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Early Addition
Tomorrow, more than normal, you should look both ways before you cross the street on the way to work. Why? Because NASCAR is in town celebrating the end of their season with Champions Week, which includes a "victory lap" in Manhattan. The street closing event is quickly becoming an annual tradition. So if you work on Broadway, 42nd St, 53rd St, or Madison Ave., be on the lookout. The league's top-10 drivers, decked out in their finest sponsor-covered jumpsuits, will be participating.
NASCAR's victory lap couldn't come at a better time for the city. Tomorrow is a Gridlock Alert Day (Rockefeller Center tree lighting) and Broadway is dark. It's a perfect distraction for all their fans that are in town for the holidays.
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I think Nascar should plan an event during the UN General Assembly.
Not all NASCAR fans are tourists, by the way.
Oh boy! Let's fire up the ole portable deep fryer and cook a turkey 'till it's cripsy!
Why arent they doing this in Atlanta or something? Dont they have more fans there? I understand they want us city living yanks to join their mindless gaggle, but seriously, to me this kind of shit has the reverse effect by making the city a pain in the ass to move around in. It makes me hate them even more.
Dear Jesus (aka Dale Earnheart Jr/Sr/Whocares), take your followers back to the south. Thanks, NYC.
This is a special treat for NASCAR-loving Broadway ticket-holders. Both of them!
nascar isn't really all that popular above the mason dixon line. why they would hold this in new york is weird to me. it's like having the NFL Superbowl champions go celebrating in London.
I believe this coincides with national fuck your sister and marry your cousin week.
Unfortunately, I don't have a sister.
Why arent they doing this in Atlanta or something? Dont they have more fans there?
Because if 6% of New York's 8,000,000 people likes NASCAR, that's more than 100% Atlanta's 400,000. I mean, with all those mid-westerners here that everyone loves to despise, you have to figure you can get up to 10%, no?
I understand they want us city living yanks to join their mindless gaggle, but seriously, to me this kind of shit has the reverse effect by making the city a pain in the ass to move around in. It makes me hate them even more.
Trust me, NASCAR doesn't need to win our love. It's doing just fine without us. I think they'll get by if you don't like them.
How does this work with congestion pricing? If bubba goes above 59th street and returns on his victory lap does he get charged twice or is it a freebee because same lap was done within an hour?
Why in god's name are they doing this shit at this time of the year? I thought the toy show was in September.
NASCAR is basically a form of motorized professional wrestling. It is environmentally irresponsible, tends to be used as a platform for jingoism, and is not as interesting as watching traffic cameras for four hours.
Whoever in the DOT or NYPD who approved this should be fired. You do not do something that will needlessly close streets in Manhattan on a gridlock alert day unless you have been bribed, or have the mental capacity of a piece of schist.
Bloomberg - you can stop the madness!
This stupid stunt should never be repeated again ever. If NASCAR wants to do it, go do it somewhere where people actually care about their stupid non-sport and not potentially inconvenience millions of people.
I hope some police officer tickets the morons for driving without license plates and maybe impounds them for not being street legal.
NASCAR is easily the second most popular U.S. sport (after the NFL) as measured by revenue and TV ratings. But you cosmopolitan people are right, it's only the rednecks down south who care. The majority of the top drivers aren't even from the south anymore, much less the fans. But never let facts get in the way of a good idiotic comment.
NASCAR is not a sport.
It is akin to professional wrestling.
don't forget to fly your Confederate Flag high and Proud.
and, I expect some "nooses" thrown in for good measure.
And Toby continues to blather on his typical nonsense.
You don't speak for everyone. I know it's hard for you to grasp the concept that not all 8 million New Yorkers think alike and that they think exactly like you do. The irony of course is that people like you usually tout the diversity of New York as one of its strengths. But apparently only diversity you approve of. If that means people from outside New York dare to move here and bring their affinity for racing with them then you have this need to disparage them. And even if there were no NASCAR fans in New York this is still the media capital of the country.
NASCAR is not wrestling. Wrestling is scripted i.e. the outcome is known in advance. NASCAR is a competition. Whether it is a "sport" or not, I don't know and don't care. I don't watch motor sports. But your comparison makes no sense.
As for the environmental issue, this is ridiculous. If you're going to pick on NASCAR how about picking on every wealthy New Yorker that owns a second home or flies around the country on a cheap airfare for a three day weekend.
But what's the point? A "victory lap" in Manhattan when (perhaps) all the races are held far, far away from NYC? To attract new fans to this so-called "sport"? Are some tourists who see a few race cars idling at the light suddenly going to become fans?
Seems like a lot of noise and commotion in which the only message is: "Look at me! I'm flashy, make a lot of noise and take up space". Actually, maybe it does belong in New York after all...
First, it is bad public policy to shut down roads on a gridlock alert day. It defies any sort of logical thinking. You don't do it for anything. If you were running things and were asked to impede the flow of traffic in the central business district of Manhattan on a gridlock alert day would you do it? Surely not, since it is a rubbish idea.
The thankfully failed proposal to bring a bloody NASCAR venue to New York brought to light a lot of the environmental problems that the venues for the NASCAR events bring about. Traffic, paving over a large area, etc.
What is worse? Someone having a second home in the Adirondacks or acres of paved over land that attracts people in large gas guzzling vehicles to watch other people drive gas guzzling vehicles around in a circle for hours on end?
As for comparing NASCAR to professional wrestling, it is an apt comparison since both are spectacles that some misguided people feel is a sport. Wrestling is a bit more of a sport, since it does require a degree of athletic prowess. NASCAR is for the most part being able to sit on your ass in a car for hours on end and make left turns. Plus, there apparently has been some accusations that the fix is in.
I frankly find some of the NASCAR values a bit scary. I was once transfixed while flipping channels by the pre-event ceremony. Why? It seemed as if it was put together by some sort of Bible Belt Leni Riefenstahl. It was so filled with jingoistic content it made one think of the Nürnberg Rally of 1934 interpreted through a southern American filter. It was almost like watching Triumph des Willens mit Autos.
East river,
Good point about the polution argument. How about all the polution that is generated when either a college or pro team goes on an away game by jet. DUH? Huh?
The Nascar people should have picked a better loop if they were trying to do something. Mid town Manhattan at this time of the year is just plain stupid. But then again stock car racing is not exactly the pinnacle of excitement in the area of, "What shall we do til Thursday Daffney since the polo ponies are being rested for the month?"
uh oh, toby,
you make bubba mad. no sunscreen for you at your next race.
If they were going to race through New York one of the best areas to do it is below the area of Grand Central Station.
Start north on Park Avenue South up through the tunnel under Park Avenue to where it leads into Grand Central Terminal then do a loop around the terminal up Park Avenue and at the half way point return south bound via Park Avenue around Grand Central again and finish at where ever. The loop around Grand Central would be the focus of the race. Of course there would be some death and destruction, but heh, isn't that what makes NASCAR exciting?
Fuck your sister week is replacing My Boss Thinks It's Okay To Call Me a Bitch and His Boss Doesn't Give a Shit Week. Is the NYC still going to celebrate Show Your Rack To Drunk Jets Fans Week?
I won't go deep into the degree to which, if at all, stick and ball fans are more evolved than autoracing fans but let's just say there's a potential pot-kettle-black scenario.
NASCAR is ultimately about making money and, as unlikely as it seems, it's more corporate than other sports. The cars, tracks, races and trophies are all tied to companies as are the uniorms. The drivers have TONS of sponsor obligations.
As for being athletes, well, most of us get worn out during an hour commute home after work. Five hours, up to 200 mph, crashes and 42 other cars might be less of a cake-walk than you think. It's more taxing than 3rd base.
And, shock of all shocks, NASCAR has foreigners now!
Not this shit again. Great, Nascar drivers get to block traffic and disrupt commutes in the middle of a work week? That's a stupid idea.
First, auto racing, especially long-form types like NASCAR Nextel Cup, is extremely physically and mentally demanding... Drivers heart rates usually remain above 120bpm for several hours per race. More than I can say about other traditional sports like say, baseball. Racing easily fits my personal definition of a "sport."
Second, NASCAR races in the PA, and upstate NY.... So although you wont see the Manhattan skyline, we do have tracks in the area.
Native NYC resident that loves all types of motor racing. --->
Glen from Queens,
Lets sit down and talk this whole thing over a case of cold Budweisers.
First off there is no place in Pennsylvania or New York State that has the same high density of people and traffic as the defined race area that NASCAR is suggesting that will happen in midtown Manhattan.
Secondly the highest membership in the NRA come from Pennsylvania.
Thirdly isn't there a NASCAR game available on Xbox 360 that you can satisfy your fantasies with?
Also isn't doe season opening at the same time?
We should all gather at one of those 'Fan Zones' and chuck eggs at the cars. Think we can we get Improv Everywhere to participate?
zackdub, have you been following along closely? Do you and your NASCAR-hating girlfriends really want to throw eggs at cars belonging to people who you attempt to demean as drunk redneck inbreds with guns?
I'm guessing gothamist should plan to live blog the NASCAR victory lap...
vrroooooommm... LEFT TURN...vrroooooommm... LEFT TURN...vrroooooommm... LEFT TURN
NASCAR... keeping white trash entertained since 1948.
acres of paved over land that attracts people in large gas guzzling vehicles to watch other people drive gas guzzling vehicles around in a circle for hours on end?
Ya mean like Manhattan?
News for you: Staten Island isn't getting a NASCAR track for exactly one reason: it would be fucking impossible to get to.
But you're right, the current oil tanker field or the future industrial park will certainly be much more environmentally friendly.
"don't forget to fly your Confederate Flag high and Proud.
and, I expect some "nooses" thrown in for good measure."
Yeah, like New York has no history of racism (white on black AND reverse....)
I wonder how many people here whining about traffic & pollution posted as much when the UN general assembly meets. Oh, I forgot, the UN does so much more for America... /sarcasm off
Oh how I love the hypocrisy of New Yorkers! Oh so liberal and tolerant and open to all. Well, except anyone who thinks differently. Then again, I'd hazard a guess that the few native New Yorkers wouldn't care about NASCAR, it's only the transplants who get so disgusted. Maybe it's because their middle-American roots are coming back to visit them. Or, they're so over-educated they can't see outside their own miniscule world. Either way, it just astounds me how self-righteous and patronizing New Yorkers can be, not to mention hypocritical. Funny that...
It happened. Did anybody notice? I was taking a shit.
For those of you making the environmental argument, you should realize that NASCAR is instrumental in improving fuel efficiency in everyday cars. There are many cutting edge technologies that are implemented and researched for NASCAR that then trickle down into production vehicles. NASCAR is a way for car companies to invest substantially into R+D and track test technologies (like crumple zones and crash safety and tire technologies) that make it into the cars you drive.
And seriously, it is funny how all of you "liberal" fakers have such a hard time with something that is widely accepted in almost all other parts of your country.
You mean people don't fly their Confederate flags at NASCAR races????
so that means the one's I've seen were all imagined by moi? I've even seen a guy salute that said flag.
so that means the one's I've seen were all imagined by moi? I've even seen a guy salute that said flag.
And your point is what? Some southerners were raised with strong southern pride and that symbol, regardless of how we in the North look at it and what history has caused it to represent, is a symbol of that pride?
Stop the presses: The Winners Write The History Books
whatever, southern man and there wasn't really a point, I was just telling it as I see it.
If you like the South so much, go move there, sir.
but don't tell them you're a Yankee. or have Yankee Pride, worldwide. 88 to you my brother, 420, and most importantly fourteen words.
They closed down mMidtown for that! It lasted five seconds. Perhaps this story does not merit 35...36 responses.
When it comes to ignorance, illiteracy, and cultural elitism, yes it does...
If you like the South so much, go move there, sir.
I don't like the South, I simply respect other people's cultures... even if they're *gasp* from other states.
alright sir,
believe it or not, I'm a NASCAR fan.
I go to at least 2 races a year.
I'm not a hypocrite. I'm liberal and tolerant of all people, so long as they are not in my way, stopped in the middle of a sidewalk, starring straight up whilst standing still, mumbling in dixie or any combination thereof.
And as another point, NASCAR did not flood midtown with "tolerant people"
check out the photos: clicky!
Honestly, blocking off a major area of Midtown, Manhattan on a Monday and on Gridlock awareness day is tantamount to intellectual abdication. Is there something wrong with doing this on a Sunday or a Saturday?
The pollution argument is mute. NASCAR engineering is as high end as can possibly exist. If our own cars were as efficient, we could continue to use gas and machines for ever.
NASCAR is a sport, sorry. Not one I may be interested in, but nevertheless...You try sitting in a NASCAR averaging 184 MPH for 2-3 hours and tell me if you do or do not require some measure of athleticism on a physical and mental level!!!