Why are people scared of the drag strip?

I think a lot of it is fear of the unknown. It's a totally different environment being surrounded by serious car people who know cars and how to drive them fast. That's precisely why I absolutely LOVE the track, if I still lived closer to the drag strip I'd go there all the time just to watch and hang out in the pits. In contrast I can't stand car shows, everyone is just there to show off and spectate and BS about fantasy builds and bench racing. Gets really boring for me really quick. I don't like standing around and talking I like wrenching and driving!!

I'm a bit intimidated to go to an autocross/track day for the first time but I'll never know just how much worse my Duster handles than my car buddy's Miata which he won't shut up about how great it is. I have a feeling my car will do a lot better than everyone expects. If I can get around the track faster than at least one noob in a Subaru or Miata I'll be ecstatic.