George,

I'll agree that the NASCAR Dads thing is a bit hokey. And ... yes there are a lot of southern, white male fans who follow NASCAR. However, as a person who works within the NASCAR world you cannot understand or underestimate this demographic group until you become part of it. It really is a culture and world unto itself, much like you would call "Dead Heads" a subculture. They are so loyal that they tattoo their bodies with driver names and dedicate entire rooms in their home to their driver.

When you see it first hand you are immediately taken back. And then ... because it is so uniquely American, simple and fun you fall in love with it. The amount of female fans is truly astonishing. As a percentage NASCAR has more female fans than any other American sport. And, it is growing like a weed.

NASCAR's sudden rise to the mainstream is evidenced by extremely high television ratings in all Nielson markets often beating football or golf and new race tracks in Chicago, California, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Picture tracks where you can place 180,000 fans and four or five football fields. Some have entire lakes in the infield. In addition, before the first race driver Bobby Labonte referred to President Bush as his friend and before the second race driver Tony Stewart said he was a Republican. We've had only two races this year and yes, President Bush attended one of them.

I can personally tell you that a majority of NASCAR drivers are Republican including Fox announcer Darryl Waltrip. He is also a personal friend to George Bush and he is on TV for three hours every Sunday. Now none of this may matter because as the author points out southern white males vote Republican. But ...I look to "NASCAR Moms", because if Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he is a Bush man you can bet the farm, the house and the OK corral on Bush winning Florida.

Think I am oversimplifying and you better think again. Have you been to a race? Are you part of the Earnhardt hysteria? They don't call the Daytona 500, "The Great American Race" for nothing. Dale Jr. just won it. And, isn't that what we are really talking about anyway? Florida?

Tyler Sewell (electronic mail, February 26, 2004)

PS.California has two races. Think President Bush will attend?

PSS. The NASCAR season ends when? November.

Editor's Note: For related articles, see NASCAR Star Works to Protect Refuge and For NASCAR Fans, Nextel Is Calling.