NASCAR supports UAW and the bailout.

[Elwood P Dowd]

This comes from a racing blog called Trading Paint. Not mentioned in this post is the fact that the UAW has been a NASCAR sponsor for several years. This season they sponsored the UAW-Dodge 400 in Las Vegas.

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/autoracing/blog/2008/12/nascar_supports_auto_industry.html

NASCAR Supports Auto Industry Bailout

The Associated Press reported earlier this week that NASCAR chairman Brian France sent a letter to lobby Congress in support of a financial rescue plan for domestic automakers.

Chrysler, Ford and General Motors — three of the four manufacturers that participate in NASCAR — are pleading with Congress for a bailout to prevent their companies from going bankrupt, the story said.

We reached out to NASCAR for further comment:

"The domestic automakers participating in NASCAR are an important part of our heritage and fans' rooting interests," said Andrew Giangola, Director of Business Communications for NASCAR. "Our fans are drawn to close, side-by-side racing, which manufacturers and their teams create. As important as the automakers are to NASCAR, this issue is bigger than our sport. Millions of jobs and main street businesses are affected. We're optimistic that Congress will help the automakers get through this challenging time."

NASCAR is hoping that the exposure the auto manufacturers get through racing, will help.

"NASCAR is doing our part to help by helping the manufacturers get strong exposure in the sport and stepping up how we promote their cars, including new fuel-efficient vehicles," added Giangola. NASCAR is working hard to continue to provide value to our vehicle manufacturer partners to help them justify their investment in NASCAR."

At the NASCAR awards luncheon on Dec. 4, many of the drivers acknowledged these troubles and urged people in attendance to support the domestic auto industry.

Accoring to the AP story, France wrote a letter to Congress that stated, in part: "I'm writing you as a concerned American who wants what is best for our general country. Of course, the domestic automobile manufacturers play a very important part of the heritage of NASCAR, but more importantly, it is vital for all of America."

The story also stated that: France's letter warned that if the auto industry fails, 3 million people would lose their jobs in the first year, and another 2.5 million over the following two years. He said personal income in the U.S. would drop by $150 billion in the first year and domestic automobile production — even by foreign manufacturers — would likely drop to zero.

-- CASSIDY

[LisaM]

1. The drivers and fans should be on board with this

and heavily lobbying Shelby and Vitter.

[DainBramaged]

4. How about working to oust them when time for re-election?

I think NASCAR for all it's Republican "attitude" will dramatically change after what they have seen today.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. I hope they remember this at election time. Just who was it that

was backing the workers...the Democrats..not the repukes, not even those who were from the NASCAR states.

[Donnachaidh]

16. how many of those nascar fans put Saxby Chambliss BACK in office?

I certainly hope they blitz his office with complaints.

[Lugnut]

25. NASCAR fans live in every state.

Most of the NASCAR shops and support industries are in NC which went to Obama in the election.

[ben_meyers]

Who cares? They're southern and evil.

We don't need your stinkin' support!

[DainBramaged]

12. Yes we do, EVERY vote counts ask Al Franken

[KamaAina]

18. Three-time champion Jimmie Johnson is from El Cajon, CA

okay, okay, it's Southern California... but Tony Stewart is from Indiana, Ricky Craven from Maine, Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne from Washington, etc.

Then there's Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia, South America), Marcos Ambrose (Australia, Southern Hemisphere), etc.

Finally, the only truly evil one is Jeff Gordon. :puke:

[madinmaryland]

19. Why do you hate Jeff Gordon?? He's not a Barry Bonds type!

:hide:

[KamaAina]

20. No, he's more of a Tony Romo type

:P

[madinmaryland]

23. Now I know why turtleandsue and Parche are Jeff Gordon fans!

:hide:

[Elwood P Dowd]

21. Matt Kenseth is from Wisconsin,

the Bush boys are from Nevada, Karl Edwards is from Missouri, Kevin Harvick is from California, and on and on. Most of the top drivers come from states outside the south.

[FarCenter]

2. Maybe NASCAR should switch to racing electric vehicles

I thought that auto racing was supposed to spur on vehicle development.

[DainBramaged]

5. Blah blah blah blah

like racing slot cars.

[FarCenter]

6. For example, modular, replaceable battery packs

That you just change out during the pit stops.

Also, regenerative braking going into the corners, instead of dumping the energy as heat with bright red brake rotors.

[3waygeek]

17. Formula One is working on it...

they'll introduce regenerative braking next year, and are considering further steps such as alternate fuels. There are no American companies or drivers in F1, unfortunately, so it gets almost zero coverage in the States -- worldwide, F1 is second only to soccer in terms of TV sports viewership.

[FarCenter]

26. They use a flywheel instead of batteries, IIRC

Going into the corner, the energy goes to spins up a flywheel.

Coming out of the corner, the flywheel is used to accelerate the car.

It is more useful on a road course than on an oval.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. NASCAR has intentionally restricted technology in the series it sanctions.

That's why they still use carburetors, do not allow data telemetry (like Formula One and IndyCar does), do not allow electronic engine controls/fuel management (which have been in place on the cars you buy for years), stayed with the 5 lug-nut wheel attachment and require the use of manual jacks in pit stops.

[DainBramaged]

11. The sound, the smell and the fury, something SOME PEOPLE don't get

but they are the first to tell us we watch NASCAR for the crashes.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. There's an old saying about motor racing, DB,.....

"People don't go to races to see crashes, but if there were no crashes, people wouldn't go to races."

[DainBramaged]

28. You know nothing about auto racing.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madrchsod]

24. you have no idea what you are talking about.....

they do not use the technology you mentioned because of cost. adding the technology to these cars is really pointless

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Yes. Quite.

And how many years have you spent working in the industry?

They intentionally restrict the technologies I mentioned because of cost. Yes. Of course that does not explain why the top tier NASCAR teams have annual engine development budgets that could have run an entire team for a season 15 years ago. When you look at what the top teams spend on making a carbureted, pushrod engine perform better, your argument about cost falls flat on its face.

But it is hardly pointless to use electronic fuel metering or engine controls or telemetry so that the engine performance can be monitored by an engineer in the pit. Efficiency and engine management make the point entirely worthwhile. That's why F1 and IndyCar have been using such technologies for almost 20 years

Of course, NASCAR would have to do away with the antiquated technology that is the carburetor and go to fuel injection, just like every single production car the car manufacturers make.

So, how many years have you spent working in motor racing?

Because I was in it for 12 years, a major engine manufacturer for 7 years, a world renowned race car builder for a year, associated with teams in NHRA, NASCAR, IndyCar and IMSA, been on the credentialed side of the fence at more tracks than I can count, spent 8 consecutive Mays in the garage area at The Speedway and have worked in the automobile industry in one fashion or another for over 20 years. And in all that time I didn't learn a damned thing about fucking NASCAR and their stuck in the 50's engine rules, I guess.

So no, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[DainBramaged]

29. I started PROFESSIONALLY racing in NHRA in 1969

ran Super Stock NATIONWIDE until 1976. The three teams I was on won 9 (I think now) National Events, One world championship. I then became active again in 1987 in Top Fuel for a season, and then spent time in the early nineties back in the engine shop I started out pushing Busch series motors.


Now, are we comparing penis sizes or race wins?

Oh yes my FIRST BB 454 +.060 Chevy race motor blew up after 8 seconds in 1972. I still have a piston. Totally preped rod broke in two.

I have a clue, and electricity isn't the answer.

(added) One of my partners moved to Florida after the death of his son in the late 70's. After that, I sort of lost my taste for racing or being involved for a decade.


(spelling)

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DainBramaged]

34. Whatever, your personal attack is uncalled for

goodbye.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Electric cars are much too fast. Too much torque.

It makes people who don't have electric cars feel inferior.

[KamaAina]

22. Actually that would not be a bad idea -- for another racing series

like the Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series (sort of like Triple A) and the Craftsman Truck Series.

As long as it isn't called the "T. Boone Pickens Series"... :puke:

[ColbertWatcher]

3. It's about freakin' time!

Welcome to the world outside your asses people!

[Stinky The Clown]

7. This is good. Junior Johnson led the way with his endorsement of Obama

Maybe NASCAR will move some of those Southern, union-avoiding people who vote against their best interests to change their allegiance to the RIGHT WING MOTHERFUCKERS.

[Wapsie B]

15. Way to go Junior!

I didn't know he endorsed Obama.

[Stinky The Clown]

30. Yup, he sure did. Right when NC needed that extra 'oomph', there he was.

[supernova]

8. I'm betting Junior Johnson had something to do with that

;-)

[DeepModem Mom]

31. K&R

[crimsonblue]

36. well, duh!

The money for Nascar comes from the skim off the top of Auto company budgets. Failing auto sector, no more Nascar. I kinda hope Nascar goes under: what a wasteful, useless activity. "Let's go watch cars goin round an oval for 3 hours! Yippee!" :puke: