Comment on NASCAR has huge hole to fill after Earnhardt retires

NASCAR has huge hole to fill after Earnhardt retires

Earnhardt is a 14-time winner of NASCAR's most popular driver award for a reason. NASCAR has already lost Jeff Gordon, the driver who took the sport mainstream and announced his retirement two years ago at 43, just like Earnhardt. A third-generation racer from North Carolina who says "ain't" and "Daddy" and talks the way the good ol' boys always did. [...] what does NASCAR do now, with its most bankable stars rapidly exiting stage left at a time when the sport needs to rebuild its audience? Gregory said the biggest challenge for NASCAR is introducing the current crop of young talent to fans and giving the drivers a chance to make their own marks rather than pigeonhole them in roles as the next Gordon, Stewart or Earnhardt. Larson, the current Monster Energy Cup points leader, and Chase Elliott, his current teammate who replaced Gordon last season. Earnhardt also praised Ryan Blaney, another second-generation NASCAR driver, and Bubba Wallace, who have used social media to show the life of a millennial and not been afraid of overstepping their place. Blaney is 10th in the standings, rookie Erik Jones is 13th and although reigning Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suarez is only 22nd in the standings, the rookie driver from Mexico has brought a huge new following to NASCAR. [...] he also is still going to be in and around and visible in the sport, and help tap these young guys on the shoulder and really tutor them.

 

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