I have gotten into a number of discussions/arguments, about auto racing. I have been attending races since back in the 40's, more recently, watching them on TV. Why do millions of people flock to tracks each year.
My opinion, the anticipation of seeing an accident. Not for the thrill of seeing expensive machines race around a track, but to see them crash.
You say no, just look at the commercials, they show continuous crashes, close calls in the pits, cars spinning out of control and crashing into each other. They know what brings the crowds in. Not a long line of boring cars zooming around the track, that actually is boring. What brings the crowd to its feet, a wreck, a crash, cars flying all over the track, the more involved, the better.
If it wasn't for the "anticipation" of a wreck, we could just go sit on an overpass somewhere and watch the traffic go by, free, for nothing.
The first racing name that comes to mind, Dale Earnhardt, he was killed in a wreck. Many of the other drivers names are forgotten.
I remember Grandpappy Booker, saw him killed in a wreck, probably late 40's, Funks Speedway, Dayton, Ohio. The top photo shows the old dirt track, which I vaguely remember, saw a race or two on dirt, then they paved it. Open wheeled, no roll cages. Drivers worked someplace during the week, raced on the weekends. I guess some were starting to do it as a profession in the late 40's
Some drove "midgets" on Friday night, stock cars on Saturday, and the sprints, pictured above on Sunday.
