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Last post 7 years ago by Whistlebritches. 13 replies replies.
NASCAR vs. Hollywood is a tale of two Americas
Burner02 Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,861
Sunday is one of those days that lays bare the stark division in America.

In the afternoon, NASCAR will present its crown jewel, the 59th running of the Daytona 500. A few hours later, the glitterati of Hollywood will assemble for the 89th presentation of the Academy Awards, the entertainment industry’s tribute to itself.

The “Great American Race,” as it is known, is one of those storied events that brings together racing royalty. It features 40 of the most skilled earth-bound pilots competing for racing history, before 101,000 spectators and millions more watching from home or their local brewery.

The Academy Awards stretch back to the true golden age of motion pictures, when dozens of real-life Joan Crawfords were treated like princesses, and leading men had the aura of godheads about them.

Today, many of our current screen legends seem to be playing out the plot of Sunset Boulevard, unable to fathom that they are no longer considered sacred and above reproach. A few might also have to come to terms with the truth that they are not very good actors. Certainly, many are grappling with the fact that they are out of touch with heartland America.

The Daytona 500 will kick off with a rendition of the National Anthem by Jordin Sparks and a flyover by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Patriotism will be as thick in the air as the smell of gasoline fumes.

At the Oscars, there will be music, but it will not be set to Francis Scott Key’s immortal words. Instead, the hours-long show is likely to be a hate-fest from a bunch of millionaire dilettantes who can’t understand how Donald Trump (one of their own, really, while he hosted Celebrity Apprentice) could have defeated the anointed pants-suited one they fully expected to be worshipping in their speeches.

Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel has promised not to let the show spin out of control. We'll see how long it takes for the insults to start, or for the first F-word to slip – carefully scripted, of course.

Jeff Gordon, Fox’s race analyst and a legend is his own right, was on Fox News Channel with Bill Hemmer on Friday. His enthusiasm was evident. “Not only is it our biggest race of the year, this is a career changing moment if you win this race. When you wake up on race day, you know there’s something very special happening.”

But here’s where Gordon showed real class. Told that President Trump might be speaking at any moment, and that “the commander in chief gets priority,” Gordon laughed and said, “Understood.” Would Meryl Streep react the same way?

It might be that many Americans will watch both the Daytona race and the Oscars, but somehow I don’t think so. NASCAR fans probably won’t want to hear screeds against the president. And Oscar aficionados won’t be wowed by an Air Force flyover.

One other big difference: the drivers at Daytona face real danger when they rev their engines. The actors at the Oscars just pretend to.


8trackdisco Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 11-06-2004
Posts: 59,992
Typical of my maverick nature, I don't care for either telecast.

Now, if you give each of the drivers a dozen shots of tequila, then fill the car with Hollywood types without seat belts, I'd watch that.
Burner02 Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,861
8trackdisco wrote:
Now, if you give each of the drivers a dozen shots of tequila,


That was the good old days. They had to clean it up in this era of being kinder and gentler.
Mr. Jones Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 06-12-2005
Posts: 19,359
#2 8trk

That sounds like....

"DEATH RACE 2017"
By Roger Corman
wvwa34 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 10-07-2004
Posts: 9,182
8trackdisco wrote:
Typical of my maverick nature, I don't care for either telecast.

Now, if you give each of the drivers a dozen shots of tequila, then filled the car with Hollywood types without seat belts, I'd watch that.

I think youre onto something!?
victor809 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 10-14-2011
Posts: 23,866
8track beat me to it.

If you're turning either of these things into some representation of how you want America to be represented, perhaps you are making a poor decision.
shaun341 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 08-02-2012
Posts: 8,826
Watched the NASCAR but didn't see the Oscars nor care to. NASCAR is losing me as well though with yet more rule changes. 3 Stages to every race now, don't like it at all. Makes every race a shootout pretty much and takes gas mileage almost completely out of the race.
99cobra2881 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
I watched golf.

My hobbies vary right now it's golf.
Burner02 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,861
shaun341 wrote:
Watched the NASCAR but didn't see the Oscars nor care to. NASCAR is losing me as well though with yet more rule changes. 3 Stages to every race now, don't like it at all. Makes every race a shootout pretty much and takes gas mileage almost completely out of the race.



Have not followed closely for almost 20 years. Like most things it has become way to commercialized
MACS Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 02-26-2004
Posts: 79,593
8trackdisco wrote:
Typical of my maverick nature, I don't care for either telecast.

Now, if you give each of the drivers a dozen shots of tequila, then fill the car with Hollywood types without seat belts, I'd watch that.


LOL! And that, my brother... is why we is brothers. I did not watch either event, nor did I have any desire to do so.
bgz Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 07-29-2014
Posts: 13,023
Ya, I didn't watch either of them.

Wasn't even aware that either of them were on, lol.
jjanecka Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 12-08-2015
Posts: 4,334
The only time I ever liked watching nascar was when I still had the soundsystem in my bedroom and I let the sound of the cars boom around the room while I closed my eyes completely hungover from the night before.
Whistlebritches Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
8trackdisco wrote:
Typical of my maverick nature, I don't care for either telecast.

Now, if you give each of the drivers a dozen shots of tequila, then fill the car with Hollywood types without seat belts, I'd watch that.


Ditto..........
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