American Auto Makers and NASCAR

[erpowers]

ESPN's Outline the Lines is doing a story about the fact that American auto makers are still spending money on NASCAR sponsorships even though they have received billions in bailout money. According to the OTL report Ford, GM, and Chrysler last years gave anywhere from $60 million-$100 million to NASCAR. My question is should American auto makers be allowed to give money to NASCAR if they are taking money from the government?

[ThomWV]

1. Woud you have them abandon print and broadcast advertising too?

[MadHound]

2. Actually this is good, targeted advertising.

They're probably getting more bang for their advertising buck by sponsoring NASCAR than any of the stupid ads I see for local car lots.

[ThomWV]

3. And cheap - a minute of Superbowl advertising cost as much as a NASCAR team

People take a leak during the Superbowl advertising, but the NASCAR team is out there weekend after weekend, and they visit dealerships too.

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. Not quite.

Cost of a 30 second Superbowl ad in 2009;

$2.6 million.

Average annul budget of a top tier NASCAR Sprint Cup team;

$25 - $35 Million

[taterguy]

4. I'm sure you get money from the government in some form

Which choices of yours would you like the government make for you?

[erpowers]

10. I Did Not Get Billions

If I do get money from the government I did not get billions of dollars from the government. The government did not bailout my failing business. Even if I were or am getting money from the government I think it is a big difference between getting thousands of dollars from the government as opposed to billions. There is also a big difference between getting money from the government because your business almost failed than for other reasons.

[gollygee]

5. Race fans have huge huge brand loyalty

and they can't afford to lose that. There are TONS of NASCAR fans. That's well spent advertising money.

[rurallib]

6. Slightly off the subject - but if most cars eventually go electric or hybrid

what happens to NASCAR?

[MadHound]

8. I'm sure that NASCAR will continue

After all, for most auto companies NASCAR races are places for them to push the envelope. I imagine we'll be seeing tweaked out hybrids and electrics, thus pushing the developmental envelope, and eventually we'll see some of these changes make it to the showroom floor.

[catnhatnh]

9. Yup,

The current cars are 3400lbs, rear wheel drive, standard transmission, with carbuerated push-rod V-8 engines. Which is quite different from what most people are driving already.

[david13]

11. NASCAR is for

stupid people. Beer guzzling idiots. NASCAR is 60 year old technology. They REQUIRE carburetors and DON'T ALLOW fuel injection.
Motorcycles and open wheel is where it's at.
Biker D

[Still Sensible]

12. Somewhat depends on standing contracts, but

at this point I don't think Ford has taken any money so a restriction wouldn't apply to them anyway.