| G.O.P. candidate Rudy Giuliani made an appearance at | | | | himself - whatever that matters for." |
| Daytona International Speedway over the weekend | | | | Let's burst the redneck NASCAR fan myth and |
| announcing - "I want a ride in a pace car." | | | | examine why politicians will continue to romance |
| Giuliani spoke to reporters in the garage stall of | | | | Nascar fans. |
| Rusty Wallace Racing, wanting to climb in one of the | | | | According to a NASCAR survey, published in 2004, |
| team's race cars. Rudy was denied the opportunity | | | | about 40% of fans are female and their numbers are |
| because, according to Rusty Wallace, Giuliani wouldn't | | | | rising. About 75% have attended college and more |
| fit through the window. "I said, 'Rudy, the problem is | | | | than 25% own their own homes. About 36% of |
| I'm too big to get in there, and you're too big to get | | | | NASCAR fans make more than $50,000 a year. |
| in there." | | | | Surprised? |
| Wallace told reporters, "If he's really serious about it, | | | | NASCAR fans are evenly distributed across the |
| I'll find a car for him to get in. He wants to get in the | | | | country. For example, 20% of NASCAR fans live in |
| real car and get on the race track." Rudy ended up | | | | the Northeast U.S. This is in line with the general |
| riding in his campaign bus around the track but | | | | population. 20% of the U.S. population lives in the |
| vowed to return during the campaign to hitch a ride | | | | Northeast. |
| in a pace car. | | | | While the largest base of NASCAR fans live in the |
| Kevin Harvick, the defending Daytona 500 champion | | | | Southern U.S., only 38% of the NASCAR fans live in |
| said Monday (January 21) he started watching MSNBC | | | | the South. Again, this is in line with the general |
| coverage of the presidential primaries and said he | | | | population. 35% of the population lives in the South. |
| found it "pretty entertaining." | | | | If you think that most NASCAR fans are redneck |
| "Politics is a dirty sport," Harvick said. "I thought our | | | | and caucasian, think again. According to the same |
| sport was backstabbing. Man." | | | | NASCAR survey, about 10% of NASCAR fans are |
| During a news conference at Daytona International | | | | African-American, which is a slightly smaller |
| Speedway, where the second week of Sprint Cup | | | | percentage of Blacks than in the general population. |
| testing got under way Monday, Harvick was asked if | | | | This compares to the NFL, where Black NFL fans |
| he has a favorite among the Presidential candidates. | | | | represent about 11.7% of the total NFL base. |
| When asked about the Democrat candidates, Harvick | | | | The percentage of African-American NASCAR fans |
| replied, "No, please. I don't want my president to | | | | has grown by 86% since 1999. There have also been |
| cry," referring to Sen. Clinton, who misted up on the | | | | some attempts by NASCAR to bring in more |
| campaign trail in New Hampshire. | | | | African-American fans into the seats, and drivers into |
| Who does Harvick like? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike | | | | the races. The survey did not indicate what |
| Huckabee, a Republican. | | | | percentage of fans are Hispanic. |
| "I like Huckabee, to be honest with you," Harvick | | | | What can we conclude? NASCAR fans are |
| said. "I just like the way he presents himself and the | | | | everywhere and number in the millions. In a close |
| way he talks. Giuliani has been to a lot of NASCAR | | | | race, they could make the difference as to whom is |
| races, but I just like the way Huckabee presents | | | | chosen the next President of the United States. |