Are More Foreign Drivers Coming to NASCAR?

Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, and who may be next? Are we going to need a phonetic pronunciation guide to follow a NASCAR race in 2008 and beyond?

I don't think so, but what you are going to see are more foreign drivers testing the pavement of NASCAR tracks all around the U.S.A. Blame a great open wheel driver like Montoya showing that he can compete a little and drivers in other classifications all over the world have taken note.

Villeneuve was competitive amid much talk at Talladega. On the horizon, watch for Mr. Ashley Judd, Dario Franchitti to dive in and test the waters soon. There are a slew of other drivers including some F1 drivers who could be swayed to come stateside.

And don't think Toyota is going to count on established American drivers forever. At the first sign that a Japanese driver can make a statement in stock car racing he will be here working on his southern drawl. Japanese athletes have made an impact in Major League Baseball and NASCAR may be their next battle station.

With the money and prestige that is now in NASCAR and especially The Nextel Cup the world has taken notice, and current drivers must do the same.