“Earnhardt Fans Were the Worst, Elliott Fans are Following Suit”: Resurfaced Video Showing “Lack of Respect” Angers NASCAR Community

Every NASCAR fan has their favorite driver, someone who they can cheer for. They feel elation when they win and crushing disappointment when they lose. Of course, no driver can keep winning every race, because where’s the fun in that? However, there are times when a driver’s rival forces him out of the race, either intentionally or accidentally. Obviously, this would invite the wrath of the wrecked driver’s faithful fans.

In the age of social media, the minute something like this happens, there is a tornado of emotional outpour the next moment. Irate fans consult the Oxford Dictionary of Abuse and bang away at their keyboards. They all pour every amount of vitriol into hating and abusing the driver who seemingly wronged their own favorite.

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NASCAR fans from decades ago were much worse

Of course, this is the age of social media and technology. So any hater can simply hide behind their computer screen or mobile phone, and shout abuse. However, rewinding the clock to a couple of decades ago, the fans displayed their displeasure openly. Recently, a NASCAR fan posted a clip of fans booing and jeering Jeff Gordon as he drove by. From there, other fans began to pitch examples of inappropriate behavior from other fans.

For the sake of context, Jeff Gordon apparently collided with Dale Earnhardt Jr. As a result, it put Dale Jr. out of championship contention in 2004. Obviously, Jr. Nation was absolutely fuming and made their displeasure known, as he could have been a Cup champion. Then, there was a unique incident where Carl Edwards was given a lot of grief for a wreck with Dale Jr. The truth was that Edwards was not involved in the accident at all, but the Dale Jr fans didn’t care.

Others spoke about a group of fans getting into an altercation with Kyle Busch. Now Busch is hardly the most likable driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, but was an altercation really necessary? Some people attributed the behavioral shift to the arrival of a newer generation of drivers and their clash with older drivers. Even the likes of Chase Elliott fans have been rather hostile occasionally.

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