June 6, 2008
By Rebecca Gladden
A week or so ago, I came across an article in a Phoenix-area newspaper about a local racecar driver with dreams of making it to the big time - in this case, either NASCAR or Indy Racing.
When I started reading, I anticipated a fairly typical story about a young person who's been successful in some form of regional or even national racing and is now hoping to catch the eye of a team owner to take him (or her) to the next level.
What I read instead is the subject of this column.
According to the May 26 article in the East Valley Tribune (E.V. woman racing toward the big leagues), this local racer is being assisted in her quest by Larry Pond, managing director of "Professional AutoSports" - an organization which, according to the story, "mentors young racers in life and in racing."
What exactly does Professional AutoSports do to help talented young drivers make it into NASCAR?
In the article, Mr. Pond states, "Our plan is at 18 years old, that our drivers look and behave like a 25-year-old business person who also can drive a race car."
Really. I'm not making this up.
He continued: "There's always going to be a few people like Tony Stewart. But we are talking about the professional caliber of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon."
Um, okay.
"We've gone away from having the best racer," Pond said. "It is now big business. Sponsors expect a return. The right driver who best represents the sponsor and who is competing well and winning is the better choice."
Please refer now to the title of my column.
Perhaps it's not fair to specifically point fingers at Mr. Pond and his company. Maybe he just identified what he thought was a need in the marketplace and created a business to try to fill it. His website states he starts with drivers as young as age 8.
But if his opinions are truly reflective of the current state of NASCAR, its sponsorship expectations, and driver development programs in general, we might as well start digging a grave for the sport now.
Because the above, if true, indicates that the heart of the sport has already stopped beating.
If we're lucky, however, it might be on life support, and there's still time to resuscitate it.
So listen up, all you sponsors and driver development gurus.
NASCAR might need you, but it needs its fans more.
And I can state with absolute, ironclad certainty that fans do not want the present or future NASCAR to consist of young drivers who "look and behave like a 25-year-old business person who also can drive a race car."
Sure, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are well-spoken and sponsor-friendly. They're both excellent drivers (Gordon probably one of the best ever), and both have plenty of fans.
But the last time I checked, Tony Stewart - for all his unshaven, just-rolled-out-of-bed looks, his surly temper and general bad-boy reputation - also has scores of diehard fans.
In addition, Stewart enjoys one of the longest driver-sponsor relationships in all of NASCAR in the form of Home Depot.
When Stewart mentioned recently that he might consider leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, offers started pouring in.
Without question, he remains one of the sport's true superstars, and team owners and sponsors know it.
All the sponsorship dollars in the world mean nothing if fans aren't at the track cheering your driver, and in the stores buying your sponsored products.
And what attracts fans to NASCAR more than anything else are drivers with passion, fire, and plain old guts.
A little poise and polish are fine, but let's remember this is auto racing. It's not The Apprentice, and it's certainly not America's Next Top Model.
Just ask Tony Stewart.
Or his fans.
You can contact Rebecca at.. Insider Racing News
You Can Read Other Articles By Rebecca
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
