5 Things All NASCAR Fans Should be Rooting for in 2017
The kids:
The future of the sport is now right before our eyes. Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney are now joined by 2016 Xfinity Champion, Daniel Saurez and 20 year old Eric Jones. Five young drivers, all who will most likely give us some tremendous on track battles for the next 2 decades. Just what the Doctor ordered.
We’ve all seen and heard all about the decline in our sports attendance and television ratings. If NASCAR is to grow and gain new fans, these five will have a lot to do with it. Toyota, Chevy or Ford, we got you covered. This group will dominate the NASCAR scene for years to come. We should all hope for that.
Stewart Haas Racing:
In a racing series that’s seen Toyota and Chevy dominate week after week, Stewart Haas Racing's move to Ford would do wonders for a true three manufacture battle. Ford has been well represented by Penske racing with the success of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski but the fall from the top of Roush Racing has been monumental. Roush, now down to just one team is no longer among the elite teams. Stewart Haas could propel Ford back into the picture.
The subtraction of Tony Stewart certainly doesn’t help but adding the personable, talkative and funny Clint Bowyer gives the team a likable veteran ready to step up in his new car and role. More equal competition among the car manufacturers means more exciting races. That’s something all NASCAR fans, no matter their rooting interest, would want.
The new point structure:
It was nearly unanimous among NASCAR drivers. They love the new NASCAR rules which include race segments, bonus points and playoff points. The pooling among NASCAR fans was just the opposite. Many of us old timers still think fondly of the past. The “good old days”. Unfortunately, those good old days are no longer good enough for these days. NASCAR scores a lot of points here by working alongside of the drivers and coming up with a scheme that very well work.
Many of the new generation fans favor immediate satisfaction and entertainment. They want to see “events”. So do I. I’m firmly in the “let’s wait to see how the new rules play out” camp. For a brighter future for NASCAR we should all be rooting for their success.
NASCAR sponsors:
With Monster Energy now the primary sponsor of NASCAR, new energy has been instilled in our sport. Let’s face it, without sponsors, much of the sport as we now know would not exist. Sponsorship is a two way street. We fans have a vested interest in their success. If they benefit from their marriage to NASCAR we all benefit.
Currently, Stewart Haas Racing is embroiled in a legal dispute with Natures Bakery. Let’s hope that this gets solved amicably by all parties. There won’t be any winners here. The #10 team will certainly lose badly needed income and Natures Bakery, not benefiting from their sponsorship hurts all of NASCAR. The sport needs their sponsors to succeed.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.:
I can’t think of anyone in any sport at any time that is seemingly admired, respected and loved by everyone. For some, we watched Junior grow up before are very eyes. Having Junior miss most of 2016 was painful. A sport doesn’t lose its most popular athlete for an extended period without feeling the effects. This was certainly true of NASCAR last season.
Who knows how many years Junior has in entertaining us. What I do know is Sunday afternoons are much more interesting when he’s behind the wheel of the #88 Chevrolet. Here’s hoping we see that every week in 2017.
Thanks for reading. Listen to WTBQ radio on Monday and Friday mornings at 8:45 as I join Frank, Taylor and the Morning Show gang to discuss all the current happenings in NASCAR. 1110AM 93.5FM or online at WTBQ.COM. You can also follow me on twitter @JimLaplante.
