NASCAR Fans Rev Up for the Election

NASCAR has 75 million fans—a lot of potential voters for this year’s presidential election.

That has groups like American Majority Racing taking advantage.

At a recent NASCAR race, fans could see the group’s mission plastered on the side of car No. 81. They want Americans to “pledge to vote” and to “keep America free.”

“If you’re concerned about where this country’s headed, if you don’t like where we are economically; if you don’t like where you’re at economically, if gas is too high, if you don’t like the fact that you’re $130,000 in debt per person … you have to do something,” American Majority Racing founder Ned Ryun said.

He said “doing something” means getting in the driver’s seat and participating in the election process.

The goal of American Majority Racing is to fight against what Ryun calls the “triple threat” of big government: out-of-control spending, massive debt, and overtaxation.

Large banners drape their booth on “venders row” with messages like, “Sixty-two percent of Americans believe cutting taxes, not increased government spending, is the best way to create jobs.”

“Know what the issues are because we think that the issues are what drives people out,” American Majority Racing volunteer Roger Pogge said. “And when they know what the issues are, they’re going to vote right and see a change in our nation.

American Majority Driver Jason Bowles said he believes basic freedoms are in jeopardy.

“There are some things that should make people very, very nervous,” he said. “The direction that we’ve gone and the speed that we’ve gotten there is not a good sign.”

American Majority Racing hopes its pledge to vote drive will lead to limited government.

“As government gets bigger, then they make me as a small business owner do more stuff, and I’m spending time doing more stuff than making my cars faster,” supporter Randy McDonald said.

“Other people have been doing this on the left,” Ryun added. “Why can’t we do it on the right and have fun doing it? And we are.”

Heather Smith, president of “Rock the Vote,” told Politico.com registering people to vote, no matter what the targeted demographic, benefits democracy, especially if young people are encouraged to head to the polls.

Taylor Doggett, a 19-year-old rookie NASCAR driver, gets the message.

“If it takes one person to make the difference, that’s really what it means. Every vote counts,” he said.

That’s a statement both sides of the political aisle believe as they race to election day.