Ravin R10 man Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 [h=1]NRA Has Every Right to Sponsor a NASCAR Race[/h][h=2]When It Comes Down to It, It's All About Freedom of Speech[/h] By Matt Myftiu | Yahoo! Contributor Network – 5 hours ago [TABLE=class: ad_slug_table] [TR] [TD=align: right]AdChoices[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] You read this COMMENTARY | The debate over the National Rifle Association -- which has been in the news since last December's Sandy Hook tragedy -- has made its way to NASCAR, as the NRA announced that it will be the sponsor of this April's race at Texas Motor Speedway. The NRA 500 will no doubt be a lightning rod of controversy, prompting boycotts from the group's opponents and cheers from others who support the group. The question being asked by everyone right now: "Did NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway make the right move in allowing this sponsorship deal?" Whatever people believe, they are very passionate in their responses as I found on social media. People either can't stand the idea of the NRA using a NASCAR race to garner publicity, or they wholeheartedly defend the organization. Getting to the crux of the matter, I'll just say it straight: There is nothing wrong with the NRA sponsoring a NASCAR race. Their money is as good as any company's money. There is no reason to deny them sponsorship. The NRA as a group hasn't committed any crimes. They are just an organization with a point of view and are allowed to offer sponsorship money to NASCAR just like everyone else. Many anti-NRA fans may boycott this race and not attend in person or watch on TV, but I'm willing to bet the PR generated by this announcement will more than make up for any lost viewership. This is a simple business transaction, and NASCAR and the speedway shouldn't feel bad about taking the NRA's money. Distancing itself from an NRA sponsorship would open up a Pandora's Box of other groups that might not be able to sponsor, and as an advocate of free speech I don't want to go down that path. The NRA is a group with the same free speech rights as anyone else, and if they want to use NASCAR as an outlet for their views, they have that right. Anyone who would seek to stop the NRA from being able to sponsor a NASCAR race is missing the point. It's about freedom of speech, bottom line, and nothing can change that. NASCAR has no legitimate reason to tell the NRA they can't sponsor a race. I have one problem with this.. I didnt send NRA money to be a race sponsor, but to protect my 2nd amendment rights.:hammer1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I have one problem with this..I didnt send NRA money to be a race sponsor, but to protect my 2nd amendment rights.:hammer1: X2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Yep, and guess who else is outraged by it .. you guessed it Pierce Moron himself ... Piers Morgan Outraged by NRA NASCAR Partnership (VIDEO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 Yep, and guess who else is outraged by it .. you guessed it Pierce Moron himself ... Piers Morgan Outraged by NRA NASCAR Partnership (VIDEO) well thats the only good thing I see out of it; they got that kind of money ...I dont want no solicitation call from them again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 i know their mailers are completely paid for by gun mfg and others donations. your membership money doesn't really go toward it. sponsoring a race i'd think is big money. they've got the right to do so though. maybe this will make Piers Morgan leave the US and go back home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted March 12, 2013 Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 I think funds are better spent battling the anti's. If the Nascar racer, who took the sponsorship money turns around and donates it to a gun cause...Well. That would would be nice. BUT... If some race car driver is getting rich off of NRA members...then this should end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 i'm not a nascar guy, but most nascar guys are gun guys. i think the nra is doing some good advertising here. however they are advertising, it' s working. enrollment is waaaay up. i do believe they should go public and make obama the "gun sales person of the year". it's not only true, it's a real poke in his eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 (edited) We need to be putting EVERY cent into the war against the antis...I am NOT renewing my dues because of THIS! ...Sorry it's the principal of trusting them with the dues I know they have thought it through, and I hope they do well, bottom line is, they broke my trust in how the dues are managed. They will have to work real hard to get my trust back. Edited March 17, 2013 by Mathews XT Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 I'm just going to put this out there for informational purposes .. How a NASCAR Sponsorship Works Where does the money go? One of the biggest expenses any NASCAR team has these days is fuel -- and not just for the race. Every team has to get at least one car and one full pit crew to the race -- plus the driver, the owners, the management, and all the team's racing gear and tools. This requires a couple of large transport trucks that drink diesel fuel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just as an example, if diesel fuel is priced at $4 a gallon, the cost to fill a 300-gallon (1,135-liter) tank is $1,200. That's an expensive stop at the filling station. Sunoco, another NASCAR sponsor, supplies free gasoline for the race cars on race day; however, those cars get run a lot more often than just one day a week. Teams test their equipment for speed and safety several times during a typical week, sometimes at non-sanctioned tracks, which means they pay for their own race fuel at around $6.25 per gallon (around $1.65 per liter). An all-day test session can burn through a 55-gallon (208-liter) drum, which costs nearly $350. The driver typically flies from track to track, which is rather expensive, or the driver may take a tour bus, which is almost as expensive as flying. Now, we know what you're thinking, but don't worry about the driver -- he isn't paying for all of this travel out of his own pocket. Like everything else in NASCAR, the driver's income is negotiable. His salary is generally paid for by the sponsor, which gets a certain number of scheduled appearances out of the driver in return. The driver will also split race-day winnings with the team, and there are usually incentives for winning big races -- like the Daytona 500, for example. The driver can also bring in fees for additional appearances or even license his likeness to advertisers. The best drivers -- with the best agents -- can bring in millions each year, like 2008's top earner, Jeff Gordon. In 2008, Gordon garnered $17 million in endorsements and royalties, and $15 million in salary and race winnings, for a total of $32 million. Since everything is negotiable, let's talk about all those little logos that cover every surface of a NASCAR race car. Return on Investment After approving a tremendous amount of money for a NASCAR Sprint Cup team, wouldn't it be nice if the sponsor got something back -- besides goodwill? The most obvious result is in the fanbase of over 50 million viewers. That's a lot of potential advertising impressions to make. When calculating the return on their investment, some companies will count the number of seconds their logo is clearly visible on the screen, and then multiply that time by the going ad rate to get an idea of how far their NASCAR dollars are getting them. With a high-profile partnership like Tony Stewart and The Home Depot, for instance, that works out pretty well, especially among NASCAR fans, which have a habit of being loyal to the brands that sponsor their favorite drivers. But companies also take into account print, billboard, Internet, and other ways their NASCAR team gets in front of consumers. They track consumers' awareness and image of a brand, thanks to their sponsorship of a race team. They'll also do promotions linked to sponsorship to determine if it's getting the brand exposure they want. If more people try a product during a promotion, that's a good return on investment. Employee morale is another benefit, one that often flies under the radar. Think how happy you would be -- you, the NASCAR fan -- if your company sponsored a winning car. Maybe, if you sold the most widgets or were voted employee of the year, you could get a couple of tickets to a race. Sponsorship is the kind of intangible perk that can attract and retain employees. HowStuffWorks "How a NASCAR Sponsorship Works" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted March 16, 2013 Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 I've thought this over for awhile and while at first I thought WTH? I'm in agreement with what they are doing. We need exposure. NASCAR is certainly a good venue to get it. The bean counters at the NRA are pretty good at what they do. I'm sure they are convinced they will see a significant return on their investment. This is not just for show. No doubt they will have booths set up where reps will talk to people and sign them on as members. NASCAR fans aren't cheap even though they have been branded as redknecks, backwoods etc. I think they will give back to an organization which will support what they like. This could be the start of a great relationship. It would take more than just one decision for me to drop membership to an organization I have belonged to for most of my life. I sincerely hope it works out well for the NRA. I will continue to support them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 More power to them. I'll renew my membership because....well just because I want to. May even send in a little extra too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 NRA to Sponor Texas Race I'd guess this is a membership drive tactic. Yes big money but big exposure too. I can't wait to see the commercials during the race! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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