Minnesota Congresswoman wants to ban military from NASCAR sp

Rep. Betty McCollum wants to put the brakes on the Defense Department's 10-year sponsorship deal with NASCAR racing teams, saying the multimillion-dollar recruiting effort is a waste of money. The Minnesota Democrat is also dubious that stock car sponsorship has much to do with enlistment numbers or troop readiness. "This is not only putting a sticker on the car. This is paying for a racing team," Ms. McCollum's chief of staff, Bill Harper, told Washington Wire. "That doesn't contribute to military readiness." The amendment is one of more than 400 that lawmakers want attached to Rep. Paul Ryan's spending bill to fund the government through Sept. 30. Ms. McCollum's office estimates the Pentagon has spent more than $100 million on its own NASCAR teams. Col. Derik Crotts, director of the army's sponsorship, told Washington Wire in an email that the Army spends $7 million a year on its racing team, and finds it valuable. "Youth surveys show that motorsports is a passion point for young Americans," wrote Col. Crotts. "It is critical that the Army use these passion points to communicate with prospects and their influencers." He continued, "In a 2009 among nationwide fans, 37% feel more positive about the Army due to its involvement in motorsports."

from jayski...

StewartHaas rcg and Ryan Newman have been asking on Twitter for fans to write their congressman/woman
Below is the link provided
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

im not sure how i feel about this, yes its important to cut spending, maybe stop making 300 dollar toilet seats, and get them at walmart for 9.99
in saying that, i think its good to have the armed forces sponsor a car, whether it be for 1 race, or 36 races. these men and women need a distraction and im sure they feel a sense of pride when they see their branch of the armed forces on the track

I think these congress men and women need to stick to screwing up the economy and leave the military sponsorships alone in Nascar. Afterall, they pipe NFL and College football over to the desert.
The soldiers ought to be able to get as much home cooking as they want over there for what they are doing for this country. Having a car to pull for to me would be awsome!

I think these congress men and women need to stick to screwing up the economy and leave the military sponsorships alone in Nascar. Afterall, they pipe NFL and College football over to the desert.
The soldiers ought to be able to get as much home cooking as they want over there for what they are doing for this country. Having a car to pull for to me would be awsome!

Very well said and agree 100%

I would think that, after about 10 years of sponsoring teams, the Army has a pretty good idea of if it is working or not. Stats I've seen over the last couple days, from higher-ups in the Army, seem to show that their sponsorship does help in recruiting.

Besides that, to have a driver like Ryan that gets involved with the soldiers, promotes them and what they do, genuinely respects them, and wants to win not just for himself but for our troops, it is bound to have a positive effect on our soldiers' moral. And that should be just as important as anything else.

I called my congressman's office yesterday and told them that NASCAR and our fans support our military, we have the most patriotic sport in America, and that there is no better place for a military sponsorship.

I called my congressman's office yesterday and told them that NASCAR and our fans support our military, we have the most patriotic sport in America, and that there is no better place for a military sponsorship.

Glad to hear this Smoke14TS!!

nascar is probably the military's best advertising platform. you see military recruiting pamphlets and booths at a lot of places but with nascar it kind of has the whole package. they do a lot of pre-race activities that celebrate the military and the troops in a very respectable way. people watching or attending the races who are considering going into the military or maybe looking for what they want to do in their life can get a feel of the respect and high regard the military has. its much more touching then say, reading a pamphlet or any of the cheesy mother/daughter talking to eachother commercials we see on tv. other sports have military presence usually only at their most important game of the season nascar does it every week

I don't think the congresswoman understands why the sponsorship is important. Because of that sponsorship and how SHR feels about the military Tony and associates did the Prelude to a Dream and gave money to different parts of the military. I'd rather see the fact they support the military than for the government spend the money on a bridge that goes nowhere.
I'm not crazy about the fact AARP spent over ten million dollars towards Jeff Gordons ride but I do understand why they did it.
All the congresswoman has to understand is the word awareness.

Take a look at my signature. It says it all. This signature came from a tee shirt raising money for the military in Irac and Afganistan.

They are voting on this today !!! I also have called & emailed everyone & Politican I know to vote NO... This morning Ryan & separately, Mike Joy, Larry Mac, & Daryl W were on Fox making their case. Then some Generals came on and said the same. It's the Best reqruiting tool we have & they gave numbers. I'm sure the Republicans will vote NO, not sure about the Dems because Ms McCollumm is a Dem Representative. So, I guess we'll find out today.

Also Today:

Tune into FOX Business at 3:15 p.m. EST to watch Ryan Newman; and 3:30 p.m. EST to watch Tony Stewart be interviewed by Dagen McDowell.

YAY !!! The House just voted it down. Watched on CSPAN & the Rpublicans voted it down & Most Democrats backed Rep Mc Collum but it was defeated !!!!!! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I bet Ryan & Tony are happy if they know !!!

bill did not pass.................

Amendment to ban military sponsorship of #NASCAR teams fails 281-148. Democrats 118 to ban, 72 no ban; Republicans 30 to ban; 209 no ban.

i didnt realize they were voting on it so soon. thankfully one side still holds America's values in high regard.