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[–]JohnDeuxTrois 26 points27 points ago

I haven't eaten M&M's in a few years.

[–]craig3010 8 points9 points ago

Glad I'm not the only one.

[–]superrob750 9 points10 points ago

I try and support the the sponsors in general. I dont go out of my way to avoid any of them.

[–]Aridane[S] 4 points5 points ago

I think that's a very fair point of view to have. You recognize that these companies are allowing your favorite sport to continue and thanking them for that support, I like it.

[–]Sammit87 1 point2 points ago

Exactly what I was going to say.

[–]MizzD 10 points11 points ago

I was a huge Ricky Rudd fan before I became an AJ Allmendinger fan. I would always make my mom purchase Tide. I still buy Tide now. Although, I think I probably would have used Tide anyhow.

However, I have never not purchased something because of a dislike of a driver. I just prefer to try and support sponsors in Nascar in general. They are the ones that put the cars on the track.

I lied. I hate Dale Jr. and I refused to purchase Budweiser. But Budweiser is also just a horrible beer in the first place.

[–]MizzD 4 points5 points ago

When I first heard this joke from Mitch Hedberg years ago, I felt like he wrote that joke for me. RIP.

[–]Jack_Krauser 2 points3 points ago

Speaking of Allmendinger, did you watch the Rolex 24 hour race?

[–]MizzD 4 points5 points ago

oh yeah. I thought AJ was going to wreck McNish after he ran him off the track. That was a great drive by the whole team.

[–]Jack_Krauser 2 points3 points ago

Absolutely. I thought it would be a mistake having AJ drive such a huge stint at the end, but that's why I'm not a team manager. He was incredible, especially that pass on Pruett on the outside of turn 1. I can't wait to see him in competitive stock car equipment.

[–]MizzD 4 points5 points ago

I was ecstatic to hear he got the ride with Penske. This will show if he is one of the best drivers in Cup or not.

[–]EMSfan9 0 points1 point ago

Wishing Almendinger the best. Always liked him at RB then as Kahne's teammate at Petty. This should be a good year for both of them. 22 and 5 in the chase? Very possible

[–]EMSfan9 2 points3 points ago

On the Budweiser note...When Kahne became the bud-man, my fridge took a turn for the red. I was so glad when he switched to Red Bull lol

[–]MizzD 2 points3 points ago

Hahah. I just realized that I never bought Red Bull because of the Dinger. I can't drink that stuff. Unless it is mixed with vodka, of course.

[–]g0ing2f4st 6 points7 points ago

Interesting topic to bring up. I think it has a certain degree of influence. For me it would be more about avoiding products from drivers i dislike than specifically going for products endorsed by drivers i like. I did try amp energy because of dale jr, but no matter how much diet mt. dew stickers he has on his car I am not drinking that swill. I do think danica patrick + hot wheels is great marketing. kids are very easily influenced and thats going to result in alot of money.

[–]secretcurse 2 points3 points ago

I take it from your comment that you're a Dale Jr. fan. I've always wanted to ask this of one of his fans, and I'm really not trying to flamebait. Do you just like him because of his dad? I didn't start following NASCAR until about 5 years ago, and as far as I can tell, he's not a particularly good driver. Dale Sr. is obviously one of the giants of the sport, but I can't understand Dale Jr. being a constant fan favorite unless it's projected love for his dad. He's driving the best equipment in NASCAR and consistently fails to perform. I mean, in 2009 his teammates finished 1, 2, and 3. He missed the chase and was 25th in points. Objectively, I can't see why people think he's a great driver.

[–]beatles910 2 points3 points ago

Dale Jr. Fan here:

I was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt and when he died I didn't have any other reason to watch the sport except to see his son. Early on he showed a lot of promise and had a great personality. Both of those are lacking these days, but now it's kind of an underdog situation.

I feel like I'm waiting for a new favorite. So far the frontrunners are Brad Keslowski and Austin Dillan.

[–]krayziepunk13 1 point2 points ago

Long time Jeff Gordon fan here and I just comment that Brad Keslowski is becoming one of my favorites, and might be my #1 after Gordon and Smoke retire.

[–]dirkachbar 0 points1 point ago

Get on the JPM train! I've been a Montoya fan for a few years now and it's starting to get interesting!

[–]g0ing2f4st 2 points3 points ago

Being a Jr fan you gotta like him for the character he is. Hes short spoken, quick witted, and has a personality that seems to belong in a previous era. He gives the feeling that hes a racer of another time trying to bring the sport a bit back to its roots. Then there will always be a large part of his liking coming from the story behind him. If you havent watched a documentary on earnhardt sr / jr definetly should. Earnhardt Sr, best driver of all time, dies at the most iconic race in 01. His son torn with his fathers death continues to struggle on in the sport. Till in july of that year comes back to the iconic track that last time they had been to brought the death of his father, and he returns with a motive, a passion and wins the race. 3 Years later he wins the daytona 500, adding his name to that all time list of greats which included his father. I mean that story is good enough that if it didnt actually happen, it could be made up, put into a movie and kick the shit out of days of thunder. That aside as you've pointed out, his career isnt one of the most successful driver (and fuck 09 was pretty bad). His skill at short tracks and restrictor plate racing has provided a good deal of entertainment, and his 2011 season certainly showed progress (finished ahead of 2 of 3 teammates). So what it comes down to is, do you like the person, do you like the story, and do you enjoy cheering for a bit of an underdog? I do

[–]secretcurse 1 point2 points ago

Thanks for the thoughtful explanation. That makes a lot more sense now.

[–]fiskfisk 5 points6 points ago

Tried both amp and cheez-it when we visited the US last year because of their sponsorship deals. Ain't gonna fall for that again.

[–]Floppy454 5 points6 points ago

Neither of those are horrible. Well, they grow on you. Or maybe my taste buds are just dead... USA!

[–]MizzD 2 points3 points ago

But they got you to at least try these products. So nascar sponsorship does work. I wish more companies would see the upside of sponsorship in Nascar.

[–]fiskfisk 0 points1 point ago

Absolutely, and I'm probably gonna try other .. horrible .. creations next time we visit as well.

[–]doctorcaligari 6 points7 points ago

Davey Allison was sponsored by Havoline, so I still buy Havoline nearly 20 years after his death.

[–]bnasty22 4 points5 points ago

Huge Bowyer fan and general mills used to have giveaways every once and a while. I would Always buy whatever product it came in. I have a couple hot wheels Bowyer cars and a mini hauler.

[–]NefariousBanana 5 points6 points ago

Let's just say I won't be buying Monster Energy drink anymore. Rockstar for me from now on.

[–]j-awesome 5 points6 points ago

yeah i have a insignia TV cuz of AJ`s bright green car a few years back.

[–]secretcurse 0 points1 point ago

Do you think that's 100% because of AJ's car, or the fact that it was the least expensive comparable TV at Best Buy, or some combination of the two?

[–]j-awesome 1 point2 points ago

combo of the two, cuz i only went to best buy because of AJ

[–]Sporadic01 2 points3 points ago

When Bobby Hillin let up off the brakes in the 1993 Daytona 500 causing Kyle Petty to slam into him about 15mph I swore I would never again shop at a Heilig-Meyers furniture store.

The company went belly-up in 2000 and I can't say I'm upset about it.

[–]SadisticAndroid 2 points3 points ago

I've avoided products because they sponsor drivers that I dislike, but that's about it.

[–]osfn8 2 points3 points ago

As a kid I drank Coke and avoided Pepsi because of Earnhardt/Gordon. Now I don't drink Pepsi products because I don't like them. Any influence today is subconscious like most advertising.

[–]Aridane[S] 3 points4 points ago

I remember Tony Stewart thanking Coke (the vid is on YouTube, I can't seem to find it again though) for being a sponsor and he said, "Thanks to you Coca Cola, I'd love you guys even if you didn't sponsor me because that other stuff tastes like shit." LOL

[–]Good_2_go 2 points3 points ago

I avoid Pepsi because of Jeff Gordon.

[–]krayziepunk13 3 points4 points ago

Gordon fan here and I only drink Coke. Pepsi tastes like shit.

[–]flash_mcg 3 points4 points ago

Stopped at a Shell station 2 years back to refuel and pick up a Kevin Harvick hat on a roadtrip to watch a race at Vegas

[–]AndyYankee17 2 points3 points ago

Most advertising isn't based on grabbing as many customers as possible with one billboard/commercial/car, rather, it's to create a sense a familiarity with the consumer. Seeing a Lowe's car more than Home Depot car gives a consumer a more familiar feeling with that brand and therefore makes them more willing to do business there, at least at a subliminal level.

[–]Robinoo 2 points3 points ago

Not NASCAR, but I smoke Marlboro Reds because of their Ferrari sponsorship. If I lived in the US i'd probably shop at Target.

[–]nalc 1 point2 points ago

I usually go to Home Depot over Lowe's. Tony Stewart kicks ass. J-Lo seems like a decent guy. Fuck Jimmie Johnson.

[–]Jgallstar1 1 point2 points ago

I'll only go with Valvoline for my car because of Mark Martin. I'll also avoid Lowes and go to Home Depot instead.

[–]heaintheavy 0 points1 point ago

Yes.

[–]napalmriot 1 point2 points ago

I smoked Marlboros for a long time due to Penske's IndyCar sponsorship. My dad smoked Camels and therefore rooted for Jimmy Spencer. I shot with Canon glass all my life due to their sponsorship with Williams F1 and me liking Nigel Mansell.

My neighbor ran a Texaco gas station in the 90s, you can only imagine the amount of stuff in his trophy room. On Christmas, him and his wife would bring my brother and I special edition Texaco die-cast cars.

So, yeah. I'd say a driver's sponsorship can alter your purchasing decisions.

[–]EMSfan9 1 point2 points ago

To be perfectly honest, yes. I am in need of some new insurance, now Farmers is on my radar. Same reason I drive a dodge...When I bought my truck back in 2007, Kahne was sponsored by and driving a red dodge.

[–]ThemDangVidyaGames 1 point2 points ago

Not really, other than say to try out a new product that I've seen on a car.

[–]HardwareLust 1 point2 points ago

I've been a NASCAR fan going on 29 years now. I have never consciously either bought or not bought a sponsor's product based on their NASCAR affiliation.

I like to think I buy products on their merits, not their advertising.

[–]Aridane[S] 0 points1 point ago

In my case, now that I think of it I am sure that I made the decision at some point to choose Home Depot over Lowe's, considering how I enjoy Tony and Joey, and loathe Jimmie Johnson. I've always been ambivalent before, but now that I am a NASCAR fan and I need tools or garden stuff, to Home Depot I go!

If one of my favorite drivers is endorsing a product I already hate, I won't go out and buy that product "just because." But if it's something I haven't tried before, I would probably go for it. When I was shopping around for a battery for my SUV, the fact that I saw Duralast's logo while watching NASCAR a lot definitely swayed my purchase. And when my friend needed a new headlamp in her car, NAPA popped into my head. A lot of it really is subconscious, and brand recognition being important.

[–]B_Elanna_Torres 0 points1 point ago

Lowes > Home Depot. All the time... That and it's the only hardware store (that's not Mom & Pop) in my town.

[–]MixMastaPJ -1 points0 points ago

I hate all pepsi and hendrick supporting companies.

[–]ThemDangVidyaGames 0 points1 point ago

What a coincidence... I don't! :P