Dear NASCAR, it’s time for a change

With NASCAR’s now-absent CEO Brian France taking a back seat, find out why this negative situation could turn in to a positive for the sport.

Welcome in, NASCAR fans! With the news of Brian France being charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and criminal drug possession on Sunday evening, NASCAR finally has a window of opportunity for its future. Take a look as I talk to the sport directly.

In spite of the recent news regarding now-former NASCAR chief executive officer Brian France, I want to take a break from my summer series, “What’s wrong with NASCAR?”, for the week and harp on a new topic.

In case you missed it, France, who has served as CEO since 2003, was stopped for reckless driving Sunday evening after young star Chase Elliott’s thrilling victory at Watkins Glen International. He was later charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

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In addition to the DUI, France was also found to be in possession of popular pain-killer Oxycodone. Since the traffic stop, France has been criticized drastically and taken an indefinite leave of absence from his position as CEO. Current vice chairman and executive vice president Jim France will take over for the time being.

Now that we have laid out the series of events, let’s get to the point. In this post below, I have written an open letter to NASCAR. This letter will discuss the current France situation and why this could open the door to greater possibilities down the road. As for France, the DUI isn’t his only slam to the sport. Click here to read my article from a few weeks ago discussing why ownership is part of what’s wrong with NASCAR.

Dear NASCAR,

I write you this letter with hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. A tomorrow filled with passion for a sport I along with millions of others love.

During my tenure as a NASCAR fan, beginning in 2002, the sport has dwindled into a product with potential but no backbone. Over the last 15-plus years, the sport has seen drivers retire, new playoff formats, overly aero dependent race cars, major sponsorship departures and a CEO who hasn’t given a single you know what about the current state of the sport.

With more than one strike against him, now-absent Brian France has continued to mask the sport’s issues with generic comments like “everything’s great” and “we’re locked and loaded on NASCAR”, while letting the sport’s integrity pass by.

To add to his resume of disappointment, your precious CEO added a DUI and drug possession to his list of accomplishments Sunday evening.

To put this as easy as I can, it’s time to move on with Brian.

The old saying is, “when one door closes, another one opens.” This is an opening for NASCAR and its supporters. With France now on the back-burner, it’s time to find a logical replacement. Jim France may be it for now, but we need something outside the box down the road.

We need someone who is open to breaking out a new schedule. Someone who wants to revamp the modern car. Lastly, someone who wants this sport to grow, not fall to the wayside in the world of motorsports.

Overall, you need a resurgence. You have the drivers, the personalities and the potential. It’s time to utilize it. I love you, and I’m not the only one. It’s time to be all you that you can be.

Brian France is finally out of the picture for the time being, so take advantage of it. Find our future.

Sincerely,

NASCAR fans

Thank you for reading my open letter to NASCAR. Next week, I will pick up where I left off in “What’s wrong with NASCAR?”, where I’ll discuss the drivers themselves. Tune in as I tell you how current participants have also contributed to the demise of NASCAR.