Is there a reason why everyone associated with NASCAR has a southern accent?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,134
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
I'm watching History Channel's "History of NASCAR", and everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY including the commentator has a southern accent. There's got to be a reason for it, care to comment?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,898
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
I think the southern men feared their wives more, so they'd drive as fast and far away from them. Later they made a sport out of it and over years became professional nascar drivers. Those who couldn't make it amongst the elite became supporters, fans, and news people.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,134
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,134
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 0
From: Bedford
Richard, I think NASCAR's Southern origins can be traced back to the hills of Kentucky in the late 40's and early 50's. The good ol' boys made moonshine way back up in the hills and needed a quick, reliable way to get their illicit brew to market. By removing the back seat they could load up on multiple jugs of "white lightening" (100 proof ethyl alcohol).
Since they faced competition from their fellow-distillers as well as apprehension by police, the guy with the fastest, baddest ride was most successful. On their days off these guys got together just like we do (but not on the internet, of course), popped a cork on their jug of home brew and told each other lies about their mods. Challenges were made, challenges were met. Well, the first thing you know, along came Bill France and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Southern accent is almost a traditional tribute to the sport, sort of the same way commercial pilots all over the world sound like a top gun jockey.
Richard, a good reference for you might be to seek out the movie "Thunder Road" starring Robert Mitchum ( not the 1996 movie, but a much older B&W movie from 1958). You can read all about it at:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0052293. There's also a movie trailer at this site.
Actually, I think the first guy to lay a wrench on his post-war merc was a moonshiner named Greg "Bubba" Stevens (No relation to our esteemed colleague Mr. stevens, I'm sure.).
[Edited by lvs2k on 05-26-2001 at 01:43 AM]
Since they faced competition from their fellow-distillers as well as apprehension by police, the guy with the fastest, baddest ride was most successful. On their days off these guys got together just like we do (but not on the internet, of course), popped a cork on their jug of home brew and told each other lies about their mods. Challenges were made, challenges were met. Well, the first thing you know, along came Bill France and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Southern accent is almost a traditional tribute to the sport, sort of the same way commercial pilots all over the world sound like a top gun jockey.
Richard, a good reference for you might be to seek out the movie "Thunder Road" starring Robert Mitchum ( not the 1996 movie, but a much older B&W movie from 1958). You can read all about it at:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0052293. There's also a movie trailer at this site.
Actually, I think the first guy to lay a wrench on his post-war merc was a moonshiner named Greg "Bubba" Stevens (No relation to our esteemed colleague Mr. stevens, I'm sure.).
[Edited by lvs2k on 05-26-2001 at 01:43 AM]
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee
Ivs2K is correct. That used to be the case but is not always anymore. Listen to Jeff Gordon or Steve Park neither of them or some others have the "drawl". The races sell out at Pocono, Vegas, California too. It's a great sport. Is it the end all best of motorsports, no as F1, Cart & even IRL do things for the purist. Honestly I like F1, Cart & Nascar equally. The NASCAR thing seems bigger because they have many more races & are almost always on nat'l TV. My $.02.
