AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NASCAR denounced its association with the “Let’s go, Brandon” political cry being used across the country as an insult directed at President Joe Biden. Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s president, said Friday the top motorsports series in the United States does not want to be associated with politics “on the left or the right.”
Phelps also said NASCAR will pursue action against any illegal use of its trademarks on merchandise boasting the slogan. Retired baseball star Lenny Dykstra posted a photo on Twitter this week of a man eating breakfast at a New Jersey hotel wearing a black “Let’s go, Brandon” shirt alongside NASCAR’s trademarked color bars.
“We will pursue whoever (is using logos) and get that stuff,” Phelps said. “That’s not OK. It’s not OK that you’re using our trademarks illegally, regardless of whether we agree with what the position is.”
Brandon Brown won his first career NASCAR race in October in Alabama, and the Talladega Superspeedway crowd at the Xfinity Series race chanted “F— Joe Biden” during Brown’s interview. It was not clear if NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast, who was wearing a headset, could hear what the crowd was saying during the interview, and she incorrectly told Brown the fans were cheering “Let’s go, Brandon.”
The phrase has become a rallying cry for Biden’s critics, and “Let’s go, Brandon” is now conservative code for the original vulgar chant.
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“It’s an unfortunate situation and I feel for Brandon, I feel for Kelli,” Phelps said. “I think unfortunately it speaks to the state of where we are as a country. We do not want to associate ourselves with politics, the left or the right.”
That’s a reversal on NASCAR’s long history of allowing political candidates to use its races as campaign stops. President Donald Trump was the honorary starter at the Daytona 500 in 2020 and the sold-out February crowd made NASCAR’s Super Bowl feel like a campaign rally until his plane flew over the Florida speedway after his command to start the engines.
Drivers and their families posed for selfies with Trump ahead of the race, and in early 2016 reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott was among a handful of drivers who attended a Georgia rally with then-NASCAR chairman Brian France in support of Trump. Several in the group, including NASCAR’s most popular driver, spoke on stage.
NASCAR also took aggressive positions on social justice issues in 2020 during a nationwide racial reckoning following the death of George Floyd. NASCAR banned the display of the Confederate flag at its events at the request of Bubba Wallace, its only Black full-time driver. Wallace wore an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt on pit road and ran with a Black Lives Matter paint scheme in one race.
Phelps said NASCAR respects the presidential office.
“Do we like the fact that it kind of started with NASCAR and then is gaining ground out elsewhere? No, we’re not happy about that,” Phelps said.
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More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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nascar is dying fruit on the vine.
i was a big fan of the sport in the 70’s and 80’s when racing was just racing.
but when the woke folk took over nascar and the green tree huggers shove there agendas in your face it gets old.
they said they were not gonna wade into politics well thats a lie when nascar baby bubba wallace thought he saw a hangmans noose in the garage
that was actually a pull down for the garage door nascar got political with no rebel flags anti racist woke POLITICS.
so dont tell me it aint political.
on top of that take kyle larson the new nascar champion who a while back used a racial slur and nascar axed him.
after they made him get reprogramed on woke they let him back in and how odd is it that he won 10 races and the championship?
a match made in woke heaven.
nascar is dead to me.
If I’m not mistaken, Bush said years ago, “Your either with us or against us”. Kind of looks like NASCAR has shown their true colors. Not to worry, it’s going to die anyway. How exciting would it be to watch a bunch of Tesla’s racing around the track ? Thanks to the left pretty soon if you get caught with a gas burning engine, you’ll be making license plates for electric cars. FGT <_——-F Greta Thunberg and FJB.
How exciting would it be to watch a bunch of Tesla’s racing around the track ?
It’s coming. If there’s anyone in the stands at all it will be pajama boys.
A funny thing happened on the way to ‘shutting down’ America’s Energy Independence and has to be hitting NASCAR in their collective pocketbooks. That SUNOCO racing fuel cost, when those “gas guzzlers” get about 30 seconds or less to the gallon, will likely BURY several teams! I’m completely amazed that those ‘climate change’ whacks haven’t shut NASCAR down for their ‘weekly’ massive “carbon footprint!” Yessir, yessir, Tesla will provide certain noise abatement with silent running and only cause rolling blackouts wherever they are running due to all that needed CHARGING! BTW, where will all those windmills be installed at all of those NASCAR tracks, or will that bugaboo petroleum product be required to provide that ELECTRICITY?
A picture of a NASCAR picture in the background of a picture does not violate any law or constitute misuse of their property. Notice how it is the leaders of these organizations that talk like Socialists and attempt to squelch free speech. Ignore them, they do not speak for the fans or the supporters, they are afraid of media and other big company sponsors. Too bad. FJB and Go Brandon are here to stay until the Marxist running our government are sent home or to jail for felonies–including illegal vaccine mandates and misuse of Government power like OSHA WHO CANNOT PROVE unvaccinated hurt vaccinated worker more than vaccinated workers who also get and shed Covid mutations. The actual law will prevail over time. Refuse to comply OR PAY FINES until it is settled in court. That is how to safely win this communist takeover and fear mongering.
capricorn1…..I FULLY AGREE!
I started to follow NASCAR in 1960 and being a MoPar guy all my life, I would root for anyone who drove a Dodge or Plymouth. When Dodge/Plymouth pulled out of racing, I lost interest in this sport. When they banned the Confederate flag, that was another nail in their coffin for me and I was born and raised on the West coast. I revere ALL our traditions in America. By the time they banned the flag and Bubba Wallace started racing, I had stopped watching altogether. I follow Indy Cars and F1 only now. It’s a sad thing because my Dad and Uncles all ran Moonshine in W.Va., Virginia and Kentucky back in the 1930s and I always felt a connection to stock car racing because of that.
I might add that it has not been “stock car” racing for many decades. Everyone drives the same car with a different fiberglass shell.
50 years ago Ford Galaxies, Chevy Impalas and Dodge Polaras with roll cages, competition tires, stiffened suspensions and modified fuel tanks actually raced one another. Manufacturers even designed the cars they sold to the public to be more aerodynamic in order to be faster on the track. Remember the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird? Back then you could at least pretend you were Richard Petty when driving on Colorado Blvd.
I used to dislike it, but cause folks said they were one of the FEW conservative sports havens, i started watching.
NO MORE.
“NASCAR denounced its association with the “Let’s go, Brandon” political cry being used across the country as an insult directed at President Joe Biden.”
As an insult to Biden?? Given his inability to lead and his incompetence in the role he now finds himself in—given the reckless and irresponsible manner in which he institutes policy and carries it out—given his obvious hatred of America and the legitimate citizens who live, work, pay taxes, and whom are entitled to their Constitutional rights—and NASCAR considers it an insult to HIM???
Not hardly. He is deserving of far worse than “LET’S GO BRANDON”.
I fully agree.
HE deserves ALL THE venom we can send his way.
RIGHT ON!
So what!!!!!! “LET’S GO BRANDON”!!!!! #FJB
So?????? “LET’S GO BRANDON”!!
PLUK joe biden!! Plus joe biden (insert an F instead of the P).
“F” you, NASCAR!
YOU have now joined the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB and College Sports – on my NEVER AGAIN list!
You and your advertisers are NEVER to be watched/supported in my household!
I agree with you WardMD, 100% Isn’t amazing how all someone has to do to destroy a business is just OPEN their Mouth’s ? If more people thought the way you and I did, Big Business in this country would go BROKE quickly by being woke, just because of their mouth’s. It’s time for America to forget about the brainless left and the spineless right and start pushing back on our own. 100 % NON COMPLIANCE IS THE WAY TO WIN.
Sorry, I meant to say Country but the edit function is not working.
BUT unfortunately, we on the right, are NOT A UNITED front, like the left always seems to be.. There’s just TOO DAMN Many folk, still tuning in to the NFL/MLB/NBA… SO TILL THEY DO GO broke, those fools running things, won’t ever get the hint.
DITTO!
All those “woke” bums are no longer welcome in my house as well.
I like the thought that Leonidas made on having a race with Teslas. Wouldn’t that be a “thrilling” site to see especially when all the cars come into the pits to recharge their batteries at basically the same time? How long would that take for a full recharge?
I’ll leave it to those with very creative minds to make all kinds of sarcastic comments about a race of this nature.
Not just “how long it would take to recharge them”. BUT can you imagine the toxicity that would leak out, from all the CRASHES we see??
Well, so what sports are left, that the WOKE INSANITY has not ruined/?
UFC?
Boxing?
WWE?
MLS?
As if we care what you do or do not renounce! I haven’t watched NASCAR since the STUPID hangmans noose on the garage that was actually on EVERY garage door at the track. It wasn’t a noose just a pull down cord to the garage door. But way to make nothing a big something. Your dwindling track attendance might speak for your “wokeness”. We are all tired of the BS left and their “wokeness”. I might remind you that REPUBLICANS kept you in the red and since Democrats don’t tend to watch NASCAR your’e in some financial troubles!
All these businesses that are part of the “woke”crowd need to think about who they insult because those are the people that spend the money that keep you in business. The leftest like the blm, antifa, and all the rest of those socialist groups are using you, not supporting your organizations.
THING IS, there are still TOO MANY useless Idiots, who WILL SPEND money with those sports.. BECAUSE I truly believe, they are addicted to it.
Let’s Go Brandon and F Joe Biden!!
If NASCAR was smart, they would embrace the LGB movement. But with Biden weaponizing every federal agency against anything he doesn’t like. I suppose it would be too dangerous. Phelps could end up smothering himself with his own pillow at a ranch in Texas. Or hanging himself from a 4 foot pole under lock and key. You just never know these days.
Phelps could end up smothering himself with his own pillow at a ranch in Texas. Or hanging himself from a 4 foot pole under lock and key. You just never know these days.
Ain’t that the truth.
Btw, I don’t think the chant started with Nascar. I heard about it at college football games a long time before Nascar.
Correct! The “Let’s Go Brandon!” chant did not start at the Nascar event, as you say.
That was the event where the reporter tried to claim that the crowd was chanting in support of the winning driver when they were actually chanting “the original”, and still popular, F*** Joe Biden, as witnessed at many sports events this year.
You are correct, the “F Joe Bi den” chant was flying around high school athletic stadiums, college stadiums, and even NFL games for months before, and it took a CNN “reporter”, interviewing Brandon Brown after his win, to give it euphemistic “wings” LOL The NasCar crowd was NOT chanting “Let’s go, Brandon”, it WAS chanting “F” Joe Biden! So, technically, NasCar is NOT associated with the LGB chant and APPARENTLY they would MUCH rather be known for the more vulgar chant that WAS going round (and round and round and round!!) their event!
I’m actually rather proud of those of us who have been THINKING “F @#$ Joe Biden” and being frustrated because we don’t want to devolve to the vulgar, obscenity laced depths occupied by liberal, mouth breathers and have adopted THIS phrase as a VERY polite, understood non-obscene way to communicate!
LOL MUCH like the phrase (close to my Texas born & raised heart) “Bless your heart!” Nothing says “You’re an idiot” more nicely than that! Or how about politely suggesting that an offensive person “attempt aviary intercourse with a perambulating piece of pastry” (translates into the vulgar as “take a flying F at a rolling donut!” … ahhh, indeed, the decades are replete with such satisfying euphemisms LOL
I’m actually hoping for one soon to express my similar attitude to Camel-ah Harris (that IS the accurate phonic pronunciation of her name, yes?)
But with Biden weaponizing every federal agency against anything he doesn’t like
It is not Biden weaponizing , it is BHO (puppet master) and the BHO czars!
IF he is THAT SCARED< maybe he shouldn't be running a MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS!
The only reason NASCAR says it doesn’t want to be involved in politics is because the vast majority of its fans are conservatives.
NASCAR is dead to me.
Let’s Go Brandon! #FJB
“NASCAR denounced its association with the “Let’s go, Brandon” political cry being used across the country …..”
I don’t recall any formal “association” between NASCAR and the citizens outrage at Lyin’ Joe Biden. The original event DID happen at a NASCAR race and is witnessed across the interweb so that’s going to be hard to undo. However if anyone can erase Truth from History the Socialist Democrats can.
Maybe it’s time to change to “What’s that FUNK, Joe?”
Agreed.
OR “TOO HELL with Mr Phelps!”
First the Confederate Flag now this?
nascar will next install Tampex dispensers in all the men’s rooms.
Just a heads up, NASCAR….the more you denounce it the more it will be used at your events!
1. Seems to me that by slamming the use of “Let’s go, Brandon!” NASCAR has automatically identified itself with leftist politics. Q.E.D. And, BTW, NASCAR, don’t give yourself airs, it’s got no connection with your outfit; it was just a coincidence that the incident occurred at that time.
2. Insulting the President? The left set the precedent for insulting the POTUS with their treatment of President Trump. Calls for his death, an effigy of Trump’s bloodied head being held by a loony comedienne, comparing him to Hitler, lies about him and his family. Please, NASCAR, ease up on the hypocrisy.
“We do not want to associate ourselves with politics, the left or the right.” That statement and NASCAR itself is worse than ‘Harvey Two-Face.’ As noted by others, NASCAR has been taken over by the PC and WOKE crowd. From banning the display of that Confederate Flag to having 17 FBI agents come roaring in to investigate that garage pull! NASCAR hasn’t been NASCAR at least since Earnhardt was killed and longer, since Petty retired! My family ‘used’ to attend some NASCAR events, but until someone pointed out that this Kyle Larson cat won the championship, we didn’t even know that some championship was being contested. I’m old enough to remember the OLD mantra of “Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday” that brought auto manufactures in. NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, should be renamed to ‘NACCAR,’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ‘COOKIE CUTTER’ AUTO RACING! Ahh, for the days of Petty running that blue Super Bird 43!!
I agree. THEY ALREADY showed their leftist leanings, when they capitulated TO THE LEFT< and banned the confederate flag.
LET’S GO BRANDON…….okay, have it your way F JOE BIDEN!!!!
Like the other leftwing liberal anti-american sporting cults nastycar has just been removed from any and all viewing devices in my home. letsgonascar!
NASCAR is boring. Any idiot can drive on a paved track. Dirt track racing is much more exciting. Requires better driver skills and with all the accidents you never know who will win. Twice around the track at NASCAR and the top 3 are already in position, then it’s just watching cars go round and round and round and round for 3 hours. Figure 8 racing is even better, yet.
AND they always only go in ONE direction.. COUNTER CLOCKWISE…
Yea…mmmmm…well ….ahhhh….SCREW nastycar and let’s go brandon!
Let’s go NASCAR.