Politics and NASCAR

By Geoff Bodine
March 5, 2016

I’m sure many of you are aware of NASCAR’s CEO Brian France and a few drivers endorsing Donald Trump at a political rally Monday night in Georgia.

To be honest, I would have liked to have been there. I’ve been waiting for that endorsement, and I wish they would have included me. I’ve endorsed him online. Everybody that knows me knows my opinion of him.

I’m very much behind him and his effort. It would be best if there wasn’t another career politician in the Oval Office. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.

If you look back over the years, both Bill France Sr. and Jr. endorsed who they thought would help them in Washington. They publicly endorsed who they thought would be right for the job.

NASCAR has been involved in politics; they have lobbyists. They’re putting their bet on Trump for sure, which is a pretty good bet.

When I was in Daytona racing with Bud Moore one year, we did a mock pit stop in the garage area for George Bush Sr.

Another time, George W. Bush was in among the NASCAR community in a driver’s meeting before he was president. Political hopefuls have made their presence known at the racetrack. President Reagan was the first sitting commander-in-chief to attend a NASCAR race in 1984.

Republican hopeful Mitt Romney was present at Daytona in 2012, along with a Rick Santorum-sponsored ride in that race.

This isn’t the first time politics and racing mesh, and it won’t be the last.

There’s been buzz on social media about how France’s endorsement will hurt the image of the sport, but to be frank, it won’t.

France’s endorsement is a private one, not one on the behalf of NASCAR.

DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.