Where Have You Gone Juan Pablo?

Josh Q. Public:  Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?  Our nation turns it’s lonely eyes to you. What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?  Jotting Joe has left and gone away.  Hey hey hey.  -Simon & Garfunkel

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Boogity boogity boogity!  There was a time, like John Landau said of Bruce Springsteen and rock-n-roll, that I thought I saw the future of NASCAR.  I thought its name was Juan Pablo Montoya.      

There was a time I thought Montoya could carry a nation of screaming NASCAR fans into the Promised Land.  Now, I’m not so sure.  Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobli among others, drastically enhanced the international fortunes of the National Basketball Association.  Ichiro, Chin Ming Wang and the influx of Latin American players has greatly widened Major League Baseball’s global appeal.  I thought NASCAR should pay heed to this phenomena. 

I still do.  But I thought it was Juan Pablo Montoya they should embrace.  I thought it was Juan Pablo Montoya they should market.  Take full advantage of the broadened fan base he could provide.  Montoya had the opportunity to help NASCAR break through to two key demographics where the growing sport still has had trouble winning fans.  Namely, the American Hispanic community and the overseas auto race fans in general. 

Montoya is handsome, charismatic and most of all, he is a fantastic driver.  His philanthropic endeavors, including  the Formula Smiles Foundation, as well as his duties as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador make Juan an ideal spokesman for the sport.  He brings quality racing, charm and good deeds together into one incredible package.  But to do all that I thought he could do, he has to win.  Just win baby!  He’s not.  He ranks just 20th in points.  He only has one top ten finish.  If he wants to be the saviour I thought he could be, he’ll have to do better.

Peace out homies.  Six Two and Even!

Need More? Juan Pablo Montoya, NASCAR