President Clinton's proposed restrictions on tobacco
advertising and their impact on NASCAR was featured on last
night's "Eye on America" on "CBS Evening News." CBS' Jim Stewart
said NASCAR "is, by any standards, one of the fastest growing
sports in a sports crazy nation." But critics of tobacco
advertising in NASCAR question who the advertising is geared
toward, calling it "the most effective form of targeted
advertising the tobacco industry has today to reach kids."
Stewart notes tobacco critics cite the companies "sole intent
[is] trying to buy some heroes and lure a future of generation of
smokers."
DON'T MAKE NASCAR ANGRY: The Clinton Administration proposal
to ban tobacco brands from advertising has NASCAR "drivers and
fans ... infuriated" as NASCAR drivers note the "reality ...
that racing needs big money to survive." CBS' Stewart adds that
if tobacco is banned, then NASCAR supporters suggest "any other
industry could be next." NASCAR's Darrell Waltrip: "It is far
more reaching. ... I tell you, we got a smoking problem in this
country. But its coming out of Washington, it ain't coming out
of NASCAR." CBS' Stewart: "Wherever its coming from, for the
moment, America's great smoking debate is now focused here, on a
sport and an industry who appear equally addicted to each other"
("CBS Evening News," 9/17).
