The biggest stereotype NASCAR fans are saddled with is that of the “redneck.”  Often portrayed as badly dressed toothless uneducated people with rebel flags and an endless supply of cheap beer, rednecks are sort of a mythical archetype in Southern culture.  Early on, they were associated with NASCAR racing, probably because of all the cantankerous camping out and partying they actually do.  They are generally thought of as having substandard RVs that are all rigged up and rickety.  The men are considered to be stupid, overweight, and hardly ever sober — while the women are presented as scantily clad, leather-tanned, bleached blonde bimbos with blackened teeth but generous bosoms, the sort who wear high heels with cut-off Levis, a straw hat, and a bikini top instead of a proper shirt.  If an entire T-shirt is worn, it’s too tight and more revealing than if they had just gone topless.  These redneck NASCAR stereotypes are considered to be poor and ignorant, easily amused by sitting in a sun baked stand of bleachers and watching cars go round and round without incident for hours on end.

The reality is, most NASCAR fans are neither poor nor uneducated.  Many are professionals such as doctors and lawyers.  They drive top of the line RVs if they do camp out, and they drink craft beers that can be quite expensive.  Their tailgate party fare might include some pretty fancy nosh, like lobster tails or gourmet Bison burgers flame broiled over a hibachi grill.  They wear designer brands and are well dressed and clean.  Although the stereotype of redneck is still associated with NASCAR fans jokingly, it isn’t nearly as persistent as it was in the past.  Finally, people are letting it go.

                                      

So, obviously there are things you want to know about the circuit and this race.  The design was decided after discussion whether the circuit could be altered to make overtaking better, which resulted in several changes and modifications through April 2010. Over the next several months, the track was finalized and perfected and is now ready for all kinds of racing fun.  You can click below to learn more about the BUDDH International Circuit.

                                      

Luckily for people like me who love the sport of racing but do not have the courage or tools to actually pursue a career in racing, there are race themed video games.  When the race is over and I want some more action, I simply turn on my gaming console and get my speed fix right then and there.  When you can enjoy racing and fun inside your own home, it’s quite enjoyable and I could stay in one spot glued to the game for hours.  Seriously sometimes my roommates threaten to have to use botanical potpourri like da scents because I just sit there and simply forget to bathe.  If you are a race lover who has not yet played a racing game, then you are missing out.  Take some time to look at the infographic below about racing games so you can see if you will love taking racing to a more fun level by participating in a race of your own.

There are quite a few different types of video games out there for racing, that include:  simulation, kart racing, and combat racing.  Find out which type will peak your interest below, and you can have racing anytime you feel the need…for speed.

                                      

Some of the most famous women in the circuit are Braziliandriver, Ana Beatriz, Venezuelan race car driver Milka Duno, Swiss race car driver Simona de Silvestro, and American driver Danica Patrick. We’ll still count Danica, since she is just beginning to branch out from Indy racing into NASCAR and is definitely still among the most popular Indy 500 female racers.  All of these women have led stunning careers, despite losing most of the big wins to their male competitors.  But give them a break;  after all, men have a 66 year lead in racing experience.

Here is an infographic showing statistics and fun facts about the women of racing.

                                      

“We’ve been working hard on getting bigger events to improve the speedway since the first day I was in that office,” track owner Andy Hillenburg said. “This was a community effort. Our staff here at the speedway, NASCAR, all of the city and county and state officials … all of it needed to fall into the right place at the right time in order for this to be possible.”

Wayne Auton, director of the Camping World Truck Series, said Hillenburg was dedicated and aggressive in his pursuit of a NASCAR-sanctioned event from the day he bought the track, which had not seen NASCAR events since 2004.  ”He told me personally the first day he bought the track that eventually he was going to need to do this to put on bigger-type races.”

                                      

Championship contender Will Power and two other drivers were also injured in the pileup during Lap 11. Moments after the crash, Wheldon was airlifted from the track to University Medical Center, where he died about two hours later from “unsurvivable” injuries.

After the race was cancelled, the shocked and sobbing drivers took part in a five-lap salute around the track in honour of one of their sport’s biggest stars.

Driver Danica Patrick will remember this day as a tragic end to her Indy racing career;  she had announced her retirement from the circuit in late summer, and will embark on a career in NASCAR racing instead.  Memories of the death of friend and fellow indy racer Wheldon will no doubt follow her into her new career.

Go Daddy CEO Bob Parsons offered the following condolences:

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dan Wheldon’s family and friends on this sad, sad day. All of us in the IndyCar family feel an unexplainable sense of loss. Not just for the sport, but for all who knew Dan Wheldon. Dan was a family man, a father, a husband, a son and a brother. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was also a competitor and a colleague … our deepest condolences go out to all who knew Dan.”

The sport suffered a terrible loss indeed yesterday.  Several of the racers later reported having a “bad feeling” about the track after practice runs all week at high speeds on the track that had some steep banking areas.  Perhaps in the future, the tracks will be better suited for high speed racing.