Brian France, Gene Haas, Dale Earnhardt Jr. among 'most influential car person(s)'
NASCAR chairman Brian France, Sprint Cup and Formula One team owner Gene Haas and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. cracked Time Inc.’s “The Drive” top 10 list of “most influential car person(s)”.
The list, led by F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and his “prickly charisma and unnerving talent” is derived from five categories — tech, business, sports, celebrity and social — which helped retired soccer player David Beckman grab the tenth spot.
An accompanying article says of Earnhardt Jr.: “He may not be the best driver in NASCAR, but one out of every five marketing dollars spent on NASCAR is spent on Dale Earnhardt, Jr. If that’s not moving the needle, what does?”
And on France: “Say what you will about his politics, his integrity, or his sport (we happen to love it), but France—who inherited the family business from his father, who inherited it from his father — still puts cars in front of more eyeballs than just about anyone else in sports.”
The Drive's 10 Most Influential Car People in Sports:
1. Lewis Hamilton, 31; Formula One race car driver
2. Ken Block, 48; Global Rallycross Driver, Hoonigan Racing Division; founder, D.C. Shoes
3. Floyd Mayweather, 39; Retired boxing champion
4. Alex Vega, 41; Owner of Auto Firm in Miami, Florida
5. Brian France, 53; CEO and Chairman of NASCAR
6. Gene Haas, 63; Owner, Stewart-Haas Racing and Haas F1
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 41; Driver, #88 car, Hendrick Motorsports
8. C.J. Wilson, 35; Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels and owner of C.J. Wilson Racing
9. Yoenis Cespedes, 30; Outfielder, New York Mets
10. David Beckham, 41; Retired soccer player