My Pledge to NASCAR

Everyone loves to criticize NASCAR—myself included.

Let's face it, the sanctioning body makes the most questionable calls of any other sports league and drivers become walking billboards for hundreds of of sponsors every year. So in an effort to get myself ready for the long season to come, I've decided to write a pledge to NASCAR.

I pledge to watch all 36 races this season—even if some (Pocono and California come to mind) tend to be boring races...

I pledge to watch the lower-tier series—even the little guys need some exposure...

I pledge to try and attend a race at one of the tracks within two hours of my home—please make the tickets a bit more reasonable!

I pledge to stand by and watch you make (and break) rules as you please—even if they benefit a driver I don't like...

I pledge to try and not cry when Jimmie Johnson wins his fourth championship in a row—come on, can't you let the air out of one of his tires or something? Or at least shake up the Chase tracks?

I pledge to support the league's sponsors—let's face it, we all want NASCAR to continue, and if they intend to do so, the sponsors need help so they can continue to pour money into the sport...

I pledge turn both televisions in my house to NASCAR whether I'm watching or not—viewership is another large pool for NASCAR, so even if you are busy doing something, leave that TV turned on so their watchers go up...

I pledge to sit quietly as Roush Fenway cars dominate on the "Cookie Cutter" tracks—honestly NASCAR, can't we get a little variety?

And most of all, I pledge to continue writing about the sport I love—the only way to keep the sport growing is to spread the word...

We are all in this long season together. Sure, we have the longest season, it stretches the most months of any other sport. We have the most die-hard fans who will fight to the death for their driver—and their actions.

But we also have some of the sport's most critical fans. I know, NASCAR does it to themselves—most of the time. But let's not give up yet. Let's support our beloved sport and help it to rise back to the fastest growing sport it once was.

If you want to take the pledge to become a full-fledged NASCAR fan, repeat after me:

"I pledge allegiance to NASCAR...The best sport in America...

And to the Republic...Known as HMS...

One team...unbeatable...with the top drivers...and a high bar for all..."

PS: NASCAR, we need cheerleaders!