Is there any sport that gives back more to the community than NASCAR?

http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6522-nascar-legends-wife-auctions-dress-for-charity

Here is what Jeff Gordon and his wife are doing:

“Vandebosch chose this gown for the annual 2011 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala. Proceeds from this auction will benefit the research and treatment of childhood cancer initiatives through the work of The Promise Circle, a fund of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation. Ms. Vandebosch is a founding and active member of The Promise Circle.”

This dress will raise needed money to fight childhood cancer. That’s just one example of all the good that NASCAR drivers do for the community…and just one more reason why this is the greatest sport in the world.

Is there any sport that offers more confrontation than NASCAR?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/23/SP021K08JH.DTL

Check out some of the feuds that have taken place this year:

“Even an owner has gotten physical. Richard Childress, 65, was fined $150,000, but he wasn’t suspended after he put Kyle Busch, 26, in a headlock and punched him several times. He was furious at Busch for bumping into one of Childress’ drivers on a cool-down lap in a truck series race. At Darlington, S.C., this year, Ryan Newman reportedly punched Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR hauler. Then the heavy hitting started. Busch spun out Kevin Harvick’s Chevrolet, Harvick tried to punch Busch through the window of his Toyota, and Busch used his bumper to push Harvick’s abandoned car into the pit lane wall. Both drivers were fined $25,000 and placed on probation.”

Conflict makes for good entertainment. And NASCAR offers plenty of it. It’s another reason why NASCAR is America’s real national pastime.

Are you kidding me?

http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2011/6/21/2235502/congresswoman-nascar-military-funding-2011

Let me make sure I have this right: a Member of Congress is complaining about the military’s involvement with NASCAR?

“Minnesota Democratic Representative Betty McCollum has stepped up her campaign to end military sponsorship in NASCAR. Rep. McCollum has failed twice to stop federal funding of NASCAR, professional fishing and professional wrestling, but is working on ways to continue her fight against what she sees as wasteful spending.”

Does Congresswoman McCollum not realize that spending money on marketing in NASCAR is a perfect way to advertise to potential recruits? Fortunately, the military understands this and so does the rest of Congress. I’m proud that our military supports NASCAR. It’s a perfect match.

This weekend NASCAR received some bad news:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=6687020

It seems that a key sponsor is leaving the sport:

“The difficult part of auto racing, the part that’s all about whether some company likes you enough to give you lots of money, showed its dark side last weekend. Red Bull is leaving NASCAR at the end of 2011, which AP first reported Monday morning before the Red Bull Racing Team confirmed it later in the day.”

But here is the part of the story that this article doesn’t mention: when one sponsor leaves, it creates an opportunity for a new sponsor. And with NASCAR being the most exciting sport around, it will be interesting to see who emerges to take Red Bull’s place.

This week the Army celebrates its birthday. And thanks to one driver, NASCAR celebrates the Army every week:

http://www.mlive.com/autoracing/index.ssf/2011/06/ryan_newman_proud_to_wear_us_a.html

Ryan Newman honors the Army every time he drives. But he also honors the Army when he isn’t driving:

“NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ryan Newman does not take wearing the U.S. Army colors on race day lightly. Newman, a South Bend, Ind., native and driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Bud Moore NASCAR Hall of Fame Chevrolet, enjoys the attention he gets from military personnel at the race tracks. He will be a part of the Army’s 236th birthday celebration that typically includes sharing a little birthday cake with servicemen and women at Michigan International Speedway.”

This is more proof that NASCAR really is the All-American sport!

I’ve always believed that NASCAR is about more than just racing. And here is more proof:

http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/06/13/nascar-converts-to-e15-ethanol-blends/

This season, NASCAR is experimenting with renewable energy:

“In Pennsylvania, the Sprint Cup Series competed yesterday using Sunoco Green E15 racing fuel. As promised in October when NASCAR announced that it would use ethanol in all three of its national series in 2011, this blend represents part of NASCAR’s initiative to ‘go green,’ which began about two and a half years ago.”

If NASCAR has success using renewable energy, it won’t be long before the car industry begins producing more cars that don’t use traditional oil. And that will be a great thing for our entire country.

This week we’re focusing on my favorite track in NASCAR–Texas:

http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?TrackID=371&StoryID=309290

Part of what I love about Texas Motor Speedway is that Eddie Gossage knows how to mix it up and market his product:

“Starring on Season 11 of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” Oklahoma City police officers Dan and Don Evans, 55, will have the honor of giving the command of “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” to the starting field for the opening race of the Firestone Twin 275s. For the first time in IndyCar Series history, Texas Motor Speedway will have the honor of hosting two races in the same night as well as a “halftime” between the twin 114-lap/275-kilometer events.”

So this weekend, Gossage will offer race fans not one but two Indy races on the same night. This is another great example of how NASCAR is able to adapt and adjust and offer fans new experiences and new excitement.

Here is the biggest proof yet that Indy racing is dying and NASCAR is only getting better:

http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/jun/02/move-nascar-would-make-patricks-sponsor-very-happy/

Danica Patrick will join NASCAR full-time. I don’t know that. But I’m predicting it. Here is why:

“Yeah, the Indy 500 is still the Indy 500, but even what was once considered the greatest and grandest of motorsports events has lost its luster. Its TV ratings last year were the worst in history (and just 4.3 on Sunday), and not even the hype of the 100th anniversary of the race provided much of a boost.”

Danica knows that the future of racing is in NASCAR. And that’s why she’ll be there full-time. The question is not if, but when.