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I’m a NASCAR Fan and I’m New to Twitter

NASCAR Twitter

NASCAR fans have been embracing Twitter very rapidly. NASCAR has always been a fan-friendly sport and Twitter is helping fans online connect to not just other fans, but also tracks, sponsors, teams and even some drivers.

But for someone unfamiliar with what Twitter has to offer, it can be very overwhelming. So, I present to you a primer to Twitter, specifically geared towards NASCAR fans.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a service where people can share 140-character messages with their friends and followers. This can be simple status updates (like Facebook) or comments, opinions or observations about life. Twitter is extremely open-ended in this regard, which is why it’s so popular.

How do I use Twitter?

It’s easy. You can enter a “Tweet” after logging in to Twitter. That’s all it takes. You can also configure your cell phone so that you can text message Twitter to update your status when you’re away from your computer.

Advanced users can take advantage of software programs that allow you to update Twitter from an application. These programs provide different benefits like sorting followers into groups, searching Twitter for people talking about a subject, and so on. Some popular programs include Twitterrific, TweetDeck and Twhirl.

How do I talk to others on Twitter?

If you want to talk to someone specifically, begin your tweet with the @ symbol and their username. For example, if you wanted to talk to me on Twitter, you would Tweet something like, “@Restrictor I love your tweets and you’re awesome and I want to give you money.” These are called replies. They are public comments, so don’t profess your undying affection for Starlight Vocal Band or others could find out. Be sure to begin the tweet with @ and the username. If you don’t, the intended recipient may not see it.

You can also use what are called direct messages to contact someone specifically in a way that isn’t public. However, you can only direct message (or DM) people who are following you. And while DM is a pretty private way to communicate, it’s not terribly secure, so don’t put your PIN number or something like that in a DM.

What about links?

A popular method of using Twitter is to share links. However, since web site addresses count towards your 140-character limit, a number of “URL Shortening” services have arisen to minimize the number of characters you need to use for web site addresses. At Restrictor Plated, we use tr.im because it provides very short URLs and gives us tracking tools to find out how many people clicked on a particular link. Other URL shortening services include TinyURL.com, bit.ly and is.gd.

What are these # signs doing in some people’s tweets?

When you see something at the end of a tweet that begins with a pound sign (like “#NASCAR” for example), that’s called a “hashtag.” What that does is help other people find tweets about a particular subject through a software program like I mentioned before or by using search.twitter.com. During races, when we talk about NASCAR, we try to use the #NASCAR hashtag so that other people can find those who are talking about that week’s NASCAR race. Also, by doing this, #NASCAR becomes the #1 popular topic on Twitter EACH AND EVERY WEEK, which is pretty cool.

What does “RT” mean?

RT is shorthand for “Re-Tweet.” The idea is that if you see a tweet that you liked or laughed at or want to share with others, you copy it and then “retweet it.” There is no “official” way to retweet something. Simply copy and paste the tweet and then preface it with “RT @ThePersonsUsername”. If this makes it longer than the 140 characters provided, it is generally accepted that you can shorten it yourself somewhat to make it fit (as long as the original meaning is left intact). So, for example, if I twittered this:

This is a fascinating tweet that you want to retweet. #NASCAR

To retweet this, simply copy and paste that into your Tweet box like so:

RT @Restrictor This is a fascinating tweet that you want to retweet. #NASCAR

And that’s it! Retweeting is a great way to share things you like, while also helping others discover that person and perhaps following them as well. It’s good etiquette.

I don’t know if I want everyone following me. Should I set my account to private?

Well, if you are seriously concerned about your own privacy or don’t want your husband/boss/coworkers/whomever to find out about your thoughts, then, sure, set your account to private. However, understand that it will be much more difficult to get new followers because users who see your account won’t be able to see your tweets and cannot gauge whether or not they would want to follow you or not.

Also, if you follow someone and have a private account, if the user follows you back and you don’t accept their request to see your tweets, they might get upset that you remain private to them and block you. This happens quite a bit with private accounts.

In the end, it’s up to you, but Twitter works best when you’re out in the open. You might want to find a different outlet to tell people about how dumb your boss is.

How do I get new followers?

Well, talk about things that would be of interest to someone else. Talking about your lunch or how much your job sucks may feel cathartic, but most people aren’t interested in that. (Except perhaps your boss: remember, your Twitter account is public unless you explicitly set it to private.)

Also, be friendly. Talk to other people, even if they don’t follow you. Sometimes this can be an opening to getting them to follow you back.

So what about NASCAR on Twitter?

Okay, now we get to the fun stuff. If you’re looking to follow some NASCAR people on Twitter, there are lots of people out there who might be of interest to you.

Before I get started, I want to mention two resources from two guys who kind of blazed this trail already a little bit. @tallglassofmilk was the original creator of the NASCAR on Twitter list, and then The Final Lap with Kerry Murphey picked that up and ran with it a little. If you’re looking for more resources, you’d be hard pressed to look beyond what they’ve compiled as well.

UPDATE: Also, NASCARGirl14 has a list of motorsports Twitterers that also spans into NHRA and IHRA. Thanks, Genna!

MAJOR UPDATE

The below list is still mostly accurate, but is no longer maintained. We have since replaced it with the launch of Twitter Motorsports. You can still utilize this list, but check out that site for tons of fresh Twitter accounts!

I'm Listed on TwitterMotorsports.com

First off, I want to give you some good accounts to follow if you’re a NASCAR fan, no matter who you’re a fan of, then some more general NASCAR-related Twitter accounts, then I’ll follow that up with a list of Twitter accounts you might be interested in based on which driver you like.

Good General NASCAR Twitter Accounts

  • @Restrictor - Well of course I’m going to list myself first. :)
  • @MaxPapis was the first driver we found who actually Twittered himself (some drivers had accounts, but a PR person was actually doing the Twittering). He’s Twittered lots of behind-the-scenes pictures from the tracks he races at and is just generally a really cool guy.
  • @Bobby_Labonte is another driver who has recently joined Twitter. Previously, a PR person was Twittering under his name, but now he’s Twittering himself.
  • @BMSUpdates is the official Twitter account for Bristol Motor Speedway. They were the first NASCAR track on Twitter and are very personable and work hard to keep fans updated.
  • @UPSRacing is the official channel for UPS Racing and David Ragan. Frequently Twitters about what Ragan is doing during each race.
  • @FordRacing is the official Twitter account for Ford Racing. Does lots of creative things through Twitter, including interviewing Bobby Labonte through Twitter.
  • @matthumphreycar is the Twitter account of Orlando Sentinel NASCAR blogger Matt Humphrey. Good writer, chats with the fans a lot. A very good representative of the traditional journalists in NASCAR.
  • @thefinallap is the Twitter account of NASCAR radio host and podcaster Kerry Murphey, who does lots of good stuff.
  • @dustinlong is NASCAR beat writer Dustin Long. Twitters a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff from the races you usually don’t get on TV.

Some More General NASCAR Twitter Accounts

  • @nascarsays - The *OFFICIAL* NASCAR channel. Mostly a news feed, but does have some updates during races.
  • @nascar_nns and @nascar_trucks - Verified OFFICIAL: updates about the Nationwide and Truck series.
  • @nascar - This is NOT an official channel. It’s a third-party news aggregator.
  • @nascar_official - This is an unofficial channel, but is actual data from NASCAR.com.
  • @RacingComm - Director of Marketing Communications for ISC
  • @nascaronfox - The official Twitter account of NASCAR on FOX. They’re still feeling everything out on how to use it as something other than to push Digger merchandise.
  • @NASCAR_Foundat - The official Twitter account for the NASCAR Foundation, NASCAR’s official charity.
  • @NASCARDay - The official Twitter account for NASCAR Day.
  • @NASCARHall - The official Twitter account for the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC (currently under construction).
  • @NASCANNER - NASCAR scanner frequency information.
  • @RaceRemote - RaceRemote Motorsports Media Network

Some NASCAR Journalists, Bloggers, News Sites, On-Air Personalities

NASCAR Tracks

The NASCAR tracks who are NOT on Twitter yet (to our knowledge): Atlanta Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Darlington Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Memphis Motorsports Park. If this changes, please let us know!

NASCAR Drivers, Sponsors, Teams, Fans on Twitter

Here’s the big one. Find your favorite driver or team listed below and you’ll find a list of related Twitterers that may be of interest to you.

#00 David Reutimann

#07 Casey Mears

#1 Martin Truex, Jr.

  • @MartinTruexJr - Uncertain status, assume unofficial or imposter for now.

#2 Kurt Busch

  • @KurtBusch - Official account, but has not been updated since the end of last season.

#5 Mark Martin

#6 David Ragan

#7 Robby Gordon

#9 Kasey Kahne

#11 Denny Hamlin

13 Max Papis

  • @maxpapis - Official account and officially him tweeting from behind the scenes at the races.
  • @tatipapis (Max’s wife)

#14 Tony Stewart

#16 Greg Biffle

#17 Matt Kenseth

#18 Kyle Busch

#19 Elliott Sadler

#20 Joey Logano

21 Bill Elliott

#24 Jeff Gordon

#26 Jamie McMurray

#29 Kevin Harvick

#31 Jeff Burton

#33 Clint Bowyer

  • @RCRracing - Team site (maybe official? Unverified)

#39 Ryan Newman

#42 Juan Pablo Montoya

  • @jpmontoya - Probably official, and possibly him. Not sure. Hasn’t tweeted in a while, does tweet in Spanish occasionally.
  • @TargetINC (Sponsor official, I think?)
  • @GMblogs (Manufacturer Official: GM)
  • @42fan (Fan)
  • @fakejuanmontoya (At least he’s honest.)

#43 Reed Sorenson

#44 A.J. Allmendinger

#47 Marcos Ambrose

#48 Jimmie Johnson

#55 Michael Waltrip

71 David Gilliland

#77 Sam Hornish, Jr.

#88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
(This may come as a surprise, but Junior has a lot of fans.)

#96 Bobby Labonte

#99 Carl Edwards

Nationwide/Other NASCAR Series

  • @BennyGordon72 - Benny Gordon, part-time Nationwide Series driver.
  • @BradCColeman - Brad Coleman, Nationwide Series driver. (Verified)
  • @KellyBires - Kelly Bires, Nationwide Series driver. (Unverified, but likely him.)
  • @mmcdowell47 - Michael McDowell, Nationwide Series driver. (Verified)
  • @nationwide - Will be Twittering from Nationwide races starting at Nashville.
  • @RC_Racing - Ricky Carmichael Racing
  • @team09_jessica - News from the RAB Racing #09 car driven by John Wes Townley

Other Good, All-Around NASCAR Fans

(Some people here, I just don’t know their driver “allegiances.” If you are here and would like to be listed under a particular driver, please let me know. :)

Other Twitter Accounts You Might Like

  • @4Carmichael - Fan Twitter account for Ricky Carmichael, former motorcyclist turned Truck Series driver. This is NOT official as previously thought. This was confirmed by @thefinallap.
  • @Chrysler - Official Twitter account for Chrysler Corporate.
  • @Craftsman2009 - Official Twitter account for Craftsman Tools.
  • @dougherbert - Official Twitter account for NHRA Driver Doug Herbert.
  • @EldoraSpeedway - Twitter account for Tony Stewart’s half-mile short track.
  • @espn - Official Twitter feed of ESPN.com
  • @hertaautosport - Official Twitter feed of Bryan Herta and his Indy Lights team, Bryan Herta Autosport.
  • @HorsepowerHeels - Drag racer Erica Ortiz.
  • @ihramotorsports - Official Twitter account of the IHRA.
  • @IMSProductions - Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s in-house video production group.
  • @IndyCarNation - Official Twitter feed of the IndyCar Series.
  • @Jalopnik - Gawker’s car blog.
  • @JFR_Racing - Official Twitter account for John Force Racing (NHRA).
  • @KennyBernstein - Official Twitter account for NHRA Driver Kenny Bernstein.
  • @Nationwide - Official Twitter account for Nationwide Insurance. Occasionally talks about NASCAR.
  • @NHRA and @NHRA_FTS - Official Twitter accounts for the NHRA.
  • @RadicalBender - That’s me! Or my personal account at least.
  • @RyanHunterReay - IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter Reay (we think it’s an official account, unverified).
  • @Sprint - Official Twitter account for Sprint Corporate.
  • @TascaRacing - Official Twitter account for Tasca Racing (NHRA).
  • @TransAmSeries - Official Twitter account for the SCCA Trans Am Series.
  • @USF1 - Official Twitter account for USF1, the new American F1 effort.
  • @VisionRacing - Official Twitter account for the IRL team, Vision Racing.
  • @_ROUSH_ - Official Twitter account for Roush Performance, not Roush Fenway Racing.

If You Would Like To Be Included in This List…

As extensive as this list is, it’s still very incomplete. Mostly because, hey, when you follow thousands of NASCAR fans, it gets a little tiring to search through each one and figure out which driver you like.

IF YOU WANT YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT ON THIS LIST, please DM me at @Restrictor. Here are the qualifications needed:

  1. Please actually have some followers. I’m not adding you to this list if you’re brand new.
  2. Please actually tweet about your driver or at least about NASCAR sometimes. If you’re a fan but all you talk about is pottery or meterology or squirrels, I’m not adding you.

Other people that should be on this list: teams, tracks, drivers, etc., please either comment below or DM or @reply to me on Twitter.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Twitter and NASCAR. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Responses to “I’m a NASCAR Fan and I’m New to Twitter”

  1. Jim DeLorenzo says:
    March 23, 2009 at 4:29 pm

    Very cool post. You may want to check out http://twackle.com/192/More%20Sports/nascar

  2. David Rubin says:
    March 25, 2009 at 9:45 am

    Awesome post! I think it’s amazing how NASCAR fans have adopted this new technology so rapidly. Watching races on Sundays has gotten so much more enjoyable and interactive with the use of search.twitter.com and hashtags. This Sunday, search #thp. Keep up the great work!

    -Dave

  3. Josh Hamilton says:
    March 29, 2009 at 10:14 am

    just wanted everybody to know that NASCARSays, NASCAR_NNS and NASCAR_Trucks are the official twitter sites of NASCAR… NASCAR_Official is part of NASCAR.COM, it is not an official twitter page of NASCAR. follow us throughout the week and during race weekends!