Juan Montoya is just what this Chase needed
Kris Johnson
Kris Johnson joined Street & Smith's Sports Group in 2003. He is Assistant Managing Editor at NASCAR Illustrated and SceneDaily.com.
Juan Pablo Montoya gana la Caza por la Copa Sprint.
Translation: Juan Pablo Montoya wins the Chase For The Sprint Cup.
It just sounds cooler – and more believable – in Spanish.
Whether the native of Bogata, Colombia, wins the Sprint Cup or not, Montoya’s presence in the Chase has been a boon for NASCAR.
Mark Martin’s story and Jimmie Johnson’s bid for title No. 4 are compelling. But both drivers have been played up ad nauseam – Martin this year and Johnson over the last three.
Make room for JPM and his peppery personality. Montoya is as honest as Pocono races are long. The former Indy 500 winner and Formula One driver doesn’t care if he’s universally beloved. Driver No. 42 is just what this Chase needed. With resident bad boy Kyle Busch out of championship contention, Montoya might even fill the vacated role of villain before the final checkered flag of the season falls at Homestead.
With three top-fives in his last four starts, Montoya is peaking at the proper time of the season. Only two competitors – the aforementioned Hendrick drivers also competing in Chevrolets – stand between Montoya and the top rung of the Sprint Cup standings heading into Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.
If he somehow manages to pull off the improbable and win stock-car racing’s biggest prize, it would obviously mean a great deal to Montoya and even more for NASCAR.
The sanctioning body continues to make inroads with the Hispanic population both here and abroad. A high-profile champion such as Montoya would help kick down that door, open the floodgates and feel free to add your favorite cliche here.
Montoya is asked during occasional interviews to repeat his answers in Spanish for the sake of that audience, one that NASCAR covets and seeks to grow for obvious reasons.
Juan Pablo Montoya gana la Caza por la Copa Sprint.
Even more than cool, that sounds like a win-win for Montoya and NASCAR.
