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David Gravel and Jeff Gordon comment on the NASCAR opportunity for the World of Outlaws driver

David Gravel heads into the 2020 racing season as the defending winner of the Knoxville Nationals. He runs the demanding 96 race schedule with the World of Outlaws.

But, aside from dirt racing, David Gravel is heading to NASCAR and ARCA in 2020 via GMS Racing.

Gravel will run six NASCAR Truck Series events with GMS Racing is 2020. Of those, the Eldora Dirt Derby is included, NASCAR’s only dirt race.

Gravel will also run the ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona International Speedway. For that one, he’ll run for KBR Development who has an affiliation with GMS Racing.

In the truck series, Gravel will have backing from Axalta. They previously partnered with Gravel during his trip to victory lane at Knoxville Raceway in 2019.

In 2018, Gravel explained his NASCAR interest in detail. He stated, “I would regret not trying to get an opportunity in the upper ranks.”

That opportunity is now here.

https://racingnews.co/2020/01/10/dirt-racer-david-gravel-to-get-his-shot-in-nascar/?utm_source=Mailing%20List&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DirtDaily&utm_term=2020-01-11

I know a lot of selfish a$$hats don't want to see him leave the sprint car ranks and are beside themselves trying to understand the decision.  

I say good for him.  I will tune in to watch him run.  Not my favorite form of racing to watch, but I understand his reasoning.  In my career I have always looked for the best opportunities to get ahead and secure financially for myself and my family.  He should have the same opportunity without all of the backlash from the sprint car world.  That said, I hope he flourishes, secures himself financially, and returns to dirt with some good years left------like Kyle's been hinting.  

I fully support him following his dream. My only irritation about it is this notion that any Nascar affiliated racing is a "step up" or the big leagues. ARCA is a ride buying series that has virtually no fan interest whatsoever. Trucks outside of Eldora and maybe Daytona is the same.

Cup racing is obviously much bigger than dirt racing, and I'm sure that's Gravels goal, but these eye rolling press releases about him stepping up or getting to the big leagues when it's just trucks or ARCA is a little annoying given how few people actually follow that racing in comparison to dirt racing.

Racing is such an odd sport.  You have professionals like Schatz and etc etc etc who may compare to NHL or NFL players roll into small towns and compete with locals who would compare to minor football and hockey players.

What other sport mixes the pros and the beginners on the same field? If it does its at a summer camp where the beginners are paying huge fees to learn from the pros. What other sport has professionals even show their face in small towns other than to visit family and try to stay unnoticed.

Every sport except racing requires athletes to prove themselves and qualify to move up, but in dirt racing all you need is the equipment and entry fee and you can race with the stars. Its such a unique sport.

So think guys like Gravel can be considered accomplished pros and he has earned his invitation to ashphalt ( much like a scouted team player) but i agree it isnt a step up. Its just another form of racing. Hope he does well. 

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Yes----to be clear, he has not made the step up he needs for the big financial reward.  But, he has been given the audition for the part.  I wish him luck in that.

And yes, ARCA is one of the least racy series in the country.  Even in the 90's there were always about 3-4 cars that would lap the rest of the field-----1/2 of the cars get lapped 2-4 times.   

You obviosly do not remember a young talent named Kyle Larson. When he came on to the NASCAR scene several years ago, there were many who were sceptical of his talent to wheel an asphalt car. Look at him now.

You can not blame Gravel for his decision to follow his dreams.

I am not saying that Gravel is a carbon copy of Larson, but, Gravel is starting his NASCAR career in a very similar way.

It will be fun to sit back and watch how one of our dirt track stars does.

You can tell an ass... but, you can't tell 'em much

Of course we're selfish, like anybody else, but that doesn't make us "a$$hats".

Nobody here has the ability or desire to stop him from racing NASCAR. We're just stating our personal preference (Actually haven't seen anybody complain yet...)

I hope he uses some of his NASCAR $$$ to promote dirt racing, & continues to compete on dirt, at least occasionally

Whats an "A$$hat" anyway???

Are you afraid a bolt of lighning will strike you dead if you type out the word "asshole"?

You didn't read my post. I didn't question Gravels abilities at all. 

I just don't like the NAscar PR BS that argues all of their leagues are above dirt racing when that isn't the case. 

I am quietly and humbly disgusted by his decision to lay down with the unclean harlot that is nascar. Shame on him. 

You don't have to be an asshole about it!    (is that better?)  

I don't want him to go to Nascar either---my personal preference is he takes a path like Schatz and stays behind the wheel of very well-funded sprint cars the rest of his life.  I don't think there is anything wrong with that line of thinking at all.  

I have seen plenty of people complain----you just need to look on some different social media outlets.  

I have a problem with the stupid, and borderline nasty, posts about him being a  "sellout", etc.  for going to Nascar and attempting to leave dirt.  Saying you wish he would stay on the Outlaw tour?----hell, I wish he would do that.  But, I understand why he's pursuing this lead.  It could be a life-changing event for him.  

That said, I'll be selfish myself----if he doesn't succeed, I'll be more than happy to have him back in a sprint car full time for the rest of his life.  

He is at the age that if the opportunity is there  he should try it.Most anyother driver would too as the money is much better than the racing.Look at Dave Blaney he was able to basically make enough to continue racing plus opened up  many doors for Ryan.Look at all the drivers in Nascar that are making big $s compared to dirt track racing.

People refer to Larson like he has done it all when I feel his nascar deal has been a failure .... he does not have to beat Gordon,Stewart,or any other people that were good in the past and he still does not win in cup hardly ever so whats he really ever done? The only notable dirt he has won is a prelim night at the nationals and the 4crown now honestly other then that what real notable wins does this unreal talented badass driver people say he is really won??????? Dont jump my shit just list the unreal real notable wins im waiting??? When u list his so accomplished racing background dont include Gokarts or minisprints cause I wont count that hell little girls win that

I'd say finishing 2nd in the Knoxville Nationals and then flying to Michigan and winning the Cup race the next day is quite an accomplishment.    Taking Ganassi to the final 8 for the first time would be another.   Don't think the "what has he done" argument works well with Larson, you might wanna try someone else.   

OK, but whats an "a$$hat"?

I'm trying visualize it... I can't

Okay yeah finishing second counts man forget it cause your talking about 2nd place finishes and a cup race. No championships no major races othen then the 2 i said . Your going to defend him with 2nd place finishes so yeah im out but the facts are facts. The guy isnt even a fucking champion but hey he got 2nd place fuck it

Ohh sorry he made the final 8 to your right that counts

NASCAR? he's made a lot of $$$. I think thats the idea...

Dirt? You must be kidding. He's won all sorts of races

There are some in the Nascar media & some of the fandom that view that anything below any of the Nascar branches is minor league or weekend warrior. We see this everytime Bell or Larson have a wreck now (Stewart & Kahne in the past). It never fails you will have multiple people say, "I wish they would stop risking their will being racing those cars. They have a lot of people that depend on them on Sundays." At the same time they have no problem having about half the field in the Xfinity race basically full time cup guys, or when Kyle Busch or someone drives a super late model on asphalt. Most of the Nascar media have never been to a sprint car race. I remember the story Robin Miller told about how they were voting for driver of the month and he brought up Bryan Clauson because it was one of the months he won like10races in 7days or something. Darrell Waltrip basically replied that maybe we should give this to someone who races against a little better competition. Miller basically gave him a tongue lashing about the drivers & creditenals that they had in all of the fields and the difficulty of the races. It basically shut Waltrip up.

Conversely at the same time you have those in the dirt/sprint car world that kind of throw a fit that a driver wants to go out and drive in Nascar. Words like trader are used, or they think they were just using sprints just to get to Nascar. Its kind of like an employee getting promoted to management and has to deal with all of his co-workers calling him a suit now & no longer is a worker now even though they are trying to better themselves financially. Nascar is the best financially. Is it the best form of racing? That is subjective to the person. I look at it as different forms of motorsports with their being a top in both forms. The biggest things that seperate the two is money and recognition. There is more money in Nascar because of the recognition. Ask someone in the office about Dale Jr or Dale Sr, Jeff Gordon, maybe even Jimmie Johnson and they might know the name just because of Pop Culture. Ask them if they know Steven Kinser or Donny Schatz more often than not they will have no idea

Wow!  Dipshit post of 2020 has already been made and it's not even the Chili Bowl yet