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Obama: NASCAR Can Help With American Automakers’ Recovery
August 19, 2009 5:39 PM
ABC News’ Karen Travers and Vija Udenans report:
In an interview with ESPN at the White House, President Obama said it was important for the Big 3 American automakers to remain in NASCAR but said it is “understandable” that they would cut back their sponsorships during tough economic times.
“It’s about as good advertising as you can get,” Obama said of the auto companies’ NASCAR sponsorship. “If somebody’s excited about NASCAR, that means their excited about cars. We want to make sure people know what great American cars are.”
The president was optimistic about the future of the American auto industry and the role NASCAR can play.
“Over the long term if you look 5, 10 years out I think they’re going to come back stronger than ever and I think their association with NASCAR makes a great difference,” he said.
Mr. Obama revealed his strategy for making his sports predictions and it certainly wasn’t based on calculated research and sports savvy.
Instead, the president said, he just waits around long enough to see who looks good.
“The key to making good predictions in sports is waiting until the last minute to make the prediction,” Obama said with a laugh. “I’m two-for-two so far, I called the [Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh] Steelers and I called the [NCAA men’s basketball champion North Carolina] Tar Heels.”
With about a month and a half left in the Major League Baseball season, Obama said he was not yet making any predictions “because I’m holding out hope my White Sox may still have a chance.”
Mr. Obama may have sounded like a NASCAR aficionado but he wouldn’t go on the record with his pick to win the Chase championship.
“I think it’s a little early, I gotta see a little more information before making a decision here,” the president said. “But obviously when you have champions like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, just a lot of folks who are capable of winning at any given time. So I’m not going to pretend like I can pick it. But maybe when we get right down there to the end I’ll take the plunge.”
This afternoon at the White House, Mr. Obama honored Jimmie Johnson, winner of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and two previous year championships. Johnson’s stock car, emblazoned with 48 on the side was parked on the South Lawn of the White House today for the ceremony.
The president commended the champion and the gathered NASCAR crowd of drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards there for the ceremony.
Obama said it was fitting that they be honored, “NASCAR is a uniquely American sport. Since its humble beginnings, when moonshiners raced on the sands of Daytona Beach during prohibition, it's grown into a sport with tens of millions of fans here in America and around the world.”
The president said that NASCAR is more than just racing cars and noted the environmental work that its participants have done and the support they show to American troops and veterans.
The unique sports crowd enjoying the salute included the owner Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports, crew chief, Chad Knaus and Richard Petty, The King, along with their wives and families.
The president seemed to be enjoying the visit as he teased the champion, “I suggested to Jimmie that in exchange for the free parking, he should let me take the 48 out for a few laps. Jimmie said it was fine, but the Secret Service didn’t think it was fine.”
- Karen Travers and Vija Udenans
August 19, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (20)
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AP: "A leading automotive research company is predicting that U.S. monthly auto sales will rise above the 1 million mark for the first time this year in August, due mainly to the government's Cash for Clunkers program.
J.D. Power and Associates said it based the prediction of 1.1 million sales on data gathered from 10,000 dealers nationwide during the first 13 selling days in August.
The company also boosted its sales forecast for the full year to 10.3 million vehicles, up from the 10 million that it predicted in April, mostly because of the impact of the clunkers incentives.
Also, retail sales to individuals will be slightly more than 1 million, up nearly 2 percent from August of last year and the first increase in retail sales since June of 2007, J.D. Power said. Retail sales exclude purchases by fleet buyers such as rental car companies."
Posted by: Ryan C | Aug 20, 2009 4:08:57 PM
speeding and having illegal drug is is a legit news story. No matter who it is.
Posted by: hkdakota | Aug 20, 2009 10:51:31 AM
henry ab, he doesn't know anything about the sport and everybody knows that.It is an attempt to BS people who are already catching on to the gimmick.As for "my White Sox" he is such a fan that he thinks that they play at "Cominsky Field".If he is going to pretend to know something about a subject you would think he would do a little homework.Apparently he has never had to do homework -is that why he will not release his transcripts?
Posted by: Nephron | Aug 20, 2009 8:57:28 AM
NOW WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE REPUBLICANS
THE WORLD WILL BE A SAFER PLACE TO START A WAR WITH OH BUSH IS OUT . SORRY
Posted by: BEFORDRED | Aug 20, 2009 7:33:28 AM
First of all, the writer of this article seemed to have a problem calling him President Obama instead they called him Mr.Obama. And if he would have never honored NASCAR then there would have been negative comments, and now he doesn't know anything about the sport. Anyone can learn about the sport it holds no secrects to it. This has been a everyday thing for at least two years,and its really showing the heart of the country. Bitter!
Posted by: henry ab | Aug 20, 2009 6:57:02 AM
Glad to see that NASCAR is sucking up and not emitting carbon emissions every Sunday and during the week as I can hear them at my office.
I'm feeling cleaner already...
Posted by: Mike in NC | Aug 20, 2009 6:33:00 AM
hehehe....news flash!! Bush is not the president anymore. But he's still there for ya, when you get embarrassed by the man that IS in office. LibMantra: Obama ratings go down: Bash Bush. How many more years do we have to listen to that tune? Oh, yeah...3 and a half.
Posted by: NCPilot09 | Aug 20, 2009 5:52:03 AM
what did bush know about???? anything???? i'll wait a lifetime for an educated answer.
Posted by: hehehe | Aug 20, 2009 3:30:52 AM
more beer and cracker summits with obama
Posted by: hehehe | Aug 20, 2009 3:29:42 AM
Like much of what he says,he doesn't know what he is talking about.He has as much in common with NASCAR as he does with the NRA.He is simply a BS artist who thinks that no one will call him out.He is probably right;at least the media won't.I mean REALLY...
Posted by: Nephron | Aug 20, 2009 12:38:15 AM
Obama hates cars, so why would he hang out with NASCAR? It's like expecting Iran to like Israel and forget all the bad blood... Weird man... Weird...
Posted by: Jon | Aug 20, 2009 12:30:24 AM
Racing is NOT a SPORT but a HOBBY,Its all about the CAR, you dont have a fast car you DON'T win, So how in name can you call that a sport.
I can CLIMB in a Porche and give one of these so call PROS a Ford Focus , Bet I leave him in the DUST.
But the same can't be said if i take baseball-bat, basketball, boxing gloves, hockey stick and do the same to that sport PROS.
Posted by: mark | Aug 20, 2009 12:16:39 AM
I raced NASCAR in NH for 10 years with 3 consecutive track Championships at my local track. I want to see Obama behind bars along with all the New World Order criminals! I am ashamed of my Chevy Truck after this band of CRIMINALS hijacked my life long truck brand! Long live the Second Amendment along with the rest of the Bill Of Rights!
Posted by: Bill Bry | Aug 19, 2009 11:23:26 PM
Oh yah, Nascar and the auto industry, yep I'm gonna go out and buy me one of them carberated four speed single overhead cam technological wonders that turns left...I'm impressed.
Any wonder the US auto industry failed.
We need something more like Australia's V8 Supercar's which will dust any old Nascar dinosaur.
Now Chad, that guy is sharp!
Posted by: CC | Aug 19, 2009 10:48:55 PM
"Oh look, Obama is lying again.
Like he knows anything at all about NASCAR."
So these statements are not true?
"Obama said it was fitting that they be honored, “NASCAR is a uniquely American sport. Since its humble beginnings, when moonshiners raced on the sands of Daytona Beach during prohibition, it's grown into a sport with tens of millions of fans here in America and around the world.”
The president said that NASCAR is more than just racing cars and noted the environmental work that its participants have done and the support they show to American troops and veterans."
Posted by: Ryan C | Aug 19, 2009 10:09:52 PM
Al Gore is not a politician. He's a snake oil salesman. And making millions at it. But that is beside the point. I live in NC, home of NASCAR. It started humbly, but is now a mega-billion dollar industry. I can't understand why Obama would pretend to embrace them: The are typically "good ol' boys, clinging desperately to their bibles and guns". They work hard. Most, if not all of them drive pick up trucks. Their carbon foot print is gigantic. (hmmm, is the cap and trade gonna affect them?). They have their own corporate jets and fly anywhere and everywhere. Most of the jets are based right here at Concord Regional Airport. (Hmmmm...again. Is the cap and trade gonna penalize them?). They are multi-millionaires. How awful. They must be scum if they have that much money. After all....if it weren't for cost of paying them such huge sums, why then, the price of cars would be 10% of what they are now! And what about the affect they are having on the other sponsors?? Think how their dirty stinking capitalistic money is driving up the cost of Duct Tape and WD-40!. And they have no health insurance because they choose to insur themselves!! We should be OUTAGED!! Why is the Messiah embracing them? Oh, yeah....because they are stars. It's okay for stars to earn billions. As long as they are not CEO's or anything. Yeah, Oprah's money is clean. Julius Peppers' money, likewise. A-Rod and Britney? Yeah...they can have their wealth, because they are left wing elite, right? Actually, I congratulate each and every one for their success. But is sure is funny the double standards that have come about here in the past 7 months
Posted by: ncpilot09 | Aug 19, 2009 9:32:04 PM
Oh Gee whiz, I bet the right will just love you now Mr. Obama.
Posted by: disgusted | Aug 19, 2009 9:26:12 PM
Loved the last comment. Too bad he couldn't take #48 for a couple of laps around the Mall.
Posted by: mad dog | Aug 19, 2009 9:25:56 PM
"Al Gore III, son of Algore the Global Warming scam artist, was able to get his Prius to go 100 mph just before he was arrested. Police discovered marijuana and prescription drugs in his car."
I guess that whole right wing screeching about leaving politician's children out of it was just another lie.
Posted by: Ryan Cr | Aug 19, 2009 7:10:09 PM
When will they start driving Priuses? Prii?
Al Gore III, son of Algore the Global Warming scam artist, was able to get his Prius to go 100 mph just before he was arrested. Police discovered marijuana and prescription drugs in his car.
Posted by: Skittles | Aug 19, 2009 6:27:35 PM
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