Why Carl Edwards Represents the Future of NASCAR

With sponsorship dollars tighter than ever in the NASCAR world, the companies who dump mega-dollars into race teams and place logos on racecars want a driver that appeals to a vast range of people.

Carl Edwards is the type of individual with great appeal to those who control the purse strings at corporate headquarters.

He is physically fit, as is exemplified by his backflips off the side of his car when he wins. He touts a healthy lifestyle full of veggies and proteins like you might find at his sponsor, Subway.

Modern era drivers will be expected to demonstrate strong family values, high moral ethics, a big smile and an ever-present positive attitude.

They will need to be not only camera friendly, but media friendly at any given moment, despite their hectic schedules and stressful jobs.

Edwards is often in front of the camera whether it is before a race, during a race or in a post-race interview.

He is often seen with the commentators during a NASCAR event on ESPN and may be seen there even more.

He has appeared on television and the big screen and likely he will continue those kinds of activities in the future.

Edwards has a charismatic personality that appeals to many from young children who may be fascinated with him because he is sponsored by a company with a duck to the eldest of fans who may wish he was their grandson.

Edwards maintains his residence in Columbia, Mo. and is a hometown boy who is beloved by the citizens of the town. He often speaks of his connection to Columbia.

Edwards is a pilot, which is nothing new to the sport of NASCAR, but it does add to his cool factor when he sports his aviator style sunglasses.

The upcoming drivers who are just starting in the Cup series like Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and many others have the look and personality that mirror future NASCAR champions.

Trevor Bayne was an instant media sensation when he won the Daytona 500, but the fact he fits the mold of a clean-cut, good-looking young man with high moral values certainly factored in to the attention he received.

Long gone are the days when hard-charging drivers showed up at the track with local companies on the fender of their cars and if they were lucky maybe one or two corporate sponsors.

Drivers have evolved with Darrell Waltrip being a pioneer in the sponsor savvy, media darling genre of drivers.

Jeff Gordon then became the next to change the driver image as he began winning Cup titles with his good looks and ability to attract strong sponsorship.

Gordon was as comfortable in the New York City lifestyle as he was in the heart of NASCAR country in Charlotte.

Jimmie Johnson is much like Gordon and his five consecutive Cup titles didn't hurt his popularity with sponsors.

Now we have Edwards, with his giant smile, charm and wit that adds to the appeal he has because of his talent behind the wheel of a race car.

Edwards worked hard to get where he is in the sport from the days of passing out business cards to anyone that might need a driver.

The younger generation that we see moving up through the top series of NASCAR haven't had to build and work on their own cars and struggle with finances for years quite like they did in days past.

Fans may want to see drivers who show personality, drive on the edge and don't look to make friends on the track. They are often referred to as throwback or old-school racers.

Our 2011 Cup champion, Stewart, is a bit of a throwback-style driver. He is a racer's racer, as was proven at the Ford 400 in Homestead.

Stewart is certainly popular and highly respected. He doesn't always say the proper thing, but he does attract sponsors because of his immense talent as a wheelman.

Fans may want more Stewart-type drivers in the sport, but it looks like the future will be filled with drivers like Edwards.

This is the way the sport has moved in the current era of high dollar teams and sponsors. The social media generation is making the driver a corporate extension and that is just the way it is.