Unlike Senator John McCain, NASCAR actually is concerned with the plight of average Americans. The association would like to give back to the millions of people who've made it one of the most profitable and popular enterprises in history... by raising awareness about certain steps YOU can take to improve gas mileage.
Fans of NASCAR, like myself, come in all different shapes and sizes (despite the usual stereotypes), and range from expert to clueless with respect to automobiles. Some of us just like watching stuff go fast.
But even the most boneheaded NASCAR viewer understands certain basic facts about cars. We're glad we know these things and we wish more people knew them... they improve our quality of life, and they could improve yours too.
One of the most fundamental things we racing enthusiasts understand is that inflating your tires to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage, which is good. I wrote this diary to highlight this NASCAR article about using a tire gauge:
Gas prices may be soaring, but by following these simple gas-saving measures, you can keep more cash in your wallet:
- Check tire pressure once a month. Buy a digital gauge and keep it in the glove box. Compare the pressure in the tires with the recommended pressure listed in the owner's manual and on the placard in the car door. Then inflate the tires as needed. Be sure to check tire pressure when tires are cold -- early morning is a great time after the car's been idle overnight.
- Pump up the tires. Underinflated tires wear down more quickly and can lower a car's gas mileage by as much as 15 percent. Driving on underinflated tires may also reduce the life of the tires by 15 percent or more, so make sure to keep the tires set at the proper pressure.
That's NASCAR, not the DNC. If the Republicans are going to pass around tire gauges at their convention, like they did with the Purple Heart bandages, they won't just be mocking the Democratic candidate this time. They'll be mocking all the people who've turned to NASCAR for stock car entertainment... and information on fuel saving techniques. Keeping the tires properly inflated is something that millions of Americans do in order to cut costs. Please keep mocking it.
Please, John McCain, continue mocking NASCAR fans. You might have given Barack Obama one of his most valuable talking points yet... he's already shitting on you. I LOVE the dynamic that you're setting up for us: a Republican maverick (who brags about voting with GWB 90% of the time) who owns 8 or 9 houses, wears $500 Italian loafers, and can't remember the last time he pumped gas.
Please keep trying to paint Barack Obama as an elitist. I love politics, and I'm really loving running against John McCain. He's not just lobbing the ball down the middle of the plate... he's putting it on a tee for us.