New NASCAR fan. Who should I root for and why?

The driver of the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Tony Stewart! Why? Because he's the man. If Kurt Busch hadn't spun him out, he would have definitely finished top five if. The man is just bad a**. And watch out whoever is in front of him, because their rear-view mirrors are full of Smoke! War Tony Stewart!

Cheers!

I am a new fan too and your question is a good one. Living in the Pacific NW I can root for the local sports teams like the Seahawks, Mariners, Sonics, and Canucks. But there is no local team in NASCAR, so who do you pick?

Daytona last weekend was also the first time I sat down and watched a full race. I enjoyed it too. I will probably become a fan of some driver, but in the meantime, and while I am watching NASCAR with a Miller Lite in my hand, I might as well cheer for the blue #2 Miller Lite car, at least until he crashes; and then I can switch to a Bud and the #8 car, until he crashes.

I am a fan of Jimmie Johnson, I like him because he is a good clean driver. He can come from being a lap or two down to being in the top 10, and he doesn't wreck anybody to do it. I don't think that he had a great car at Daytona this year because he did not do very well. He can usually run great and he has a great crew chief and crew who help him win races and get it done. His record stands for itself.

I also like Kasey Khane, even from his rookie year, he impressed me. Last year he won more races than any other driver. He is a clean driver as well, he is not as consistent with top 10 finishes, but he does win races.

Carl Edwards is another one that I like to watch. He does really well, His rookie year, he came close to winning the cup. I have seen him steal the race in the last lap. He is usually a clean driver as well, he is not spinning out people intentionally.

Jeff Gordon has more wins and more championships than any other active driver. He is very consistent in top 10 finishes. He has 75 wins and 4 championships, and his racing is clean.

I don't like Dale Jr. I think that he is overrated, he doesn't win a lot, and has had several bad years. He tends to be a real so-so driver. He does race like his father, in that he loves to "bump draft" more times then not, he wrecks the driver he is bump drafting. I am not a big fan of the bum draft, but it is legal. I just don't think that he is that great. He is only in the sport because of his daddy.

While Jr. is the one I used to love to hate, Tony Stewart is really the guy I love to hate these days. He is a bully. His theory is that if he wants to get by someone, they better move over and let him pass them, if not he will wreck them. Besides, didn't his mother ever teach him not too climb fences?

Since you are new to Nascar, why don't you pick a driver that is new. I started getting into racing Kasey Kahne's rookie season. I did not want to root for someone that everyone else was, so I decided to root for a rookie. The only reason that I even decided on him was because he was the same age as I was. Now, many people root for him, but I can say I rooted for him his rookie year. Pick any of the rookies, and you can say that you have been a fan since the beginning!

Everyone in hear could tell you your favorite driver but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the best or the worst or anything and you dont have to have a favorite driver you can respect all of them and like all of them and still have a favorite driver and drivers you hate. As for me I am a Jeff Gordon fan and I hate Matt Kenseth, Robby Gordon, Kurt Busch, and Kyle Busch, and a few other drivers. I like the Hendrick Motorsports drivers alot but alot of people dont. I suggest that you watch a few more races and see what you think of the drivers that they interview and then make your decision and their are alot of great drivers. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and alot of other drives out their so make your own decision based on what you personally think of the drivers.

I really wouldn't listen to all the other fans about hating the Hendrick drivers as they are just good drivers with good equipment and people just don't like them because they are good and they don't like Jeff Gordon alot because he is so good and has the best record of any driver currently active in Nextel Cup. They also hate him because of his rival with Sr. and now his rival with Jr. .

What rule says you 'have to ' pick a driver to root for? I've been a race fan for 40 years and have only picked one driver, and he was killed a few years later. From that moment on, I've been a "Racing Fan", and not a "Driver Fan". Relax, enjoy the races, it will be much easier to pick the drivers you don't like. Enjoy the sport, don't make it more complicated than it is. Welcome to the GREAT sport of Auto Racing, whether it be NASCAR or other forms of the sport.

I would watch more races other than the Daytona 500. I watched about 5 races before I picked my favorite driver. It was Dale Sr. at the time, then after watching Dale Jr. I became a fan of his. Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, and Greg Biffle are really good drivers as well.

Stay away from Junior...he's a bigger sell out than Gordon

Between doing jean commercials and driving Jayzee around, Grandpa Ralph is probably spinning in his grave. He's the most over rated driver out there. Always blaming his car or crew for his lack of talent. Now he's trying to extort over half of the company his father built from his step mom. He's a real class act. Bottom line Dale Jr is hero to the stupid

Just pick one as a new fan you might want to root for a couple of new racers and a couple of older racers..a new racer like Dave Gilliand would be nice to root for..and a few others like Paul Menard is also a newer driver along with Montoya...me i mainly root for Dale Jr...and Stewart . I also like many other drivers and an old timer that was retired last year and racing this year Ricky Rudd..s pick whomever you like and don't let anyone force you to like a driver because they do..and over time you will have a top 5 fav and top 5 dislikes so sit back and enjoy the season we are in for a good ride...try to go to a race it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!! me i am going to be at Chicagoland

Personally, I picked a rookie to route for when I started watching.

Don’t jump on the bandwagon (Dale Jr., Stewart, Gordon, Johnson, Harvick)

Don’t route for pretty boys (Kahne, Edwards, Vickers, Sorenson)

Dirty drivers = Stewart, Harvick, Jr., Vickers, Edwards, Gordon (take your pick), Busch (also take your pick), Newman

Clean Drivers = Jeff Burton, Kenseth (except Bristol last year), Hamlin, Labonte, Martin.

Drivers who flat out can’t drive = A.J. Allmendinger, McMurray, Petty (sorry Kyle), dart w/o feathers Ragan, anyone named Sauter, Kenny Wallace, Michael Waltrip.

If you want to be looked at weird or hated by others, go with either of the Busch brothers, Gordon, or Johnson or a Toyota driver.

If you’re going for style points I would say Boris Said but you’d only see him in like 6 races.

If you’re a Ford fan go with Biffle.

Chevy fan, Truex, Menard, Jeff Burton, Hamlin, or Bowyer

Dodge fan, Sadler, Riggs or Montoya.

I know it’s not worth much but there’s my 2 cents. You asked.

Watch a few races, pay attention to the drivers, read some articles (pick up the Scene if you can find it). Formulate your own opinion, don't rely on others - because trust me, NASCAR fans are pretty biased when it comes to drivers.