[Michael Beard]

I've had plenty of these discussions with new fans. They usually pick up the basics in just a few pairs of cars. It's not hard. Bowling and golf are probably good analogies... I always tell them it's like the Price is Right: Get as close as you can without going under. Even the .90 classes were interesting to people once it was explained to them the how's and why's. Telling fans about the drivers also gives them a reason to care.

It's rudimentary announcing skills. Thankfully we have some announcers who really 'get it', and hopefully they will rub off on the ones that don't. But we can help by talking to the fans in the pits, too.

Try watching a couple of hands of Pinochle. If you don't know the rules, it'll bewilder you. Explain the rules, explain the object, and let them play. Now it's interesting! The same goes for any game or sport. Curling, anyone?