheless by definition.

Case closed.

Thanks for mentioning that competitive gaming and gambling are also sports, by the TC's very broad definition. I realized that logical extension after posting but didn't feel like editing it in.

Are car racing, chess, poker, and Star Craft tournaments "sports" officially? Obviously, they're classified as such. But TC wanted to make a topic on it, so that means what TC really wanted to know is "Do you think they SHOULD be considered sports?" If his goal was to just post a link to a wikipedia and ask us if we're capable of reading that X is referred to as a sport, then this topic is just trolling and pointless.
Of course everything and the kitchen sink is classified as a sport. There's no real incentive or stakeholder that really cares about gate keeping the definition, and tons of interest/push from purveyors of X form of entertainment/past-time to label their endeavors as a "sport" to supposedly legitimize them. Just the people with common sense looking on and laughing, "lulz, come on...that's really not a sport."

EDIT: Also, for fuck sakes, stop quoting the post that contains the @[my user name] or strip it out before posting if you must use it. That's getting really fucking annoying. Just a general request, not addressed to the guy quoted above.

WastelandCowboy posted...

NASCAR, in itself is not a sport.

Auto racing is the sport. More specifically, stock car racing. So one could like the sport of auto racing and like to watch NASCAR races, just as one might like football, and like to watch NFL games. Sports are probably a blend of athleticism, competition, and strategy.

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@streamofthesky

Everyone quote this in your posts in this topic!!! :P

streamofthesky posted...

But TC wanted to make a topic on it, so that means what TC really wanted to know is "Do you think they SHOULD be considered sports?"

Well, it means this because it's the question that TC is actually asking. He's not asking if people understand that it's officially considered a sport, he's asking for their opinion on it.
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streamofthesky posted...

OlorinTheOtaku posted...

So your saying that racing a stock car around a track at 190 MPH while being under the pressure of 2-3 G forces for 3 hours does not require you to be fit? Did you not read the article I gave a link to in my original post?

Yes, I'm saying that.
And no, I'm not reading some article on a non-sport I don't give a shit about.

I didn't realize being an astronaut and going into space was a sport. Thanks for educating me.

Well youve never experience 200 mile crash so you are not true
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Motorsport.
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Let me clarify, my poll is asking " Do you think NASCAR is a sport?" & some people are saying they think I mean "Do you think NASCAR "Sould" be considered a sport?" no, to be more blunt I was actually asking something more like this "Do you recognize or understand that NASCAR is an official sport?".

A lot of people seem to actually think that NASCAR & motorsport in general are not sports. I can't tell if they are trying to say it shouldn't be a sport, or if they're just stupid. So far the only argument that's being made against NASCAR being a sport have being "No" or "Its not" or making stupid comparisons & such that end up saying things to the effect of "NASCAR is not a sport because its physically taxing & competitive".
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Yes, auto racing is a sport.
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