There was a time, not that long ago, when NASCAR became guilty of trying to put lipstick on a pig.

The pig was called the Car of Tomorrow, a car that refused to spin out, a car that introduced wings to NASCAR as opposed to the traditionally expected and accepted spoiler.

I refer to that period as the equivalent of Coca-Cola's near disaster in trying to reinvent its product because Pepsi-Cola had gained market share. That debacle was corrected by the genius of someone introducing "Coca-Cola Classic."

Like the Atlanta-based company, NASCAR survived its lapse in judgment.

I am convinced the NASCAR product is on the cusp of becoming great again.

Nobody I know enjoys being told what to do, or what to like or dislike.

The greatest freedom in life is being able to choose what you enjoy and dismiss what you don't.

For several years, the NASCAR product lagged and was not compelling.

Some suggest it was a byproduct of Jimmie Johnson's dominance. Others are convinced it's because we lost the greatest entertainer in our sport's history, Dale Earnhardt, "The Intimidator."

I believe we took our eye off the ball. We gave too much attention to policing the sport, became preoccupied with safety, and forgot what we do well.

What NASCAR does well is entertain.

But that does not come in the form of a race car; it's created through personality.

For the first time in years, I'm extremely optimistic!

My optimism comes in the form of Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott and Erik Jones.

For an extended period of time, we've needed to attend to the next great generation of drivers, those capable of attracting our attention away from Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. while being compelling enough to create curiosity and intrigue.

It has arrived. At least it has arrived for me!

There's an exciting transition going on in NASCAR. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Larson is a bit of an enigma. While I'm not ready to anoint him as the next Jimmie Johnson, his driving style and personality are strikingly similar. He gets everything out of a race car and he wins, and he still does it without it coming at the expense of other drivers. He doesn't rough up a driver to reach Victory Lane.

That's been a trademark of seven-time champ JJ for years.

Blaney is the quiet one, speaks softly but carries a big stick. His demonstration of closing the deal against Kevin Harvick at Pocono was the greatest endorsement a driver can get. He refused to lose. Do you 'member that expression?

The 24 car no longer belongs to Gordon, it's now in the hands of Elliott, who's been tortured by second-place finishes, much the same as Harry Gant was before he broke through and won, and won, and won.

Elliott will contribute to the popularity of our sport. Everything about him will be right when he wins, and he will win often.

Perhaps the greatest talent in our sport comes in the form of Jones.

I like how he manages a race, how he drives the hell out of a race car, how humble he is when the helmet is off. Jones is a franchise player, a franchise player for Joe Gibbs Racing and not his current Furniture Row team. Trust me on that one!

Stenhouse drives for one of my favorite people in NASCAR.

I admire and appreciate Jack Roush for everything he does and everything he stands for. I know him, and I respect him. So it pains me to suggest that Stenhouse's brightest days depend on transitioning to the next opportunity.

I am not leaving Roush Fenway Racing for dead, and I would never bet against Mr. Roush or my beloved Red Sox.

The reality is this, though; the prime for a race car driver is here and now for Stenhouse. He simply can't afford to tread water for the next three years, or he will regret it.

Someone needs to invest in this young man. He has enormous upside, but the window won't stay open forever.

The sweet spot for a driver is between ages 30 and 35, and, while it differs among athletes, this period generally represents a balance of wisdom and physical ability. Stenhouse turns 30 in October.

Slide all your chips in on these five drivers.

Keep in mind that on the periphery are strong young personalities in the form of Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch. They also will continue to contribute.

On the other end of the scale, we have Johnson going for an eighth title.

I don't need him to win another championship to campaign for Jimmie as the greatest ever. Jimmie did all that on his own. The great news is, Jimmie has more to give.

Damn, I'm excited again!