In racing, talent’s only half the battle. The real game-changer is who’s in a driver’s ear, crew chiefs, mentors, team owners, who either push them to greatness or let them coast. NASCAR’s seen plenty of drivers held back by too many “yes men” who don’t dish out the tough love needed to sharpen their edge. When all a driver hears is “you’re doing great,” it can stall a career before it hits full stride. History’s littered with examples of this trap, and others where hard truths forged champions.

Take Danica Patrick. Her 2012 leap from IndyCar to NASCAR was hyped to the moon, backed by GoDaddy’s big bucks. That cash gave her job security most rookies only dream of, but it also built a bubble. Crew chiefs and teams hesitated to call her out, wary of the financial stakes tied to her name.

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