The National Rifle Association and its NRA American Warrior magazine will serve as title sponsor of the NRA American Warrior 300, a NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 1 (Atlanta Motor Speedway). SPORTING NEWS’ Bob Pockrass noted the NRA chose to sponsor the Atlanta race “because it is close to many military bases, where military personnel could take advantage of a promotion where the NRA will give away up to 25,000 tickets to anyone who signs up for the NRA’s American Warrior digital magazine.” NASCAR Managing Dir of Integrated Marketing Communications David Higdon said that the circuit has “no qualms with the sponsorship by the politically potent advocacy group for gun owners.” The NRA will “have to abide by the sanctioning body’s guidelines that it uses to approve paint schemes as far as taste and messaging.” AMS President & GM Ed Clark said, “We’ve worked with them before. As long as it’s legal, ethical and in good taste. They’re so first class with the programs they’ve done, it’s not something I would be concerned about” (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/30).
