You never really know what you'll witness in the grandstands during a NASCAR race. The fans that attend these events can be a real cast of characters, ranging from good-natured historians of the sport to obliterated individuals who are just looking to have a good time. The gentleman in the below video definitely falls in the latter category.
Filmed during the AAA 400 at Dover Motor Speedway back in 2011, this guy was clearly having himself a good old fashioned day at the races.
Now, I have to respect this guy's energy. He points out individual drivers to cheer on as they pass by, taking his hat off and waving it around. Does he have a favorite driver or even know the ins and outs of NASCAR? That's tough to say. He is wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey, so maybe he's just a huge fan of sports in general.
At one point, he even flashes double birds as a certain driver passes him, showing that he doesn't have a care in the world. Clearly, his behavior was influenced by a decent amount of alcohol. What's a NASCAR race if you're not cracking a few colds ones, though?
If the folks in the stands weren't entertained enough from the racing itself, they definitely got a good chuckle from watching this guy do his thing. Hell, people watching is half the fun of a race, anyway.
What would we do without the drunk, over-the-top NASCAR fans? Seeing the stock cars race around at top speed can definitely get the blood pumping, and some fans aren't afraid to show their enthusiasm.
I'm glad another fan decided to film this particular instance. But, all that said, just remember to drink responsibly, and don't be that guy climbing on the safety fence or streaking across the track. There's a line between enthusiasm and just plain stupidity.
This post was originally published on February 17, 2021.