The Most Powerful Men In NASCAR

Power within the NASCAR world is all important. Those who wield it, wield a great amount. Those without it are at the mercy of those with it. Such is the case with the most powerful men in NASCAR, the three series directors.

John Darby (Sprint Cup Series), Joe Balash (Nationwide Series) and Wayne Auton (Craftsman Truck Series) serve as the Czars of their respective series, overseeing competition, and taking care of discipline. From high atop the track they make sure the races you watch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday go off without a hitch. And should a hitch happen, they take care of it.

Each man is very visible throughout the weekend, strolling through the garage, answering questions and helping lead the multiple meetings that occur. If you have a problem or grievance, they are the ones you go to.

Once the race begins they retire to the tower to watch the race and make calls. If your favorite driver is black flagged or penalized, it comes on their authority. They call cautions and dispatch crews all the while making sure the racing is as good as it can be. It is their job to remove all external factors that could affect the outcome of a race, or make competition uneven. In addition they work to create quality competition and ensure equality among the teams

Should an action on or off the track leave a driver in hot water, that call to the Big Red, Yellow (or whatever color it may be) hauler, involves what promises to be an intense meeting between driver and director. Now I have never been in the hauler for one of these meetings, few have, but the stories I have heard from those coming out of the hauler resemble that scene from Days of Thunder where “Big John” tells Cole and Rowdy the ramifications if their antics continued.

These three men can make or break a driver’s weekend with one simple call. As enforcers of the rule book they serve as the chief executive on race day. Their power within the sport is trumped only by a small group of people; NASCAR President Mike Helton and perhaps Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton to name a couple.

Not only do these men oversee competition, they also head up the dozens of officials that lead inspections and ensure the letter of the NASCAR law is followed. They have to be good diplomats and also must know technical information. They must also be on their toes, ready to deal with any tricks guys try to pull to bypass the system.

They serve as babysitter and law maker, diplomat and Czar. As an enforcer they ensure the integrity of NASCAR, and as a leader they help their series overcome the travails of motorsports. Their power within their respective series makes them the chief executive and supreme commander. Without their knowledge and guidance the series would likely not operate quite as smoothly as they do.

NASCAR’s insistence on control and willingness to establish authority has throughout time put into place strong leaders. While publicly the series directors are not the most visible individuals, their clout and power is immense. So the next time you’re wondering who has the authority within the sport, look no further than the top of the series’ and three guys named John, Joe and Wayne.

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