NASCAR fans would like to avoid an NFL Draft-type disaster

If a command to start engines ever ends up like pick number 42 of this year’s NFL Draft, NASCAR is going to be in big trouble.

The NFL Draft is rather simple. Once a team makes their selection, and the appropriate behind-the-scenes processes are followed in terms of communicating that selection to all necessary parties, that selection is announced to the public (after it is leaked on Twitter, of course).

For most picks outside of the first round, the selections are announced by special guests invited specifically for the purpose of making the announcements.

The Minnesota Vikings controlled the 42nd overall pick of this year’s NFL Draft, the 10th pick of the second round, and they invited former running back Ed Marinaro to announce their selection on Friday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It did not go as anyone expected — the announcement, not necessarily the pick.

Marinaro spent more than two minutes talking about subjects that had absolutely nothing to do with the team’s selection, specifically stories about his own background. Eventually, a producer came onto the stage and pointed at the selection card he was holding in his right hand, urging him to keep things moving.

He jokingly shouted “No!” before concluding the longest draft pick announcement of all-time and welcoming former Clemson Tigers cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. to Minneapolis.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1520193356101419008

At the end of the day, the idea of welcoming special guests to make announcements for the NFL Draft somewhat resembles what NASCAR and IndyCar do for the “drivers, start your engines!” command given before each race.

Generally speaking, everyone follows the protocol, with some saying a few (mind you, not a few hundred) words before delivering the most famous words in motorsports.

But can you imagine what would happen if someone took three minutes to give the command? It would certainly be more than enough to get fans talking, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a positive experience keeping everyone, specifically the drivers and teams, waiting.

And, like Marinaro, they likely wouldn’t be invited back.

Fortunately, one would think that this isn’t something fans will ever have to worry about, as surely the designated “let’s get this thing moving” person would make a much earlier trip to the stage than the aforementioned producer from Friday night.