NASCAR over the years has been built around rivalries between the leading drivers and the entertainment factor that comes with it. The sport has been missing such rivalry over the last few years. Legacy Motor Club driver Erik Jones, when asked about the same has pointed out that a clash between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott can be good for the sport.
Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin are the two biggest names of the sport. The former has the most fan following with in the hardcore NASCAR fans group and has been the winner of the most popular driver award since Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement. Hamlin is the other hand is one of the most known and most disliked on the grid due to his antics.
Erik Jones pointed out that the duo being among the most famous in the garage, with both having a good boy-bad boy image will make their rivalry entertaining. He asserted that with the heated clashes and wild moments the duo have had in the past , everyone would love to see them having a high-profile rivalry.
I think Chase (Elliott) and Denny (Hamlin) going at it was great for the sport. Two of the bigger names in the sport right now. Guys who are racing for wins and they’ve gone at it on and off for a handful of years. So, I think if you could pick anyone, I think that’s one everyone would love to see keep going. Erik Jones told Heavy.com.
Erik Jones is wishing for a Dale Earnhardt-Jeff Gordan rivalry in NASCAR
Jones like many NASCAR fans is hoping to once again see a rivalry in the same level as the iconic rivalry between then young Jeff Gordan and Dale Earnhardt. They share some impressive moments while fighting for championships in the 90’s. This rivalry got a lot of fans to the sport.
That was such a unique time. Dale was kind of the established veteran at that point. Jeff was coming in, winning a lot of races, he’s a good guy. And just a neat balance, neat to see. I wish there was something along those lines right now. I wish we could get something going in that — in the sport in that sense. Jones said.
The Toyota driver is spot on with his point that NASCAR needs a high-profile rivalry and his choices for it was good as well. There is an opportunity to market it as the fight between the fan favourite with the villain of the sport, a role Hamlin has already embraced, and with the help of NASCAR Netflix docu-series can be sold well.
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