OPINION: Is NASCAR Environmentally Impactful?

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, better known as “NASCAR,” is the American stock car racing league that has a growing popularity across the 50 states. But with the sport’s primary attraction being the racing of automobiles, is the organization bad for the environment?

My answer: Yes and No.

We all love watching the cars whizz by at speeds nearing 200 miles per hour, the hum and vibrations felt as they pass each corner turn is mesmerizing, making it easy to see why people fall in love with the sport.

The cars that are front and center for every green flag are not regulated by the EPA, and in an article on How Stuff Works, it is noted that over 6,000 gallons of gas is consumed over the course of any given race weekend, that’s a lot.

For a sport that relies on the ability of their cars to go fast, NASCAR has an uphill battle trying to figure out how to become more environmentally efficient.  Realistically, it would be difficult for NASCAR to be a clean environmental organization, with the fuel consumption and CO2 admission numbers being as high as they are. With that being said, I firmly believe that NASCAR is an entertaining sport that shouldn’t go anywhere anytime soon.

Why NASCAR isn’t bad for the environment is a little bit of a tongue-and-cheek answer, but it’s a good one, with the organization itself trying to go green.

While they still try to find ways to make their organization a cleaner, more environmentally friendly one, NASCAR is doing its part in helping the environment around them by pushing recycling among other things. I think this is a good start, to help raise awareness and better the environment in any way possible.

The recycling of cars and car parts also is a bright side for the organization. So, while the cars themselves are detrimental to the environment, NASCAR itself is a positive. Makes sense to me.