Fast Times
A NASCAR BLOG BY Kris Johnson
Juan Montoya is just what this Chase needed
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.
Kris Johnson
Kris Johnson has worked in racing since 1997. He has covered NASCAR full time since 2005 and is an assistant managing editor for NASCAR Scene.
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Comments
7 responses to "Juan Montoya is just what this Chase needed". Post a Comment.
tinynascarfan said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 8:58 AMThere are millions of fans who dont like Montoya or Kyle busch, or other drivers, but i want the best drivers, and teams and pit crews in my nascar, why would i care if my driver won the sprint cup if he beat out 42 of the most mediocre drivers in the world, i want the best to race the best, and Juan is one of the top 43 in the world, so is Kyle, so is Mark Martin, but some of these drivers, maybe not?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 11:21 AMJuan Montoya is a crashing bore. He's added nothing to the series.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 11:22 AMBTW, those inroads into the Hispanic population are a myth.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 11:23 AMTINYNASCARFAN - Montoya is not one of the top 43 in the world. He's a loose cannon.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 3, 2009 at 8:51 PMI haven't saw where Montoya has added anything to this sport. He doesn't even know the rules yet! He said very few drivers liked him. I wonder why? You are right STP43FAN....He is a loose cannon! And nothing sounds cooler or more believable in Spanish in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportexredneck said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:27 PMa lot more of us "old white boys " with better than a 6 grade education are also very impressed
Report as Abusewith the talent, attitude ( Dale Sr.) and drive of JUAN PABLO MONTOYA than the comments on this site would show .
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» Confirm Abuse Reporthotairballooner said:
Oct 5, 2009 at 7:10 PMMontoya is a bad joke and pampered one at that. We don't like his driving and we don't like his attitude. We were astonished this weekend that NASCAR "warned" Keselowski to watch out who he was racing so hard! First of all, all the racers should race each race to win and second, Keselowski did nothing wrong. I have to believe that some other Chase contenders were touched by other competitors - but I didn't hear of ANYONE else getting warned - only someone who touched Montoya. He doesn't deserve all of the air time and commentary. I admit he's doing well in the Chase and I admire his agressiveness - but not at the expense of others. Juan - stop the whining and learn to play like and with the big boys.
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