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NASCAR Legend Ray Evernham Calls Out Spoiled Drivers, Urges More Underdog Success Stories

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Gowtham Ramalingam | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 8:12 AM ET

NASCAR is in a tricky spot as a sport right now. There is a list of crucial things that need to be fixed to take it back to the high level of popularity it once enjoyed. Several icons from the past have underlined driver personality as one of these things, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief, Ray Evernham, has joined them.

Speaking to former driver Kenny Wallace in a recent interview, Evernham explained why team owners are willing to pay as much as $40 million for charters despite the repeated cries about the sport going down in ruins. He believes that it is done in the trust that people will race as long as cars are driven on the streets.

The sport is not going to fizzle out any day, no matter what, according to him. That said, there are some things that he wants to see changed. The first is driver personality. He wants to see more individuals like the Wallace brothers and Dale Earnhardt driving cars in NASCAR’s top level.

He went, “Those things [personalities] put more back into the sport because I think even in football and baseball, we still have those stories of these kids, poor kids or kids that weren't wealthy, inner city kids that work their butt off to get there because they love the sport. They didn't do it to buy a new car, you know.”

Evernham Wants More Rags-To-Riches Stories

Today, racing has become a sport that only the wealthy can sustain. Kids are put into karts at a very young age and are backed by millions of dollars. For someone with limited financial means, dreaming of a NASCAR career will often result in heartbreak due to the high monetary demands.

This reality is what causes Evernham to hammer down on the spoiled drivers, who come from affluent backgrounds, can’t win a race to save their lives, and still have questionable ethics.

He added, “I'm not a big fan of a kid that doesn't appreciate stuff because his dad or mom paid a gazillion dollars for him to get in the car and then he tears the hell out of everything.” Who he is a fan of instead are drivers like Kyle Larson, who fight from the back and are on the field because they want to race everywhere and win.

Evernham currently works as a consultant for Hendrick Companies and other automotive businesses. He is also actively involved in the "Evernham Family - Racing for a Reason" foundation, which provides financial aid to run community centres for young people with high-functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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