NASCAR Gun Ad Ban Angers Sellers, Enthusiasts

Gun enthusiasts and sellers are angry over NASCAR's decision earlier this summer to reject ads from its souvenir programs that depict "assault-style rifles/sniper rifles," with advertisers complaining that there is a large overlap between race fans and gun owners. 

"This is a colossal mistake," said David Dolbee, the general manager for firearms distributor K-Var Corp., after learning in late August that his company's ad for NASCAR's Race for the Cup series program was rejected, reports CNN. "Do they not understand their own base?" Dolbee said. "They are a sporting organization trying to take sides on a political issue. That never goes well for any company."

NASCAR's move was first reported by The Washington Free Beacon in late August, leading to people in the firearms industry asking why the company's viewpoint appears to be shifting and asking how the organization stands on the Second Amendment. 

The issue surfaced after an advertising vendor, National Event Publications,  had solicited ads for the Race for the Cup series in April. According to an email exchange obtained between K-Var and the ad vendor, the booker had been working on the final details for the ad, 

By August, however, the company emailed Dolbee to say his company's ad was rejected because of the firearms it included. 

According to the ad vendor's email, "NASCAR is still open to some of the less controversial gun accessories, concealed carry, or classes."

Earlier in August, a pair of shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, had stunned the nation, but NASCAR did not respond to requests for reaction about why the ads were rejected. 

The National Rifle Association has also spoken out about NASCAR's ad policy. 

"What does seem clear, however, is that NASCAR doesn't want to see such things advertised in its official publication in the future: a decision that could easily alienate a great many of its most ardent fans," it said in a statement.

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