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Juan Pablo Montoya delivers NASCAR diversity

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Juan Pablo Montoya's son isn't a big Montoya fan.

Four-year-old Sebastian Montoya's favorite driver is Kyle Busch. Montoya bought him an M&Ms hood to put in his room and is working on getting a Target hood (his sponsor) to go along with it.

Outside the Montoya household, though, Hispanic race fans are growing in number and it's got a lot to do with Juan Pablo Montoya. And while Montoya, who drives the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, doesn't mind playing ambassador and helping NASCAR expand its fan base, that's not why he got into the sport.

"It's great that the Latin community pays attention to what I'm doing, internationally they're paying attention to NASCAR now because a lot of things I've done," Montoya said. "I didn't come to NASCAR to create that.  I came to NASCAR because I wanted to race in NASCAR.  It was a personal thing.  It still is. Is it a pressure thing?  No.  It's great that they pay attention."

Montoya, who lives in Miami, has noticed Colombian flags in the grandstands this year, smething he thinks has a lot to do with his success. Montoya is 6th in points standings heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and this is the first year he's made the Chase.

"We’ve got a lot of diversity plans and programs that you’re familiar with and they’re working well," NASCAR CEO Brian France said. "But ultimately we get graded on the fact of who makes it to the national editions. … Having Juan Pablo have the success he’s had this year is very helpful to that.

"No question that he has an affinity with the Hispanic fan base. As the future unfolds, our diversity programs will deliver drivers. There are several now in the farm system of the major teams that will ultimately… change the look and feel in a good way. In a very good way. Juan Pablo has done that."


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