sportsjabber.net

Generally in the world of sports, the most historically successful teams are the most popular ones. The New York Yankees, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Lakers immediately come to mind. In NASCAR, there are two all-time greats currently on the Sprint Cup circuit in Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Interestingly enough, their success hasn’t led to them being the most popular drivers in the sport. Sure, they both have large followings, but the title of most beloved driver undoubtedly belongs to Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s quite remarkable that Junior has kept his popularity despite not entering victory lane in the past 112 races.

It is often said that sports leagues are at their best when their most popular respective franchise or individual is winning. A perfect example is golfer Tiger Woods. The sport reached new heights during Tiger’s run of dominance, but since his infidelity came to light and injuries started mounting, golf has returned to being a niche sport.

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