When I think about Nascar drivers of the past, I come up with a few names, Petty, Pearson, Yarborough, Waltrip, Earnhardt, and its funny, all of them had distinct personalities, but they were all Excellent drivers. Most were top of the game. Today's driver has to be kind to sponsors, drive a car that they either do not like or cannot drive well, and race 42 other drivers who are vying for the same piece of racetrack that they are. So, how is it possible that the drivers of the past were able to balance their personalities and driving ability where todays driver isn't.
Like take Dale Jr, Mediocre driver, but loved by the fans, has a generally ho-hum personality, but will get fiery. Then there is Jimmie Johnson, he's a great driver, but there is a lot of disdain for him as a talent by the fans. We all know he's plain and vanilla, but that is his personality. Nobody held it against Petty for always smiling after winning a race, and when he did it was like by 3 lap lead. Today's racing is much closer, but still, its like today's driver is held to a much higher standard, than of the past, and isn't allowed to be themselves, it seems.

There are a lot of good drivers, some better than others in Nascar, and some fans would have you believe that some need to get out, but still, one driver gets penalized by the fans for being themselves, while another who is doing the same thing, who maybe is a bit rougher round the edges is praised. How fair is that. I am in no way endorsing or standing up for any driver, or bashing any driver, just kinda thinking out loud.

^ There are thousands of Dale Jr's out there, well minus the famous name but with more talent, that will never get a Cup ride for they aren't vanilla enough to suit the corporate sponsors.

first post in!

that has to be a record

FWIW.. I like vanilla, so do millions of people.. quit insulting vanilla.. JJ's personality is more like plain frozen non-fat dairy creamer.. no sugar added, no flavors either.

Lovey-Dovey - 17 November 2009 01:10 PM

^ There are thousands of Dale Jr's out there, well minus the famous name but with more talent, that will never get a Cup ride for they aren't vanilla enough to suit the corporate sponsors.

Quick story on that.

Dale Jr used to race every saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway back in 94' and 95'. The guy that was kicking every body's butt there at the time was Charles Powell III.

Well one weekend Powell had the track championship sewn up, so his team traveled out to Nashville to run a Big race they were having. Dale Jr raced that night at Myrtle Beach and won his first feature. The next week , someone asked him what did his dad say about winning and Jr told them Dale Sr made him feel about an inch tall. Jr said he called his dad after the race all excited, but Dale sr asked him, "how did Powell do?" Jr said to his dad Powell wasnt here tonight he was in Nashville to which his dad responded " well then you didnt win".

Old man was tough on Jr but he knew he had to beat the best to get better.

What attracted me to NASCAR, and motorsports in general, many years ago was the talent of the drivers. The "old" NASCAR was about the racing, even when the racing was bad but today's NASCAR is all about the driver and setting up stories that have nothing to do with the racing on the track.

johnalex1273 - 17 November 2009 01:34 PM

Lovey-Dovey - 17 November 2009 01:10 PM

^ There are thousands of Dale Jr's out there, well minus the famous name but with more talent, that will never get a Cup ride for they aren't vanilla enough to suit the corporate sponsors.

Quick story on that.

Dale Jr used to race every saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway back in 94' and 95'. The guy that was kicking every body's butt there at the time was Charles Powell III.

Well one weekend Powell had the track championship sewn up, so his team traveled out to Nashville to run a Big race they were having. Dale Jr raced that night at Myrtle Beach and won his first feature. The next week , someone asked him what did his dad say about winning and Jr told them Dale Sr made him feel about an inch tall. Jr said he called his dad after the race all excited, but Dale sr asked him, "how did Powell do?" Jr said to his dad Powell wasnt here tonight he was in Nashville to which his dad responded " well then you didnt win".

Old man was tough on Jr but he knew he had to beat the best to get better.

Great story... I am still waiting for Junior to get his "first" win for Hendrick. Not a fuel mileage win where everybody else runs out of gas.... but a real win. Hands down no doubt about it butt kicking... Can't wait.
Having said that I also look forward to Reutimann and Logano's very first wins. I mean real win... not a "I was leading when the race was stopped" win....

For me it has to be a combination of the two. Dale E sr. had loads of personality and obvious driving talent. Same with Tim Richmond, David Pearson, Cale Yarbrough, The Allisons, Harry Gant and lots of others. To be sure their is a lot of talent in the current crop of drivers, but the personality has been NASCARed out of them. Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch still stand out of the field personality wise. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Jr., Kennseth and Harvick could barely scrape one personality together between the bunch of them.

Personality? M O N T O Y A !

NASCAR is more about the mix of drivers and team's personalities and talent... almost like a soap opera... it is a "show"
F1 is about the car and it's designers and strategists as much as it is the drivers..
Indycar's drivers are unknown to everyone except the fans of that series... they're ghosts, so... there' it's about the racing... (or Penske / Ganassi rivalry)