CORPORATION ENDS POLITICKING, CUTS PRESS CREDENTIALS AT ‘TRACK TOO TOUGH TO TAME,’ OTHERS

Political candidates looking to pick up support and major media attention by campaigning at the annual NASCAR race held in Darlington every May — which draws upwards of 100,000 fans and international coverage — will have to look elsewhere.

Officials from the International Speedway Corporation, which owns Darlington and nearly a dozen other race tracks across the country, have revoked press credentials for political reporters and banned candidates from politicking at their facilities, according to Campaign’s and Elections.

Politics was informed of the policy after a credentialing request had been denied to cover an unofficial appearance in Daytona by Libertarian Party presidential nominee, Bob Barr. ISC officials explained that credentialing a political reporter would, in their view, constitute the facilitation of a campaign event, in sharp violation of their policy.

The officials declined to provide details of the policy, and offered only a vague explanation of when the policy had gone into effect. But they expressed a belief that fans attending events at their speedways are sensitive to what might be construed as intrusive political activity.

“The policy has been more formalized recently, but it’s been a standing policy for some time,” said Cheryl Coxwell, a lobbyist in ISC’s Government Affairs department. “If you’re familiar with our events, we don’t typically have signs, or folks handing out campaign buttons. That type of thing is not done on our property.”

But as recently as this past January, just prior to the Florida Republican presidential primary, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani campaigned at the Daytona Speedway, waving from the passenger seat of his bus, which was emblazoned with the proclamation “Florida is Rudy country” as it sped around the track to the uplifting theme music from the film “Rudy.” [DOUG DANIELS - Campaigns and Elections]

This appears to be not so much a ban on campaigning in NASCAR, but more likely an ad hoch speed limit designed to put the brakes on Bob Barr and every Tom, Dick, and Harry who runs as a third party candidate.

The marriage between NASCAR and politicians at Darlington is not a recent one. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and candidates Bob Dole and Mike Huckabee have all campaigned at the Track Too Tough To Tame.

“The purpose of a politician going to [a NASCAR race] is to say ‘yes, I am a red blooded, gun toting, God fearing, pickup truck driving American’ with a simple yell of ‘gentlemen start your engines,’” a source close to both the raceway and numerous SC politicos said. “It’s almost become a part of the campaign cycle.”

For South Carolina candidates this year alone, NASCAR has played a major role in campaigns. Just last month, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer held a fundraiser at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte. And in State Senate District 13, Shane Martin knocked off incumbent Sen. Jim Ritchie due in no small part to NASCAR money.