First, they have a favorite number. It will range from 00 to 99. That's not a typo, their favorite number could be 00. This number will grace the rear window of their car, minivan, SUV, truck, motorcycle, amateur stock car, kid's bike, ATV, dirt bike. This number may not only be on the rear window, but it could be on the doors, bumpers or antenna. And it's not just on their toys, it could also be on their bodies. There have been numbers tattooed on body parts and cut into hairdos. It could even be painted onto the bare chest of NASCAR race fans in the stands. The number is very important.
Second, they have a favorite driver. This driver is bestowed the greatest honor of having their name shouted out at various intervals when seen by another fan. Their name will appear on the birth certificates of the greatest NASCAR fans' children. Names like Jeff Gordon Smith or Bill Elliott Jones are everywhere, you just have to ask. The drivers name is emblazoned on license plates on the front of their vehicles and in some cases above the doors.
Third, it's all in the apparel. Most NASCAR fans will not leave the house without something to identify them as a fan of a driver. Honestly, most men will not leave the house without a hat which immediately signifies them as a fan of Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., etc. And the t-shirts are just as important. Shirts with pictures of your drivers car, driver, their championship year(s), catch phrases, the races they've won and their names are embellished loud and proud and worn daily by some.
And finally, home may be where the heart is but it's also where a NASCAR fan displays the pride of his collection. There you will find more commemorative plates attached to their walls and in their chine hutches than you can imagine. There you will find a flag flying just below the red, white and blue honoring their driver, his car, his number and his colors. There you will find hutches, shelves and rooms dedicated to their driver and his team. You will find die-cast cars, bobble head dolls, license plates, autographed photos and/or posters, more flags, caps and shirts. This fan has dedicated his house as an official museum.
So where does the next generation of NASCAR fans come from? Just check out the kids of this proud community. Their children drive miniature remote control cars, compete in soap box derbies, drive pedal cars with their parent's favorite driver on them. They wear t-shirts, hats, jackets and in some cases, diaper pants with names like Petty, Irvan, Elliott, Earnhardt, Wallace, Kenseth, Stewart, Johnson, Waltrip or Gordon. These children are cutting their teeth on the tri-oval of Daytona and hanging on by a thread until Homestead. They boo and cheer and love to watch the drivers crash. These are the next generation of NASCAR fans and possibly drivers.
So how do you identify a full-blown NASCAR fan? Check the head for a hat, their chest or back for a name, their car for a number, name or license plate. When visiting their home, look for the telltale signs of devotion: commemorative plates, die-cast cars, whole decorated rooms or a simple flag flying out front. Watch out for their children who are moving ahead in the sport and learning the insides of racing. These are the NASCAR fans and they're darn proud of it.
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