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Nepotism or Family Tradition? A Study of NASCAR Drivers

Author

Listed:
  • Peter A. Groothuis

    (Appalachian State University)

  • Jana D. Groothuis

    (Independent Researcher)

Abstract

Of the drivers who raced National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) cup series in 2005, 23 out of 76 had family connections. Family career following is not unique to NASCAR, it is common in many careers such as law, politics, business, agriculture, medicine, and entertainment. Children enter the same career as their parents for reasons of physical-capital transfer, human-capital transfer, brand-name-loyalty transfer, and nepotism. Using a panel data of NASCAR drivers from the last 30 years, the authors test to see which model best explains career following in racing. Their results suggest that nepotism is not present in the career length. Sons do not have longer careers than nonfamily-connected drivers, given the same level of performance. The authors do find that fathers end their careers earlier than performance indicates. Their results also show if nepotism exists, it occurs only with second brothers who follow their first brothers into racing.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter A. Groothuis & Jana D. Groothuis, 2008. "Nepotism or Family Tradition? A Study of NASCAR Drivers," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 9(3), pages 250-265, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jospec:v:9:y:2008:i:3:p:250-265
    DOI: 10.1177/1527002507309990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Craig A. Depken II & Peter A. Groothuis & Kurt W. Rotthoff, 2016. "Family Connections in Motorsports: The Case of Formula One," Working Papers 16-13, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    2. Ponzo, Michela & Scoppa, Vincenzo, 2010. "The use of informal networks in Italy: Efficiency or favoritism?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 89-99, January.
    3. Peter A. Groothuis & James Richard Hill, 2009. "Correcting for Survival Effects in Cross Section Wage Equations Using NBA Data," Working Papers 09-19, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    4. Fabio Ferlazzo & Stefano Sdoia, 2012. "Measuring Nepotism through Shared Last Names: Are We Really Moving from Opinions to Facts?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-6, August.
    5. Chen, Liwen & Gordanier, John & Ozturk, Orgul, 2016. "Following (Not Quite) in Your Father’s Footsteps: Task Followers and Labor Market Outcomes," MPRA Paper 76041, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Peter A. Groothuis & Jana D. Groothuis & Kurt W. Rotthoff, 2011. "Time on Camera," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(5), pages 561-570, October.
    7. Kurt William Rotthoff & Craig A. Depken & Peter A. Groothuis, 2014. "Influences on sponsorship deals in NASCAR: indirect evidence from time on camera," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(19), pages 2277-2289, July.
    8. Brad R. Humphreys & Jane E. Ruseski, 2010. "Problems With Data on the Sport Industry," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 11(1), pages 60-76, February.
    9. W. David Allen, 2021. "Work Environment and Worker Performance: A View from the Goal Crease," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 418-448, December.

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