Say one thing for NASCAR fans, there definitely is no grey area.
The Fox NASCAR TV team posted on Twitter a countdown to Daytona, but one fan was having none of it.
https://twitter.com/greeneville1994/status/951955817070321665
That lead to NASCAR great Jeff Gordon, who is part of the Fox team, to jump in with his own thoughts on why this fan should stick around. Namely, for all the emerging stars.
Thank you but sorry to hear that. Think u r going to miss out on some great racing this season and possibly the most impressive group of young talent @NASCAR has ever seen at one time. https://t.co/WkejCFqMcV
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) January 13, 2018
Gordon has been high with praise for this next generation. Not just the ones driving for Hendrick Motorsports, although they do have a killer squad with young guns William Byron, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott alongside future Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson. Still, some fans aren't convinced.
If it’s “great” like last season, more people will continue to turn it off. It wasn’t good, and really no one is sure it will be better next year. How do you guys not see this...?
— Ryan LeGrand (@RhinoLeGrand) January 13, 2018
There seems to be this great convergence of events in NASCAR that muddies the water. Fans are tired of Brian France and the constant changes and more changes and rules and tweaks that NASCAR hands down. Caught up in this unrest is the new crop of drivers who, by all reason, look to be some solid if not superstar talent. That's unfortunate.
It will be different but everyone has to be a rookie at some point. Looking forward to seeing who will rise to the top.
— Scott K. (@Kitzer72) January 13, 2018
Fans have a right to see exciting and competitive racing, and young drivers have the right to prove themselves before being judged. In addition to Elliott, Byron, and Bowman, Kyle Larson is poised to have a monster year (pardon the pun). Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney already have a fan base that took some veteran drivers years to build.
I am really hoping that this is the turnaround year for NASCAR. The fans and drivers deserve it, and it's completely doable. They just need to get out of their own way.