TALLADEGA, Ala. — Aight, so NASCAR got a new head honcho, Steve O'Donnell. Word is he gonna replace Jim France, who still gonna be around as Chairman. O'Donnell sayin' he tryna unite everybody and make NASCAR a "badass American sport" again. But what dat even mean for us?

See, NASCAR been 'round since '48, started by Bill France Sr. And it's been mostly a family ting ever since. Now they got O'Donnell, first dude from outside the family to run things. But let's be real, will he change anything for real, or is it just the same old game?

They also bumped up Ben Kennedy, France's great-nephew, to COO. So, the family still in control, ya dig? Ain't nothin' changed there.

O'Donnell comin' in after some messy bidness. Michael Jordan hit 'em wit a lawsuit over dat revenue-sharing deal, sayin' the teams ain't gettin' they fair share. Dat lawsuit settled, but you know dat tension still thick.

And remember dat Commissioner Steve Phelps? He had to bounce after some wild texts came out during the trial. So O'Donnell walkin' into a whole heap of drama. Can he clean it up?

He sayin' he gonna listen to everybody, including the fans. But is he really gonna hear us? Folks in the hood ain't always felt welcome at NASCAR. It ain't always been a space where we see ourselves represented. Will O'Donnell change dat? Will he make it easier for Black drivers, Black owners, Black fans to be part of the culture?

He talkin' 'bout bringin' back the roots. But what roots is he talkin' 'bout? The ones where it was just white folks racin' and drinkin' beer? Or can we build some new roots, where everybody got a place?

NASCAR need to step its game up when it comes to diversity. It ain't enough to just slap a Black Lives Matter sticker on a car. We need to see real change from the top down. We need to see Black folks in the pit crew, in the owner's box, in the stands. We need to see NASCAR investin' in our communities.

I ain't holdin' my breath, but I'm watchin'. O'Donnell got a chance to make NASCAR somethin' special, somethin' that truly represents all of America. But he gotta put in the work. He gotta show us he real.

They promotin Ben Kennedy to COO suggests a continued commitment to the France family's involvement in NASCAR's leadership. Kennedy's youth and experience within the organization are seen as assets as NASCAR looks to attract a younger audience.

Time will tell if O'Donnell’s vision benefits the community or if this promotion is just more of the same old song and dance.