Obama to Sponsor Race Car in NASCAR
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.11.08
I know that Barack Obama has the better environmental policies. I know he loves bicycles. I know he has to attract the middle American audience. But really, sponsoring a NASCAR race car? Via Wonkette, we learn from Sports Illustrated that "for the first time in history, a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR's premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama's campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing's No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3.
Back in the day when I used to work political campaigns, my manager used to say "work from your strength"- don't go after the voters you don't have a hope for while ignoring your natural base. I hope he is going to sponsor a few bicycle racing teams as well. ::Sports Illustrated
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I have been saying he should do this for a long while. I can not stand racing, especially because of the consumption involved in their undertakings. It is a smart publicity stunt though. Every major news station and sports station would focus on the event, just because of the spectacle. It would be cool if they could race the Tesla Motors electric car. Can you imagine if the democratic party broke into the sport and started raising eco awareness? The prospects of changing a huge consumer sport into a sport ran on renewable energies would do wonders to help environmental awareness rise.
Sprint Cup is not NASCAR's premier series. That is the Nextel Cup.
What Obama is doing is good politics. Not sponsoring and American brand could be a problem, and he certainly has to project well and spin it right. If the car doesn't qualify for the race or crashes & finishes poorly it could be bad press.
As for the energy use - it is the transportation of the fans that is responsible for the greatest portion of energy use at an auto race. Just as it is for other sports and activities.
Obama has to go where the votes are and try to take them from the other guy. How many votes did riding his bicycle and windsurfing bring John Kerry?
Would you prefer that Nascar only be sponsored by consumer products and the Army? Is turning your back on a third of the country a recipe for success?
Far all those who do not like racing remember that most technological breakthroughs in automotive technology have come from racing. Including improvements in fuel efficiency. Remember the car must be fast but it must also stop as infrequently as possible.
Honda has always invested heavily in racing because of the technological lead it gives them.
It's too bad Americans don't pay attention to Formula 1, or Obama could have sponsored one of their cars. They are introducing an energy recovery system to racecars next year. They hope the big auto manufacturers will do their R&D here and take what they learn to their normal road cars.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/3/7503.html
Go anywhere, do anything for votes.
He's a Typical Politician, don't forget it.
"Sprint Cup is not NASCAR's premier series. That is the Nextel Cup."
Wrong. Nextel was acquired by Sprint a few years ago. They changed the name of the series this year.
Obama will NOT sponsor Cup car.
I suspect the idea showed up because Kyle Busch is doing so well this year.
However, if they ever figure out how to recharge a Tesla in 7 seconds ...
Although I hate the name change this season, Sprint Cup is THE Premier Series! And what would Kyle Busch have to do with any part of what Obama is doing???
Of course the car won't do great, it's mostly cars w/o top drivers that even have space for sponsorships like this!
It is a great idea though. It would have put him in the face of millions all at one time. And from all walks of life as NASCAR has grown in popularity so much.
Much better to race cars than use them for everyday transportation. Hopefully the car will follow the horse and become a hobby that people race every once and a while.
It's too bad he can't sponsor the Tesla car. That could have brought some change to the non-environmentally-aware crowd.
But I still prefer that he sponsor bikes.