NASCAR new sponsorship guidelines after NRA controversy

[MasterOfNone]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/stor ... ontroversy

TMS officials have indicated the NRA will not return as the race sponsor.

“(NASCAR) will disapprove a prospective entitlement sponsor only if such prospective entitlement sponsor’s brand has been tarnished by, controversy, crisis or circumstance such that its association with the event would damage the NASCAR brand or the image of the sport or … it would damage the (broadcasting) network’s ability to sell advertising,” the sanction agreement states.

Talk about not knowing your customers! I bet the majority of people who spend money on NASCAR are also pro-gun.

[suthdj]

I guess the real question is do the fans like the cars or the guns better.

[MoJo]

What other sponsors could be impacted by this rule. Tobacco is out already, what about soft drinks, beer, fast food, banks? Heck, the list could go on forever.

[iom]

Definitely disappointing. As most of you know, During the victory celebration, the driver shoots blanks out of two six-shooters. NRA was the perfect sponsor for this race. Unreal.

[The Annoyed Man]

I must say that I'm very disappointed in NASCAR for this "NRA Rule". There is nothing wrong with having the NRA as a race sponsor IMHO. If NASCAR were to reject the NRA as a title sponsor, then that says to me that NASCAR is cowering down to all of the anti-gunners which is most likely not close to their majority fan base. If they continue down this PC path, I might have to re-think my long time support and following of this sport.

How long before NASCAR stops accepting the US Army as a sponsor? The military could burn in hades, and most liberals couldn't be happier.

[baldeagle]

I must say that I'm very disappointed in NASCAR for this "NRA Rule". There is nothing wrong with having the NRA as a race sponsor IMHO. If NASCAR were to reject the NRA as a title sponsor, then that says to me that NASCAR is cowering down to all of the anti-gunners which is most likely not close to their majority fan base. If they continue down this PC path, I might have to re-think my long time support and following of this sport.

Really? You weren't already bothered by this? http://green.nascar.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wodathunkit]

Ill admit that I'm a NASCAR redneck. This is another prime example of the France family loosing sight of their true fan base. For every 1 fan they try and bring in from "Chicagoland", Phoenix, and California, the more they lose in Tennessee, the Carolina's, Georgia, and Florida. And those are the fans who pay the bills. The NASCAR "going green" link listed above is another prime example. If they had their way, the only sponsors they want would be the united way, UNICEF, Apple, Green peace and Acorn to sponsor Jeff Gordon.

[Blindref757]

Funny...the NRA thing and the NASCAR Green thing are both sorta news to me...because I quit watching NASCAR when they rebuilt the cars and nobody could pass, they stopped allowing the drivers to be mad at each other, and Jimmy Johnson won every week. I own about 200 die cast collectible race cars if anyone is interested in them! They are for sale at the next garage sale!!!

[LabRat]

TMS officials have indicated the NRA will not return as the race sponsor.

“… it would damage the (broadcasting) network’s ability to sell advertising,” the sanction agreement states.

This is the phrase that tells you who's running this decision.

Fans in the stands don't pay the bills for this sport. The real money is in TV advertisting and the slice that NASCAR gets from that activity.

The broadcasters (NBC, CBS, TNT, etc) are calling the shots and refusing to air races unless NASCAR publishes this rule.

However, those who watch on TV share similar demographics and possibly civic values with those who will actually buy tickets and sit in the stands. So NASCAR is treading in deep water, so to speak.

NASCAR has several levels of sponsors:
Series Entitlement Sponsors
Official Sponsors
NASCAR Performance Sponsors
then whatever "Nascar Green" means.....

So Entitlement Sponsors are Sprint, Nationwide Insurance, Camping World, K&N, Whelen and Canadian Tire (what's NASCAR, eh?)

Does this mean the "rule" enforcement ONLY applies to sponsors who want to be "Entitlement" sponsors, or to ANY sponsor of Nascar?

I grew up in the North Carolina watching dirt track racing and NASCAR in the 60's and 70's.
It definitely NOT the same sport that had good competition back in the day.
Today it's all cookie-cutter cars and questionable drivers.
I lost my interest back years ago and have no desire to rekindle it now.

NASCAR is pretty much dying of starvation in a land of plenty. Their choice - RIP.

[srothstein]

I have to admit that I really do not see a problem in this rule, as it is stated. It allows for NASCAR to review and deny a sponsorship. Until I see them deny the sponsorship by the NRA using this rule, I will hold back judgment on it. I would argue that the NRA brand has not been harmed by controversy and does not hinder the sale of advertising. It embroiled the NASCAR brand in a little bit of controversy, but I do not think they could claim it harmed their brand in any way.

I could see using this rule to stop a PETA sponsorship, if they ever tried to. But I don't see too many other brands that it would apply to without a doubt. Until i see how it is applied, I see it as a neutral rule.

[suthdj]

I have to admit that I really do not see a problem in this rule, as it is stated. It allows for NASCAR to review and deny a sponsorship. Until I see them deny the sponsorship by the NRA using this rule, I will hold back judgment on it. I would argue that the NRA brand has not been harmed by controversy and does not hinder the sale of advertising. It embroiled the NASCAR brand in a little bit of controversy, but I do not think they could claim it harmed their brand in any way.

I could see using this rule to stop a PETA sponsorship, if they ever tried to. But I don't see too many other brands that it would apply to without a doubt. Until i see how it is applied, I see it as a neutral rule.

TMS officials have indicated the NRA will not return as the race sponsor.

[srothstein]

I saw that Suthdj. But it does not say it was because of this rule, because TMS decided against the NRA, or because the NRA decided against it after the controversy. My bet would be that TMS decided against it, not NASCAR or the NRA, but that is just my bet.

[Jason K]

“(NASCAR) will disapprove a prospective entitlement sponsor only if such prospective entitlement sponsor’s brand has been tarnished by, controversy, crisis or circumstance such that its association with the event would damage the NASCAR brand or the image of the sport or … it would damage the (broadcasting) network’s ability to sell advertising,” the sanction agreement states.

So.....does that mean no more alcohol product advertising? There was that Prohibition thing, after all.....