Insider urges NASCAR to allow drivers “showcase their personalities” like F1

NASCAR needs to let their driver speak their heart out and showcase their personalities like in other top motorsports series’.

Insider urges NASCAR to allow drivers “showcase their personalities” like F1

GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series (Via IMAGO)

The NASCAR is currently facing a lack of star problem as the current drivers are not able to garner the same level of attention as the legends of the sport once did. Even the top drivers on the grid at the moment, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, are not able to have a cultural impact, with retired racer Dale Earnhardt Jr., still being far bigger than any active racers.

One of the main reasons behind this lack of star power is the driver’s not being allowed to be themselves and showcase their personalities. Senior NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi addressed this situation in the recent episode of “The Teardown” podcast, pointed out that the sanctioning body should let the drivers speak their mind as they do off camera.

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Let them speak their mind. I do feel like in this day and age in NASCAR, there’s so much ‘let’s not go down that road’ or ‘let’s not do that. …When you let these guys be the personalities, there’s a lot of great personalities in this sport that just don’t get showcased or don’t let allowed to come out. When the cameras are off, it’s like ‘Man, these guys are great.’

Jordan Bianchi said via The Teardown.

Further talking about the point, Bianchi pointed out that the drivers interact with the media in a much different way off the camera and it is something the fans will like is to see. Not letting the racers to be themselves cost the star racers of the sport.  

I wish they could see how some of these drivers interact with us or fans or whomever away from it because it’s much different, and I think it grows. If the idea is to have superstars in your sport, you’ve got to put them in a position to be allowed to be superstars and part of that is showing a personality.

Jordan Bianchi added.

NASCAR drivers should be allowed to be open like the F1 racers

The whole conversation regarding the star power and lack of personality started with, Bianchi’s co-host urging NASCAR to let drivers speak out like in Formula 1. He highlighted how the racers speak to the media a lot in the premier open wheel racing series and how it helps them to grow overall.

2024 Daytona 500
2024 Daytona 500 (Via NASCAR.com)

You want somebody, you want a driver and need to ask them a question, you’re going to get them. Then every single driver talks after qualifying, and then every single driver talks after the race. They could crash out on Lap 2, they talk. They could qualify last, they talk, they have to. You’re hearing from these guys all the time.

Jeff Gluck said.

The comments from the NASCAR journalist shows the importance of having drivers with string personality representing the sport Infront of the media. It would be interesting to see if the sanctioning body and well as the teams would make tweaks to let this a possibility.