Published 11/06/2022, 7:00 PM CST
You always get divided opinions when you ask fans which one they prefer- Formula 1 or NASCAR. It almost always comes down to personal preference. The truth is, they are both exciting sports with their own USPs and shortcomings. But it seems Americans have a clear preference for one over the other. Which one is it though?
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NASCAR always gets the flak for having cars go round and round in one direction on mostly oval tracks. F1, on the other hand, is criticized for having one driver dominating throughout the season with a car superior to others. The fans on both sides of the spectrum have very compelling arguments in favor of their sport, though.
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Which is better- NASCAR or Formula 1?
Results in NASCAR races depend more on the drivers’ individual skills. Most cars are evenly matched as the manufacturers have to build the car according to the ongoing template. Therefore, any driver on the grid can win any race.
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 22: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 AXALTA Chevrolet, walks with Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 22, 2015 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
F1’s USP is how fast the cars are in corners. Each circuit is different with some high-speed corners, some hairpin turns, and some long straights. Constructors constantly need to make amendments to their cars to go as fast as they can on each race day. Anyways, let’s get straight into what the US prefers.
In a video from August this year from The Game Day, they asked fans at a NASCAR event if NASCAR was better than F1. While the opinions were bound to be skewed in NASCAR’s favor, there were some hilarious reactions. The very first respondent in the video said, “F1 is for babies.”
Another fan responded, “Well, we’re here today [a NASCAR event]. So, yeah.” 6 more interviewees respondents replied in favor of NASCAR but they left the twist for the last. One fan in the NASCAR event said, “I’m an F1 fan.” The host had a hilarious reaction to them and couldn’t believe an F1 fan would be there enjoying a NASCAR race.
A divided opinion in the comments section
The comments section of the video had some friendly banter going on. Apart from the fans of either sport, there were some who had a more neutral approach. Ones that understood it was like comparing apples to oranges. Both may well be motorsports, but one is an open-wheel racing league, and the other isn’t. And that makes all the difference.
Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 23, 2021 McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo prepares to drive Dale Earnhardt Sr’s 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR around the circuit REUTERS/Mike Blake
Here are some comments:
“NASCAR can be fun and interesting but F1 is just way more exciting, but each motorsport has it’s ups and downs in excitement level depending on the circuit they are racing at.”
“Take a right turn then [dead emoji].”
“He’s making another left turn he’s making another left turn he’s making another left TURN.”
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“F1 is faster your not going in an oval it’s more exciting there is more Gforce it’s harder and has got better drivers.”
“I am I diehard nascar fan and I prefer nascar over most other motorsports, but I still respect all motorsports and believe that all drivers have insane amounts of talent and skill to be where they are.”
“Can’t compare in my opinion, all motorsport is badass.”
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Watch This Story: Daniel Ricciardo Set to Drive NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt’s 1984 Chevrolet Car at Texas
Whatever your preference may be, drivers in both Fomula 1 and NASCAR deserve the utmost respect. They are all top-notch athletes with crazy skills and the ability to take a beating in high-speed cars. At the end of the day, follow the one you like best, or follow both.