NASCAR President Steve Phelps credited the sport’s stance on social justice and the addition of the Next Gen car in the Cup Series as major factors in the positive metrics seen throughout the 2022 season.
“It was the events that happened in June of 2020 that I think set the course of NASCAR to change where the sport was from a reputation standpoint and from a relevance standpoint. That was the stance on social justice,” said Phelps during NASCAR’s annual “State of the Sport” news conference at Phoenix Raceway.
“Jimmie (Johnson) led a group of drivers to create a video that talked about learning, being educated, doing better with respect to understanding what was happening in this country and kind of the reckoning that was happening.
“Jimmie gave permission for the sport to come out and do the things that we did and say the things that we did. That changed the face of this sport forever.”
Phelps comments followed an announcement by Petty GMS Motorsports that Johnson, a seven-time Cup champion who just completed a fulltime season in the IndyCar Series, would take an ownership stake in the organization beginning next year.
Johnson also plans to run some Cup races, including the 2023 season-opening Daytona 500.
Renewed interest in the sport
In addition to Johnson returning to a role in NASCAR, Phelps highlighted other new owners such as Michael Jordan and Pitbull, Cup wins this season by drivers Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez (both graduates of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program) and a more diverse workforce and fanbase.
“It’s important,” he said. “It’s changing the face of the sport as we move forward.”
Phelps said NASCAR’s efforts to remain “bold and innovative” were evident in the success of its preseason Busch Clash race held in a built-front-scratch track inside the Los Angeles Coliseum, the increased competitiveness and parity of the Next Gen car as well as a significant increase in attendance at races.
“What does this car do? There was a relevance to this car for (manufacturer) partners. The styling was fantastic of this car,” he said. “Then the question would be, Well, what’s the race-ability of the car?
“The race-ability of the car was such that it resulted in 19 different winners, so more than half the field won a race in NASCAR this year. Five first-time winners. More passes throughout the field in a single season (set four weeks ago).
“I’m thrilled for where this…
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