Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR’s veteran drivers are disappearing too quickly

By T. Walker

BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 18: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DEWALT/Flexvolt Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 18, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 18: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DEWALT/Flexvolt Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 18, 2017 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Huggies Little Movers Chevrolet (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, TN – AUGUST 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Huggies Little Movers Chevrolet (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /

It’s Not The Old NASCAR

As great as Kyle Larson is, he doesn’t have it in him; he is not going to start a ruckus. If someone starts something with him, I’m not saying he’s going to take the Jimmie Johnson route and be a lover, not a fighter, but he is not going to do anything!

Larson has it in him to bump and run. He is a racer and I believe secretly all the old school fans and drivers look at Kyle Larson like, “Yeah” because he’s the only driver that seems to have the bravado to race hard and be unapologetic about it.

More from NASCAR

And let me not discredit Austin Dillon here, because I think he will go there. He has that fiery swag and temperament that if you bring it to him, he’ll finish it.

There are some promising new drivers like Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Chase Elliott, but what they offer is just different from veteran drivers. Most of the new crop of drivers are good, talented, and obviously can win, but it’s just different.

Ask yourself: “Am I excited about the young guys (aside from Larson and maybe Chase’s potential)? Is there something with the new crop of NASCAR drivers that moves me?”

The only way I can explain it is it’s like when you find out Santa Claus is not real, and what I mean by that is, you never look at Christmas, or in this case NASCAR, in the same way.

On the latest episode of All Turns No Brakes, a NASCAR podcast for fans by fans, we discuss drivers with no personality, the future of NASCAR, Dale Jr. and politics, why veteran drivers are leaving the sport too soon, and more NASCAR talk. Check it out. Join the debate with Rene and I as we talk all things NASCAR in an unapologetic, humorous and unfiltered way.

Next: NASCAR: 10 drivers who deserve better rides in the Cup Series

What do you think? Are veteran drivers leaving the NASCAR Cup series too soon? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter.

Home/NASCAR