NASCAR racers are mean
Image is everything when it comes to stars and entertainers but it seems that this is not entirely always true when it comes down to NASCAR racers. Most racers would try to keep out of trouble by keeping their mouths firmly shut and keep mum even when they're bursting to say something because their image is on the line. Say one thing wrong and the whole thing will blow of proportion. Hence, their popularity will be affected, the sponsors will be affected and the racing may not be the same anymore. All because one racer cannot keep his mouth shut about something? Worth it? I don't know.
Rivalry is pretty common in NASCAR…in fact, not only in Nascar. Even in F1, IRL/CCWS and other types of car racing, there is always rivalry among the racers. This makes the race just that little bit more interesting to watch – especially when they're rubbing tires together in the middle of the race. It will be even better when their rivalry on the NASCAR track creeps into their personal lives and it hits the headlines.
Has it always been like that for NASCAR. No. Apparently not. Rewind ten years and we see NASCAR as a good and clean game of racing among fabulous racers. Since NASCAR has become more popular these days, it has also become more commercialized resulting in the race being fiercer…and harder. This can be seen in the way NASCAR racers respond to reports, rumors and comments made by their rivals. In the good old days, the NASCAR racer will simply keep quiet and take it to the track. The newer and fresher NASCAR racers no longer give two hoots about what other people (including the sponsors) think of their attitude.
Now it's pretty hard to find two NASCAR racers who are good on the track, challenge each other, are bitter rivals on the track and yet respected each other. But some NASCAR fans contend that it might make watching NASCAR racing a little bit on the BORING side? It wouldn't be all that fun anymore without these NASCAR racers being mean to each other, would it?