| |  | | CIA Stock Photo | Jacques Villeneuvewas booed unmercifully at Talladega earlier this month during pre-race ceremonies before his Nextel Cup debut. | | | | 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOOBS | Diverse nationalities not gaining much support | |
| | By Jeff Hood / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution How quickly will the NASCAR fan base, which has spent the past half century idolizing Richard Petty, the late Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, embrace the sudden influx of international superstars, headlined by Patrick Carpentier, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve?
According to second-year Nextel Cup driver Denny Hamlin, it certainly won't occur in time for February's 50th annual Daytona 500.
And if Hamlin's assessment is on target, NASCAR's much-maligned Car of Tomorrow will be long obsolete when the current jeers turn to cheers for the foreign-born contingent of stock-car drivers.
"I think it's going to take an entire generation to accept all the new guys coming in here," Hamlin predicted.
Villeneuve, the 1995 Indy 500 champion and a Canadian like Carpentier, was booed unmercifully at Talladega earlier this month during pre-race ceremonies before his Nextel Cup debut. Montoya, who is from Colombia, has been a popular target of hecklers during his rookie season.
Kyle Busch, who has heard a few catcalls of his own during his young career, came to the defense of his comrades.
"For Jacques to get treated the way he did at Talladega, I don't think was very fair," Busch said. "And for Juan Pablo to get treated the way he does isn't fair. But I guess those guys have a long road ahead of them as I did."
"I think they need to be given a shot. They're here just like the rest of us. They're true racers, and they've got the talent, ability and charisma to be here."
Montoya, who was victorious in June on the road course at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., simply takes the fan reaction in stride.
"They embrace me by booing pretty good," Montoya said. "I don't mind. . . . The passion of the fans here is unbelievable, and it makes the sport what it is."
Defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson thinks NASCAR fans should expect to see additional international drivers with an open-wheel background racing on American soil in stock cars in the near future.
"I do see this as a trend," he said. "It would be great to have local short-track drivers that are raised on the short tracks in our country get this shot. But there's still a great format for them to come in with the Busch Series and truck series.
"There's still a good opportunity for these up-and-coming young drivers to get exposure, get noticed and get experience. It's a good balance and good for our sport to have these guys."
NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter believes an international driver can become a fan favorite by simply becoming a regular fixture in victory lane.
"It's just like Jeff Gordon when he first came into this sport from California," Hunter said. "The fan base didn't accept him right away.
"But then he started winning races and championships, and now look at him today. That's what it's going to take."
Franchitti, who finished 33rd in his NASCAR debut during Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 200 in Martinsville, Va., figures he has aces up his sleeve.
In addition to being married to popular actress Ashley Judd, the Scotland native now considers himself a Tennessean. "I guess only time will tell, but I've lived in the South for eight years now," said Franchitti, this year's Indy 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion who resides just outside of Nashville with Judd. "I'm hoping that will help."
| | Posted October 26, 2007 , 2:08 pm EST
Last Updated October 27, 2007 , 5:39 pm EST | | | | | | |
