What’s not to love about motor sport? Except the noise, fumes and friends

Continuing the sporty theme of his trip to the US, the Mole’s Graham McKenzie joins the crowds at stock car racing.

"I have to confess that prior to this trip I had a dislike of almost anything to do with motor sport. The macho "my car is bigger than your car" chat is an anathema to my ears, that’s if I can hear anything due to the engine and exhaust noise, not to mention choking from exhaust fumes and killing the planet from excessive CO2.

No I am not into it.

That said, I do realise there are millions of people who do enjoy the stench of kerosene in their nostrils as a lump of metal flashes past them at the speed of light. In the United States of America it is almost unpatriotic not to like motor sport and the most popular by far is NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing). Only the NFL (American football) has higher television ratings than Nascar, and we all know what that means ..yes, big bucks .

The origins of NASCAR are in the southern states of America during the prohibition period. Illegal distils of whiskey were distributed around dirt track roads using modified standard vehicles to make them fast and robust thus avoiding capture by the officers of the law. Those inherent qualities are still in evidence today. The cars are much bigger and much faster but you can still relate them to a showroom. Dodge, Ford , Toyota are all represented in the NASCAR family with their Charger, Fusion and Camry models. You almost think that you could drive one given the opportunity. To make it even more ‘normal’ the rules, measurements and regulations are extremely tight and geared to  make the racing car as close to a standard vehicle as possible.

Tony Stewarts Chevrolet

Top of the NASCAR league is the Sprint Cup Series and at this stage of the season only the top twelve point scorers get to challenge for the title currently held by Tony Stewart. I was lucky enough to be invited to a fan zone event in Chicago where the elite dozen come on stage and were asked questions by a very enthusiastic audience. I have to say I was very impressed by the level of questions and the driver responses. The level of camaraderie, humour  and humility of them was striking and as I watched and listened I could not help wondering if Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton would have been as amenable, accessible and interested in what their fans had to say.These Nascar boys were so friendly I thought a game of naked twister was about to break out.

This totally inclusive nature of the sport continued the next day when I actually went out to the race track, Chicago Speedland, where on Saturday and Sunday 85,000 would watch the racing along with pop concerts, fly pasts, food and beer. Fans, drivers, pit crews and media walked around the infield areas in a completely free (assuming you had a pass, which you can buy ) and relaxed manner. During practice you can get up very close and very personal within safety guidelines. So close that yours ears are ringing and your eyes are watering.

In the press conference I was the only English person there but they took my questions and treated me as an equal. I asked Jimmie Johnson, five-time NASCAR champion if he ever thought that there would be an electric NASCAR series and his answer to me encapsulated the whole essence of NASCAR. "This sports origins are what keeps it alive today, accessibility, and if the fans and motor manufacturers start to drive and make electric cars in numbers then yes most certainly." A motor sport that is totally all-encompassing, one that does not make your ears bleed and your lungs give up. Jeremy Clarkson eat your heart out

Accessibility is the key! If you get involved in the sport, the cars, the drivers, the pits are all reachable. The car, driver or manufacturer that you follow can be treated almost like an old friend and if you like sport of any nature that openness will undoubtedly make you even more loyal – hell you can even drive a car like your hero by buying one from your local dealer. Now where is my local McLaren F1 dealer?"