Diversity is a concept that hasn’t been adequately explored in NASCAR. Although there are quite a lot of drivers whose first choice of racing was not NASCAR, it is still a topic that is not discussed as much as it should be. Be it any kind of career, including racing, specialization is something that is quite sought after. Even though in the initial stages of their career, drivers divulge in different kinds of racing, in the later stage of their career they are expected to stick to one form of the sport consistently. This, however, is not just a trait of NASCAR racing.

It has been observed in other types of sports as well, and can even be labeled the dark side of sports. In the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart debunks and explains this undesired and overshadowed aspect of racing. 

Tony Stewart draws an example of diversity in NASCAR

In the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show, McAfee, and Tony Stewart tried to make sense of the urge to follow a specialized path of racing that has plagued racers since time immemorial. However, Tony Stewart has no such particular fascination. An expert in NHRA and NASCAR at the same time, the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner has an example ready in this regard.

McAfee asked, “NASCAR had a big jump that was like the premiere thing. Now is it just kind of communicated about like a NASCAR, IndyCar, F1 all these different leagues it’s just like that’s the like kind of what everybody’s shooting for or is there like certain styles of driving that you knew you weren’t going to be able to do?” This was indeed a crucial question, but it was one that hasn’t been answered often. However, Stewart’s answer was quite a clear one. 

“Yeah, I think it’s more honestly it depends on what you want to do and you know kids and parents are training their kids early they get them down a path you either want to go IndyCar racing or you want to go NASCAR racing or you want to go drag racing,” Stewart explained. While this was an apt explanation, McAfee was ready to dissect it further. 

“Oh this is happening it’s happened in sports too yeah where it’s like specialty training and you don’t really get to diversify of it all. Kind of Bulls**t  happening in sports. I assume it sounds like that in racing too,” he commented. However, Stewart then puts up the instance of a person that sufficiently proves that exceptions do exist. 

“It is, but you know we got guys like Kyle Larson who come from the dirt track ranks and run sprint cars all the time and he’s awesome in Cup but he comes back and he runs dirt late models and dirt Sprint cars but he is an incredible driver,” Stewart remarked. Kyle Larson’s versatility is something a lot of NASCAR drivers admire. This is true to the extent that some drivers even aspire for their kids to be like him.

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Kyle Larson’s versatility is a NASCAR parent’s dream

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Kyle Larson has dipped his hand in all sorts of races – open-wheel racing, sprint cars, quarter midgets, dirt racing and even trucks. He can be considered the epitome of versatility in NASCAR. Thus, it is only fair that NASCAR drivers want the next generation of drivers to be like Larson. 

Thus, it is clear that NASCAR, to a great extent, is displaced from this dark side of sports that McAfee is concerned. With NASCAR bringing about changes now and then, it is hardly surprising that NASCAR is in a more exclusive position than other kinds of sports. 

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