Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog
OK, I’m going overboard on this a bit, but can you blame me? This is Ashley Judd we are talking about here. No, no, no, she isn’t driving a car in NASCAR’s top series next year, but she will be on top of her husband’s pit box.
Her husband is the 2007 Indy 500 winner, and newly crowned IRL Champion, Dario Franchitti. He is Scottish by the way. I know, with a name like Franchitti you would think he was Italian or something.
Dario announced this week that he will be racing full-time in NASCAR’s top division next year for the Chip Ganassi/Felix Sabatis organization. His teammates will be non-other than fellow former open-wheeler Juan Montoya, and 2nd year man Reed Sorenson. Out of a ride will be David Stremme. As of right now Stremme is rumoured to be considered as the new driver for the 10 car for next year, but he isn’t the only one, Patrick Carpentier is also rumoured to be a candidate for the 10 car too. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with that.
I’m sure that having Ashley at the races will be interesting. I wonder if she’ll wear a fire-suit and baseball cap like Delana Harvick or if she’ll still wear a dress with one of her stylized over sized hats. Either way, NASCAR must be drooling about having her at the races, she just may be the ticket that NASCAR is looking for to get some of those ‘Hollywood Types’ out to the races next year in Fontana and have fans fill up those empty seats for a change so they can catch a glimpse of their favourite stars and oh ya, watch the race.
Having Dario in NASCAR is also good for the powers that be in NASCAR, as he brings with him a European audience as well. All those good Scottish people who aren’t watching a Celtics or the Rangers soccer match can watch NASCAR when their favourite teams are not on the soccer pitch.
NASCAR is truly branching out, they have North America, South America, Australia, and now Scotland/Europe watching what they do next - look out Asia, NASCAR will be coming your way next!
Photo Credit: No clue, help me out here.
