In a sport such as NASCAR, sponsorships and marketing presence have always been a key part of the equation, something which is important even more so today, to the point that drivers ‘need’ to take the step further to further their image. This is what NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon recently suggested in his recent interview, something which current NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin doesn’t necessarily agree with.

Gordon, the Vice President of Hendrick Motorsports, had claimed how drivers need to get out of their comfort zone and become “more mainstream”. The four-time Cup champion was pointing to his own drivers, like Chase Elliott, to become a star beyond NASCAR, just as he was in his days.

But Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin didn’t share that opinion. In fact, he had a little more to say on the larger issue at hand, something which may not exactly please a lot of NASCAR fans.

“Can’t force a star to happen. It’s gotta be organic,” Hamlin replied.

“But in our sport the CORE fans don’t like anything different. They prefer their ice cream to be vanilla, rarely with even a topping. The rest of the world who doesn’t watch racing just sees that as boring.”

“To each his own” – Denny Hamlin

As a result of Hamlin’s reply, a debate started on Twitter between those who agree with his comments, against those who didn’t see an eye with him.

And one such comment from a fan read, “cup doesn’t have a household name outside of bubba.. and that’s problematic. i grew up in nascar’s peak– when stewart, jr, johnson, newman, busch, and others, were known nationwide.”

“today’s you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone in the public that knows nascar’s current roster.”

To this, Denny Hamlin replied, “Yes but all those you just named were organically different in their own way. If someone doesn’t want to be a star you can’t make them be one. And that’s ok. To each is own.”

This whole discourse, especially after Hamlin’s comments, is like a paradox. No NASCAR driver or any driver in any form of motorsports can have a seat without sponsors or good finances, directly or indirectly.

But at the same time, is sponsorships, marketing, and finances all that there is to motorsports?

To each his own, as Denny Hamlin said.

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