Write-up by Jim DeSantis
G.O.P. candidate Rudy Giuliani created an look at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend announcing – “I want a ride in a pace auto.”
Giuliani spoke to reporters in the garage stall of Rusty Wallace Racing, wanting to climb in 1 of the team’s race vehicles. Rudy was denied the chance simply because, according to Rusty Wallace, Giuliani wouldn’t fit by means of the window. “I mentioned, ‘Rudy, the problem is I’m too big to get in there, and you’re too large to get in there.”
Wallace told reporters, “If he’s truly severe about it, I’ll locate a vehicle for him to get in. He desires to get in the real car and get on the race track.” Rudy ended up riding in his campaign bus about the track but vowed to return for the duration of the campaign to hitch a ride in a pace car.
Kevin Harvick, the defending Daytona 500 champion stated Monday (January 21) he began watching MSNBC coverage of the presidential primaries and said he discovered it “fairly entertaining.”
“Politics is a dirty sport,” Harvick said. “I believed our sport was backstabbing. Man.”
In the course of a news conference at Daytona International Speedway, where the second week of Sprint Cup testing got below way Monday, Harvick was asked if he has a preferred amongst the Presidential candidates. When asked about the Democrat candidates, Harvick replied, “No, please. I do not want my president to cry,” referring to Sen. Clinton, who misted up on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
Who does Harvick like? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican.
“I like Huckabee, to be honest with you,” Harvick mentioned. “I just like the way he presents himself and the way he talks. Giuliani has been to a lot of NASCAR races, but I just like the way Huckabee presents himself – whatever that matters for.”
Let’s burst the redneck NASCAR fan myth and look at why politicians will continue to romance Nascar fans.
According to a NASCAR survey, published in 2004, about 40% of fans are female and their numbers are rising. About 75% have attended college and a lot more than 25% own their own houses. About 36% of NASCAR fans make more than ,000 a year.
Surprised?
NASCAR fans are evenly distributed across the country. For example, 20% of NASCAR fans live in the Northeast U.S. This is in line with the common population. 20% of the U.S. population lives in the Northeast.
Although the largest base of NASCAR fans live in the Southern U.S., only 38% of the NASCAR fans live in the South. Once more, this is in line with the general population. 35% of the population lives in the South.
If you feel that most NASCAR fans are redneck and caucasian, think once again. According to the same NASCAR survey, about ten% of NASCAR fans are African-American, which is a slightly smaller percentage of Blacks than in the common population. This compares to the NFL, where Black NFL fans represent about 11.7% of the total NFL base.
The percentage of African-American NASCAR fans has grown by 86% considering that 1999. There have also been some attempts by NASCAR to bring in more African-American fans into the seats, and drivers into the races. The survey did not indicate what percentage of fans are Hispanic.
What can we conclude? NASCAR fans are everywhere and number in the millions. In a close race, they could make the distinction as to whom is chosen the next President of the United States.
Jim DeSantis
In addition to editing On Line Tribune Front Page, Jim DeSantis runs NASCAR Videos Galore a site featuring hundreds of free of charge videos related to Nascar events, drivers, and fans.
Roush Fenway Racing President Steve Newmark talks to Forbes about Nascar’s fortunes in 2011 and beyond.
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