2023 NASCAR Person of the Year: Reaching a consensus among NASCAR fans or industry insiders can be likened to herding catsa daunting endeavor, especially for a season-in-review assessment.
Individual loyalties to drivers, tracks, or specific races make agreeing on anything an almost Sisyphean task. Attempting such unity feels akin to engineering a printer that operates sans inka perpetual quest with elusive results.
This narrative segues into the 2023 NASCAR Person of the Year selection, a decision purposefully solitary. Escaping the chaotic whirlwind that a group vote would spark, this distinction hinges solely on personal opinion, an individual’s take on who impacted NASCAR most profoundly.
My judgment mirrors Time’s Person of the Year criteria, spotlighting those who significantly shaped the news landscape, embodying the year’s essence, for better or worse.
For me, the journey toward anointing the 2023 NASCAR Person of the Year traces back to 2020.
Enter Ben Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR’s patriarch, “Big” Bill France. Commencing his NASCAR odyssey at a youthful 31, Kennedy initially navigated short track series before graduating to NASCAR’s Truck series in 2014. Notching Rookie of the Year accolades and a lone race victory in 2016, he briefly ventured into the Xfinity series before donning a business suit in 2018. His transition to general manager of NASCAR’s Truck series signaled a pivotal career shift.
Progressing further into NASCAR’s echelons, by 2022, Kennedy ascended to senior vice president of racing development and strategy. His imprint on NASCAR commenced in 2020, steering the league’s response to global pandemic shutdowns, pioneering online races, then staging live events sans fansemerging as the first U.S. professional league to do so.
NASCAR’s commitment to a complete race season defied convention, pivoting on last-minute schedule changesmidweek races, back-to-back events at familiar tracks, and swift adaptability characterized the unprecedented season.
In 2021, the sport defied decades-old norms: racing on dirt, introducing new venues and road course events, relocating the All-Star Race, signifying the start of a paradigm shift.
Amidst these changes, Kennedy’s role as senior vice president of racing development and strategy spearheaded modern stadium races. Notably, the debut of the preseason Clash exhibition at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum marked a significant milestone in NASCAR’s innovation journey.
The revolution reached its zenith in 2023, a watershed year with a monumental schedule overhaul. Notable returns to historic tracks and groundbreaking urban races reshaped NASCAR’s presentation, garnering new and old audiences alike.
Kennedy’s global outreach initiatives saw a NASCAR-style racecar at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, resonating with European auto racing enthusiasts and widening NASCAR’s global footprint.
These groundbreaking moves, amidst evolving viewership landscapes, saw NASCAR maintaining strong TV ratings, eclipsing major sports leagues and global motorsports.
Therefore, my choice for the 2023 NASCAR Person of the Year unequivocally aligns with Ben Kennedy, whose innovative strategies and daring initiatives have propelled the sport to new heights, promising a broader fan base and a brighter future for NASCAR.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who won the driver of the year 2023?
Freddie Slater has been crowned the National Driver of the Year by Autosport in 2023. This prestigious award recognizes his exceptional driving skills and outstanding performance on the track. Slater’s victory is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport. He has proven himself to be a true champion and a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations to Freddie Slater on this well-deserved achievement!
Who won most popular driver in 2023?
NASCAR driver Chase Elliott recently underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason. Despite this setback, he was named the Most Popular Driver for the sixth year in a row. Elliott takes this honor seriously and is grateful for the support of his fans. However, he admits that he would like to forget the year 2023.
Will the 2023 NASCAR Awards Banquet be televised?
The upcoming NASCAR Awards ceremony will recognize the achievements of Craftsman Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes, Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer, and Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney. Additionally, the highly anticipated NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winner will be revealed. The event will be broadcasted on Peacock at 7 p.m. ET on Dec, providing fans with an opportunity to celebrate their favorite drivers and their accomplishments.
What ethnicity is Bubba Wallace?
Wallace is the offspring of a black mother and a white father, namely Darrell Wallace Sr. and Desiree Wallace. His father is the proprietor of an industrial cleaning company, while his mother is a social worker who excelled in track and field during her time at the University of Tennessee.
