Will NRA Sponsorship Of The Texas NASCAR Race Help Or Hurt?

That Eddie Gossage sure is one hell of a promoter.

The outspoken, gregarious (and conservative) Texas Motor Speedway president got his track's spring race a whole heck of a lot of publicity at TMS's media day on Monday when it was announced that the NRA would replace Samsung Mobile as the title sponsor of the Sprint Cup Series April 13th 500 mile race.

Yes, that NRA. The National Rifle Association, a group well known to most Americans and even more well-known to the people who make up NASCAR's core demographic.

Just two weeks ago, one of the most talked about cars at the Daytona 500 was one that bore a solicitation of monetary donations for the community of Newtown, Connecticut after the Sandy Hook school shooting left 26 people dead. In addition to that number that people could text to donate to, the car was even No. 26 for the race instead of its usual No. 30. To hear the car's owners retell the story, it was NASCAR President Mike Helton's idea. NASCAR CEO Brian France gave $50,000 to the Newtown charity. The NASCAR Foundation matched it.



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mrcassis - 3/6/2013 5:14:44 PM

-2 Boost

Neither. NASCAR followers are overwhelmingly ......uhhh....let's say "NRA supporters" who are of like mind when it comes to political affiliation and social issues. I'm surprised the NRA and NASCAR and its fans weren't merged together decades ago.

trmckin - 3/6/2013 5:26:27 PM

+2 Boost

The NRA will benefit. They are advertising at an event that is a prime target audience for them. They might pick up some people that pay memberships. Outside of that, there is no real benefit to NASCAR. Sport fans don't care who sponsors their favorite events unless it's Al Qaeda or something like that.

nguyenvuminh - 3/6/2013 5:34:50 PM

+1 Boost

I don't like NASCAR and I hate the NRA but analytically, this is a great match. NASCAR will have a more direct access to a source of financial support and NRA will have more get a chance to have more direct contact/communication with a welcoming demographic.

ParadoX - 3/6/2013 8:22:12 PM

+1 Boost

I am not a fan of either NASCAR or the NRA, but this is Texas we are talking about. The pickup truck capital of America.

TheDepressingTruth - 3/7/2013 11:38:30 PM

+1 Boost

This is TEXAS ....What do you expect, THE BIRKENSTOCK 500 ?