IRL Drivers Heading To NASCAR

Racing sites and Internet blogs have been awash with articles this week about the alleged mass exodus of some of the IRL’s top drivers to the NASCAR ranks.  Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti, and Jacques Villeneuve, are three of IRL’s biggest stars, and if/when they join the NASCAR family, they will bring a huge shot of credibility to the sport.  That’s not to say that NASCAR is got image problems, but having more international drivers will also attract a different type of audience and hence, more diverse sponsors.

Times are a changin’ in NASCAR and I think it’s a good thing.  Granted, it will take even the most seasoned IRL driver at least a year to feel comfortable driving the Cup cars, but they’re definitely going to bring a new level of competition to the sport.   Juan Pablo Montoya has already shown he’s not afraid to be agressive, much to the dissatisfaction of old-school NASCAR types, but look for all of the IRL drivers to bring that type of agressiveness.