I've been a fan since the early '80s when I saw my first cup race in person at Dover, and I'm still a fan - still watch every lap of every race all year long. Yes, Richard and Cale and David were great drivers, the best at the time, just like Junior and Fonty and Marshall and Ralph before them. Then there was Dale (not nearly as beloved when he was alive) and Darrell and Terry and Rusty, the best of their time. Now there's Jimmie and Jeff and Tony and Kyle, the best right now. It's always been about the drivers. "Win on Sunday-sell on Monday" brought factory support and big money into the sport in the '60s. The only difference is now they're selling laundry detergent and candy instead of motor oil and Chevys. It's the American way to market the heck out of anything that might make a buck. Can Danica make it? Has Junior? As long as somebody thinks they can sell insurance, they'll get the chance.
The cars don't really matter. Back in the day everybody ran what went the fastest. Outrun by a hemi? Switch to Plymouth. Fords are bricks? Switch to Olds or Pontiac.
NASCAR has tweaked the rules over the years to level the playing field, but so has every other sport.
I'll love it until the day I'm planted.