Perhaps the only topic more egregiously debated — as opposed to being unequivocally accepted as fact — than whether global warming is real is whether NASCAR is a sport. Ironically, those who most outwardly deny the former are also some of NASCAR’s biggest and most loyal fans.

And, while those people may be wrong about the pollution from those cars killing our breathing space, they definitely recognize the merits of NASCAR.

Before delving into my argument, I must provide you with my definition of sport.

As I have pieced it together, a sport is a physical activity that requires strategy, mental preparedness and physical training and is something where the outcome is determined by skill. Additionally, it is performed within a competitive environment where a winner is crowned.

What’s so frustrating is that I don’t think anyone I have ever argued NASCAR with has ever denied that this is an appropriate definition for sports. Yet when I outline my key points, I am refuted with “the drivers are fat” or “they don’t do anything athletic.”

Those points simply are not true as many of NASCAR’s top drivers — most notably Carl Edwards, who was recently featured in the ESPN The Magazine bodies photo shoot — are jacked. Besides, look at some of the linebackers in football, such as Glen “Big Baby” Davis or the Big Show. Those men are hardly thin and ripped, but their title of “athlete” is never questioned.

Now, let’s take a look at each piece of my definition to prove NASCAR’s legitimacy.

The drivers, who are strapped in by a five-to-seven pound harness while suffering from extreme heat in the cars must, at all times, be extremely focused on the task at hand.

Their mental fortitude is as high as any professional pitcher or golfer as they must avoid crashing into another human being who is in another car with both of them speeding around the track at 200 mph.

Hand-eye coordination — an undeniable athletic skill — is necessary when handling sharp turns or road courses while closely chasing cars.

And while some may discount sitting and driving for 500 miles as a physical activity, think about the difficulty anyone faces on a long road trip. Your muscles and back inevitably hurt from the strain. The same thing happens here if you aren’t physically fit.

In terms of skill, it’s undeniable that there are some drivers who understand the strategy of what it takes to win better than others.

There is knowing how to best “draft,” which is to drive behind the other car to lower wind resistance and allow the car to go faster. The best ones know when to pit, how to manage a checkered-flag situation and know when to chase down an opponent or hang back. The best drivers have a feel for the sport and are most adept at handling the situation.

It’s why there is the Nationwide Series — NASCAR’s Triple-A. If everyone could do it, then they’d all be on the big tour.

The real thing that any doubter must overcome to accept NASCAR, though, is their stereotyped idea of what an athlete is or what he or she does. An athlete is not just someone who can run forever, jump high, swim far or throw a ball very fast. In fact, many athletes in professional sports can only do one or two of those things.

So, it really comes down to accepting what NASCAR drivers do — drive under the toughest circumstances imaginable — as being an athletic skill.

It’s why chess, spelling bees and Scrabble tournaments cannot qualify as sports, but golf can. As I previously mentioned, sports are all about the strain they places on one’s body and mind.

Not everyone has the ability to simultaneously handle these two types of pressure, but NASCAR athletes do on a weekly basis for close to 10 months.

How many professional seasons are that long? None.

Well, the WWE is, but I doubt that I really can count that as a professional sport.

In the end, for anyone to buy my argument they need to overcome their predispositions and realize that the elements drivers face are unique and force them to be adroit in a variety of skills that in another situation would undoubtedly constitute athleticism.

For those who remain blind, do so at your own ignorance. I, however, will be heading to the gym to meet with my friends Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

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