| | TO CHANGE IT UP | List of drivers that may turn around fan opinions in '08 | |
| | By Jeff Owens / FOXSports.com A large segment of NASCAR Nation wants to be heard. The people are tired of seeing Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports win all the time.
Aside from the fact that many fans don't like Johnson and Gordon, most fans in general don't like seeing the same driver win all the time, no matter who it is. It makes things boring and mundane.
The ideal scenario would be for a different driver to win practically every week. That isn't going to happen, of course, but a season in which a wide range of drivers reach Victory Lane, sharing the wealth, so to speak, is typically enjoyable for most fans.
There are some drivers, however, who fans enjoy seeing win more than others, drivers who stir some kind of emotion, good or bad.
At a time when fan interest seems to be waning a bit, a victory by certain drivers might go a long way toward invigorating fans and peaking their interests.
Here is a look at some drivers who could do the sport a lot of good by winning races next season:
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: This one is a no-brainer (we have hit on in the past, but you can't start any list of this sort without him at the top). Simply put, Junior has the largest fan base in the sport. Wins by him will fuel interest across the board, driving up TV ratings and interest by the national media.
Kyle Busch: Always intense and often controversial, a win by Busch is almost always interesting, whether he is stirring up drama on the track or with his mouth. He also has some of the best post-race celebrations in the sport. And with his switch to Joe Gibbs Racing, and Gibbs' switch to Toyota, there is some intrigue there. Either fans will be energized by his edgy, hard-driving style or boo him for winning in a Toyota.
Tony Stewart: A controversial fellow himself, Stewart also seems to have a large fan following. Love him or hate him, he stirs the emotions of fans, which in turn drives interest. And, as he has shown the past few years, no one can put on a post-race celebration quite like him.
Bobby Labonte: A widely respected veteran and one of the sport's nicest guys, a return to Victory Lane would be one of the feel-good stories of the year, especially now that he is driving for Petty Enterprises. If he can return the Pettys to Victory Lane, it would be a moment every fan would cherish.
Mark Martin: Another one of the sport's most popular veterans, it would be a remarkable story if Martin could win while running only a part-time schedule. And the fact that he is now driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc., a team undergoing a major transition, would add an even more intriguing storyline.
Kasey Kahne: He is another one of the sport's most popular drivers, especially among the ladies. A series of wins by Kahne would surely fuel interest among female fans. Now that he is driving the Budweiser-sponsored car, Kahne may become the favorite among young fans, particularly the all-important 18-34 demographic. He's poised to be the new, hip Bud man, but he needs to win first.
Juan Pablo Montoya/Dario Franchitti: NASCAR desperately needs some new blood, some fiery new drivers to stir things up. Montoya proved last year that he can do it, winning both a Busch (now Nationwide Series) and Nextel Cup (now Sprint Cup) race and going toe to toe (or helmet to helmet) with Kevin Harvick at Watkins Glen. He drives hard, backs down from no one and should be poised for more success in his second season.
Franchitti, his talented new teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, may follow in his footsteps. Both are former open-wheel stars, and both have international appeal. If they win, they both could bring new fans to NASCAR, opening up doors the sport has been knocking on for years.
Clint Bowyer: Fans seemed to enjoy Bowyer's first career victory at New Hampshire in September and his surprising run in the Chase. There's something about Bowyer that seems to resonate with fans — a small-town, country-boy, blue-collar appeal similar to what Dale Earnhardt had. The fact that he drives a black car for Richard Childress Racing only strengthens that notion. It would be preposterous to predict that he will be the new Earnhardt, but he could certainly attract part of that fan base. But first, he must win again ... and again ... and again.
Jeff Burton: A fan and media favorite, not to mention one of the most respected drivers in the sport, Burton is still somewhat of an underdog. He used to win all the time. Then he quit winning at all. Now he wins about once a year. If Burton could return to his form of the late '90s, winning consistently and becoming a more serious title threat, it would likely be a big hit with fans.
Kyle Petty: He is the longest of long shots, but there probably wouldn't be a more popular winner. For all his family has done for the sport and for others, and for the tragedy it has endured, Petty deserves to win one more time before his career ends.
Some of those are realistic, some are long shots, but most of them have one thing in common: They would be popular with fans. Or, at the very least, stir fan interest.
| | Posted December 18, 2007 , 5:52 pm EST
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