A Night Out Gets the Wheels Churning
It’s funny that a simple night spent at the bar can spawn ideas in your head for topics of discussion in the racing world. Well, that’s exactly what happened to me over the weekend … purely accidental, I assure you. Last Saturday night I was at a sports bar up the road from me here in Virginia to watch Brock Lesnar’s UFC debut when suddenly I looked up and noticed a poster on the wall across the room. At first, I thought that it was Budweiser actually promoting underage drinking … then I looked closer and noticed that it was simply there 2008 Sprint Cup Series schedule with a picture of Kasey Kahne.
I briefly touched up on it a few months ago with one of my top 10 lists, but I think it’s something worth bringing up again and getting into a little more detail. See, when I think of the combination of NASCAR mixed with alcohol, I’m thinking of the old chubby guy with a thin comb-over – ya know, something like Sterling Marlin (formerly sponsored by Coors). Or, perhaps a younger gentlemen with some scruff on his face that just looks like he knows how to party. Remind you of anyone? Maybe Dale Earnhardt Jr. (formerly sponsored by Budweiser)? The point is that the primary beer sponsors in the Sprint Cup Series have gone from sponsoring Dale Junior, Rusty Wallace, and Sterling Marlin to endorsing the likes of Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, and David Stremme. Okay, so Stremme’s no longer sponsored by Coors, but that is the last driver they sponsored prior to pulling out of the individual driver sponsorship market in NASCAR.
It just makes no sense to me, people. For years these sponsors had it right. They picked the perfect spokesman to endorse their labels, but now those days appear to be gone with the wind. I mean, Kasey Kahne has a tough time spouting even the slightest of peach fuzz and Kurt Busch looks like that nerdy guy in the back of the University classroom taking the advanced courses in his Sophomore year of college. What gives? Why is Elliott Sadler being sponsored by Dodge Dealers this year and not Budweiser? How about a Kevin Harvick or Ryan Newman? There are still talented drivers out there on the circuit that look the part, so why not go in that direction? To me, as a business, I believe they have the responsibility to property advertise their products. As long as the drinking age in America is set at 21, I just don’t understand how guys like Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch are the ambassadors for alcohol. Like I said … it just makes no sense to me.
“DYN Imposes”: This week, Do You NASCAR also asks …
1. Do you think that Kasey Kahne and Kurt Busch are appropriate mascots for the alcohol labels?
2. Do you think that the alcohol distributors have a moral obligation to sponsor drivers that look the part?
3. What 2 drivers in the Sprint Cup Series do you think should be endorsed by Budweiser and Miller Lite?
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POSTED IN: NASCAR
2 opinions for A Night Out Gets the Wheels Churning
roc
Feb 5, 2008 at 8:37 pm
1 hell no
2 yes
3 elliot sadler, truex jr, stewart, reed sorencen
Don Zaegel
Feb 7, 2008 at 8:38 pm
1.If you want to promote drinking amongst Americas youth
2.No, but it would make me feel like i wasn’t drinking Oduls or Kool-Aid.
3.Anyone with a beer gut or facial hair
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