January 31, 2009
By Brenda Benedict
Politics in the United States has had highs and lows the past few weeks. The inauguration of our new president showcased the positive. But another politician from Illinois showed us the other side of the coin. The now ex-governor of Illinois was making rounds of the media, touting his innocence while we were hearing tapes of him that seem to be very clear about his intentions and they didn’t sound pure to me.
Those representing us in Washington would do well to look to NASCAR for ideas on how to serve the people more effectively.
Washington can look to NASCAR to see how to identify special interest group control. My first suggestion is that our representatives should identify their monetary backers in ways that NASCAR drivers do. What if representatives wore uniforms that identified their sponsors?
We know that Jeff Gordon is sponsored by DuPont and Jimmie Johnson drives for Lowe’s just by looking at their clothing. Wouldn’t it be an improvement if we knew who was contributing to every politician? What if your senator came out sporting a uniform covered with symbols such as oil companies or other big-time spenders? There would be no question about what special interest group they were pushing.
I’m not expecting to see this happen but the thought of a senator coming wearing a corporate logo on his/her shirt really makes me smile.
The importance of sponsors and keeping them happy has never been more evident than this year. With the cutbacks and job losses spreading across our country at an alarming rate, NASCAR drivers work hard to keep the name of their sponsor in the forefront whether through winning or by repeating their name in interviews.
A second area where our government officials could learn from NASCAR is their outlook about the future. Listen to any news broadcast and you will hear officials spouting a story of gloom and doom. In this time of economic gloom, the NASCAR world has tried to maintain a positive attitude. Darrell Waltrip spoke about this recently.
"Look folks, it's not all gloom and doom," said Waltrip. "Yeah, we got problems with the economy, we got sponsors and all kinds of things that we have to work on (like) attendance and ratings, but this is the most resilient sport with the best people in the world. We know how to get it done. We will work hard and we will survive."
Come on people, I know times are tough right now but you don’t have to look far to see that there still is lots to be optimistic about in our country. We need to pull together and work for the common good. I heard yesterday that some start-up NASCAR teams are getting free help from unemployed NASCAR crew members. This is an example of making the best out of a bad situation for the good of something bigger than self.
Washington can also look to NASCAR to see how the life really works. NASCAR realizes who really controls the world. Not the oil or pharmaceutical companies. Not those who give contributions. No, it is our mothers who really control what it going on. If you listen closely to the NASCAR family you will hear it. Look at the NASCAR racing schedule. What race is held on Mother’s Day? No, you won’t find a race because NASCAR knows that on the one day of the year when mothers are honored everyone should be with their mothers. Drivers and crews know that they better not be at the track that day. No, NASCAR never has a race on Mother’s Day because as important as race day is, there is something more important.
Occasionally you will hear someone in the NASCAR world speak of the power of mothers. Last week, Richard Petty let it slip. “The King” of NASCAR shows honor to his mother.
Richard Petty’s association with GEM has resulted in a name change to Richard Petty Motorsports. GEM has the Budweiser car in its fold- something that Petty has steered clear of-no alcohol sponsorship. But now that he has joined with GEM, he is continuing to make sure his own cars do not accept sponsorship from alcohol companies.
"We bring in the 43 and the 44," Petty said. "You'll see no Budweiser decals or any beer deals on those particular cars because my mother would come back and haunt us all if she'd seen it on our car."
The ultimate measure is answer the question “What Would Mother Do? Politicians would do well do apply the same measure before acting.
Lastly, NASCAR is just starting to learn that their number 1 priority should be the fans. Government officials need to keep that in their minds. Jeff Burton said it last week during the Media Tour in Charlotte.
“I think that this is a wakeup call for all of us. We as drivers, we have to find a way to do a better job of interacting with the fans, of including the fans in things. I think that we’ve been on a fairy ride, cruising down the river, and it’s going to be tough.
“And we’ve got to be willing to step up to the plate and do more for the fans. That’s the way I see it.”
Even though we have a representative form of government, it would be a great turn of events if my senator cared more about what the majority of their constituents wanted and didn’t follow the lure of representing only the biggest contributors.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
