NRA Lands Big Sponsorship Deal With Major Sport

AVONDALE, AZ – MARCH 03: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #56 NAPA Filters Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 3, 2013 in Avondale, Arizona. Credit: Getty Images
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The National Rifle Association is taking its relationship with racing to a new level as the title sponsor of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The deal with Texas Motor Speedway comes at a time when the NRA is involved in a renewed debate on gun violence in the wake of the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
“It’s not about politics. It’s about sports marketing,” TMS president Eddie Gossage said Monday after the announcement of the one-year agreement with the NRA that includes a renewal option.
The April 13 race at Texas, the first scheduled night race in the Cup Series this season, will be known as the NRA 500.
This is not the NRA’s first title sponsorship in NASCAR. The group sponsored the second-tier Nationwide race last September at Atlanta, which like Texas is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.
“They saw it was obviously a very attractive sports marketing opportunity and seized it. That’s what it’s all about,” Gossage said. “It’s about putting on one of the great sporting events in America. I know in Atlanta last year they saluted a lot of the people that make America free. They are going to salute American freedoms and American families with this race. That’s their plan so it seemed to be a good fit.”
NASCAR said in a statement Monday that “race entitlement partnerships” are agreements directly between the track and the sponsor though NASCAR reserves the right to approve or disapprove those sponsorships.
“The race sponsor for Texas Motor Speedway’s April event falls within the guidelines for approval for that event,” NASCAR’s statement said.
Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president and CEO, expressed his excitement about the deal in a video message played during the track’s media day. Gossage said LaPierre wasn’t able to attend because of a scheduling conflict.
“The NRA 500 is the latest announcement in the long history of a growing partnership between the NRA, Speedway Motorsports and the NASCAR community,” LaPierre said. “NRA members and NASCAR fans love their country and everything that is good and right about America. We salute our flag, volunteer in our churches and communities, cherish our families and we love racing. On April 13, we’ll all come together at Texas Motor Speedway.”
The sponsorship does seem like a natural. It’s been a tradition at TMS that the winner of the Cup race gets to fire a six-shooter in victory lane. And the winner of the pole gets a rifle as a prize.
At the Cup season-opening Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip drove a Toyota with a paint scheme supporting a relief fund for victims of the Sandy Hook shootings.
The Newtown-emblazoned car of Swan Racing was unveiled by NASCAR chairman Brian France in a news conference at Daytona, part of a one-race arrangement for the team. France and his wife announced they would donate $50,000 to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, which the NASCAR Foundation would match.
Sprint Cup rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who won the NRA American Warrior 300 at Atlanta last September, has no issue with the NRA sponsoring NASCAR races.
” The NRA is our core fan base, and we all have guns, and all us racers love to go out and shoot. It’s part of who we are,” said Stenhouse, the only Cup driver at TMS media day. “Anytime you have a sponsor that embraces their market and who their core customers are, it’s great for us.
“I was able to win the NRA race in Atlanta and those guys were great to work it,” he said. “They take their stuff serious, they’re concerned with the tragedies that we’ve had throughout the nation.
“I think they do a great job at working from their side to help things as well. I think it’s a great partnership here at Texas.”
Gossage said the NRA has been a generous supporter of Speedway Children’s Charities, donating more than $500,000 to the charity’s Texas chapter since 2000. He said the group has also had past sponsorship with signage at the track.
NRA officials first expressed interest last fall to Texas officials about sponsoring the track’s spring race. The event previously had Samsung Mobile as a title sponsor since 2002, but the company didn’t renew its contract after last April’s race.
Without a title sponsor, Texas had been promoting next month’s race as the Texas 500.
“We’ve had other (sponsor) offers but a lot of people wait and expect you to drop your price. That’s not something we do. We’re not going to be a discount speedway,” said Gossage, not revealing specific details. “They were willing to meet the price. They afford us some great marketing opportunities as well with their membership to reach out to them and try to bring their members to attend the race here.”
Gossage said TMS and the NRA reach similar audiences and that he expects a lot of tickets will be bought by NRA members and people who support the group’s position.
“Obviously we know the NRA well and I can tell you from just looking at the demographics, I can tell you from the social media that I’ve been sitting here monitoring since that announcement was made, it’s probably 99 percent supportive. Some wildly supportive,” he said. “The public, it doesn’t seem to be they’re going to have any issue with it, and I’m not sure why anybody would think they would.
“Like I said, know your demographic and we pride ourselves on being good at what we do,” he said. “So we know what we’re doing and who we’re partnering with.”
In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.
















































































































Comments (122)
Miami
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 11:02amGood for them
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cloudsofwar
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:47ami’m the NRA. please join if you love the 2nd amendment. and if you love the consitution. take a 3 year membership at least. we have too make our voices LOUDER. call your REPS and tell them to support the 2nd amendment and law abiding citizens. i’ve been a members for over 30 years and no regrets.
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bartjoebob
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:56amLifetime Memberships are currently $300 through April 16, 2013. The links to these offers can be found searching online. Take advantage and join! This is nominal considering what a 3yr membership costs. Not to mention over time, it will pay for itself through discounts alone.
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Gargent_Furball
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:40amNASCAR and NRA perfect match.
Tune up that hot rod and lets go shootin’.
A finely oiled machine is a joy. Weather it sitting you back in the seat or a hole in the center of a target.
Only a true American can love this. Amen to the NRA and God Bless you.
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Maggie in Indiana
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:59amGlen lay off race fans. You have more here than you know.
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rfycom
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:55amGreat idea. Let the drivers carry. Piss me off Jeff Gordon? Pow
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M13
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:20amYou really are an idiot.
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elkslayer
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:54amSoy, I’m with you. I have been to a NASCAR race and I think all that advertising is a waste of money.
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Tony
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 2:27pmMe Too. “There are only 3 real sports. Autoracing, Mountain Climbing, and Bull fighting.” Ernest Hemingway.
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john vincent
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:51amHow about an NRA logo on the Coors beer can
”NRA proudly sponsors the silver bullet………..’
Not a nascar fan, but seems like a good idea-
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:59amLoL!
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V-MindMeld
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:25amAwsome! Got to love it! Will be interesting to see if any Anti-Gun protesters dare show up….lol
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GuruMeditation
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:10amNot personally a huge NASCAR fan but I welcome this news. Fine Business!
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GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:45amMaybe they will post speeds in Feet Per Second, rather than mph.
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Tri-ox
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:01am” … in the wake of the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.”
Oh please. The time has come to stop exploiting the Sandy Hook tragedy.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:08amI agree…stop using the act of a loser idiot as a tool to advance an agenda…Whether Seidl realized that is what he’s doing or not,that is what he’s doing…..
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BADDOGGYDESCIPLE
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:14amTri-ox- It’s in every story having to do with a firearm or a school since 12/14. For the first 60 days the quote was “Adam Lanza/ Sandy Hook, AR15″. No matter the topic of the story, that paragraph is always there, part of the brainwashing to make us all believe the company line. If you repeat it enough, it is the truth.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 11:01amSpeaking of loser idiot…
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 11:05amENCINOM, I see that you once again come here to show us all that you have peed your panties yet one more time.
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SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 1:34pmI am THE NRA. My guns havent killed anyone.
Ted Kennedy’s car has. Eric Holders fast and furious has. Obamas drone strikes have. Napolitano’s border policy has. All those little bodies.
What were you saying again encino man?
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KMHArms.com
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:59amWe will have ‘tons’ of ammo in about 3 week, stay tuned. I suggest signing up and we will inform our customers ASAP. Here is some of our coming inventory
– .223 100k
– 9mm 100k
– 38spl 100k
– .40SW 100k
too much to count, this order was placed last September and will be arriving very, very soon
KMH Arms Team http://www.KMHArms.com
- Keep your power dry
BADDOGGYDESCIPLE
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:23amKMH- At first I scoffed at you for attaining free advertising here. Your willingness to post incoming orders and answer questions being in the industry has changed my opinion, kudos to you. Support the community that supports you.
Keep ordering, I will be signing up!
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catty
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:34ama fool and their money are soon parted
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BADDOGGYDESCIPLE
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:13amJust want to see if KMH has money where his mouth is or if just another gouge artist. Never hurts to be educated, but thanks for the vote of confidence.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:17amTHAT from an Obama supporter…LOL…HaHaHaHa…..
IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:27amTHAT from an Obama supporter…LOL…HaHaHaHa…..
IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 1:12pmI’ve requested that TheBlaze remove the repeat post…I guess they have better things to do…Like maybe correct all their grammar mistakes…
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 11:34amThanks for letting us know that. Hope it all makes it to you without interruption.
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UBETHECHANGE
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:59amI applaud this and fully support! I am a 44 yr old woman and a proud member of the NRA. I am very fearful of the left and their gun grabbing schemes across this country. The real war on women is coming from the left as any reasonable, awake, and common sense person knows. Their agenda is not about safety, it is about CONTROL. I will vote pro-second amendment in 2014 and I hope millions of others do to. These totalitarian leftist politicians have got to go. Praying for our country!
When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. ~Thomas Jefferson
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:56am.
They should have a “Bring Your Gun to Race Day” promo…..
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:15amAnd a target practice trailer right next to JR’s!
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:32amZIPIT, That sounds great. And as JZS/SENDTHEMEATEEYORES puts it, have discounts for those who bring their AK15s.
Oh yeah MEAT, when you get here tonight and read this, I have to call you a liar. Now that you have admitted to being JZS. Hell, I may have to switch my avatar back to your old JZS Sphincter since eye was right all along.
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thx1138v2
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:51amI would sure like to see one of their ads ask why none of the mass shootings happened at a police station.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:55amOr, at a gun show.
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KMHArms.com
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:51amOur opinion is that the federal government cannot take the guns and ammo, however they can buy it all up when its available. My suggestion, pickup what you can when it available.
KMH Arms Team http://www.KMHArms.ocm
- Keep your power dry
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chips1
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:51amMy question goes straight to the manufacturers. It sounds as though they stop all orders to the public every time the government tells them to jump. Why would’nt they allocate a percentage to the public and continue to provide for their base customers?
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:49amKMHARMS.COM, Thanks for posting the link to your site. Have to admit that WOODYEE’s comment made me check something out there, and I see that you guys also have no .223 ammo on hand.
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willingtoupe
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:48amNASCAR go figure.
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:55amThanks for your comment “Two Turds”!
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:10amYes WILLINGTRIPE it makes perfect sense…
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BoJacksonFive
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:46amOur state recently had a tragedy. The three year old son of a Jackson County Sheriff Deputy accidentally shot himself. It was not the officer’s service gun.
The staff at MLive is allowing PRO-GUN CONTROL DISCUSSION ONLY! If you attempt any ANTI-gun control discussion, your posts are deleted! Some people have actually had their discussion accounts SUSPENDED!
Let your voices be heard!
Contact Ms. Jen Eyer, the State Community Engagement Director for MLive.com at – jeyer@mlive.com
And – Mr. Brian Wheeler, the Community Engagement Specialist for the Jackson MLive at – bwheele1@mlive.com
We need your help! Let your voice be heard so BOTH sides of the gun control argument CAN BE TOLD!
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Sargeking
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:46amFirst Danica Patrick revitalized NASCAR and now freedom has saved the sport. Two positives! Freedom rocks!
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Vision Harry
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:37amDanica “Crash” Patrick is a speed bump in the history of Nascar. Nascar does not need saving, nor was it saved by the NRA. I have rarely missed watching since the first nationally televised race where a fist fight ensued after a crash at the end of the race, taking out the leaders. These are real men that take their lives in their own hands every time they climb behind the wheel. If you saw the gnarly wreck in the Nationwide race the day before the Daytona 500, you would have seen a car tear through the fence, depositing its motor inside the catch fence and parts strewn through the crowd injuring numerous people. I didn’t here one complaint, no whining, no calls to ban the sport. The drivers and fans, pulled up their big-boy pants, track workers repaired the fence, and the 500 went on without a hitch the next morning. Also, the fans at the accident scene jumped in immediately and helped with first aid like real Americans, not waiting for someone else to help or for the Waaaaambulance to show up. Yes , I count myself as a Nascar fan and these folks made me proud. Welcome aboard NRA.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:53am@Vision….You just gave me an opportunity to coin the Anti-Danica folks……Danica Deniers…..She wears the big boy pants too…She risks her neck just as much as everyone else out there when she straps in.Whether you like her or not,She’s a smart and capable driver…She’s doing far better than any guy that tried to come from open wheelers at a much faster clip….
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chips1
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:00amVISION:
Why would you use this venue to announce your coming out of the closet? Patrick is a race car driver just like all the others. She earned it.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:03amP.S…viaion….If you want to call somebody CRASH, maybe try Montoya…
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:12amVision! “I have rarely missed watching since the first nationally televised race where a fist fight ensued after a crash at the end of the race, taking out the leaders”. See below! 9:23
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Sargeking
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:18amMr. Vision Harry: I have a couple of points to submit. 1) Daytona was a sellout this year. 2) If fans sit high, they sit safe. Thanks for your positive input!
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soybomb315_II
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:45amNRA preaching to the choir?
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:54amSOY, it figures, today you sound like WANGO or ENCINOM. Don’t care for the freedom of choice crap do you? BTW, I am not speaking as a fan of NASCAR. The last time I watched a race was back in the ’70s.
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soybomb315_II
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:03amfigures you would get your panties in a tussle as i am just asking a simple question. NASCAR fans are already pro-gun, right? So is it a good use of people’s donations? I would rather see NRA going after the states who are currently submitting gun registrations to the federal bureaucracies.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:14amRJ….You should watch the Cup again…You’re missing some really good racing…
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:15amSOY, I’ll call bullsh/t on your response. Your first post was a smear and you know it. It illustrated an elitist attitude on your part. Which surprises me, considering all of your previous posts that support a freedom of choice of all. Again, I am not a fan of NASCAR, but I see it as a to each his own when it comes to such entertainment. As for what you stated you would rather see the NRA doing. They are.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:21am@SOY..If I am using my money to advance my agenda,I’d use it where the folks are on my side and help bring prosperity to those folks…Not the folks that are allowing idiots to run things…But that’s me…
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:23amYeah RJJ! The good old days!!!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=MXbHQtZH8dE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMXbHQtZH8dE
And SOY, you need an enema!
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:25amINDYGUY, I may have to. If anything just to spite the elitist attitudes on display here today.
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teammommy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:27amI see it as while the vast majority, like myself, is proud gun owners…and although we own and many have concealed carry permits, we have yet to join the NRA. This sponsorship is just the nudge many of us need to take the time to apply and join NRA. As a NASCAR Sprint Cup member, I am proud to have the support for my sport and plan to repay them with membership.
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soybomb315_II
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:29amRJ – i would like to know how the first post can be construed as a smear
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:42am@teammommy…What team??? I’ll be sure to watch their performance a little closer…BTW, I have been a Keselowski fan since he started in racing.but I really like most of the drivers,I just want good racing…
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:46amSOY, Here, read it again. I do expect you to deny, deny, and still deny though.
“NRA preaching to the choir?”
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:20amINDYGUY! Keselowski? He’s a Girlyman! LOL
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:31am@Zipit…But he can drive like a bat outta hell…
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:38amIndy! Reminds me of Kyle Busch when he first came on!
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:44am@Zipit…There’s another Kyle to watch closely…Larsen in Nationwide…The kid that hit the fence at Daytona….I’ve been watching him in the junior classes…He’s probably better than Busch…
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BlackCrow
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:45amNow that the election is over I would wager neither of the Odummers will show up at another race.
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BaldingEagle1776
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:44amNASCAR! Who would have guessed!
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:53amCertainly not you, BALDWANGO!!!!!
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BaldingEagle1776
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:01amOh great, here’s the first of the little dogs nipping at my heels this morning.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:01amZIPIT, Just like the remainder of the left, he wants us all to be and do the same. Its that elitist sneer down the nose at those who enjoy something that he does not.
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BaldingEagle1776
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:09amOh RJ, you give me too much credit. Please point out where in my post I advocated conformity. Pretty sure I was poking fun at the conformity of the “sport” and its fans, as evidenced by the sponsorship and predictable reaction here.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:23amBALDINGBEAGLE, Then I beg your pardon, but the left pretty much in it’s entirety does push for that conformity. The left does everything it can to crush out the voice of nonconformity, eat what we say, drink what we say, do as we say. But, you are right in one respect, I have not seen enough of your posts to actually say that about your personality. But, feel free to keep posting, and I’ll keep reading.
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BaldingEagle1776
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:30amFair enough, RJ. You are the one bringing up “the left” though, accusing them of such conformity, when this article and thread is demonstrating right wingers celebrating their own conformity. Dig?
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:35amYes Ballslesseagle has better things to do with his time than watch a race or go shooting,like sit in a coffee house and blog about making fun of other folks……..Can you say TROLL…Beat it loser…
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:52amBALDINGBEAGLE/PORKY, Right wing conformity? Really? I have said at least twice on this story that I am not a fan of NASCAR, as well as several others. Seems to me to be a lack of conformity. I have a “to each his own” attitude on this though. Its the self anointed elitist leftest such as yourself who see all of the right the way you do. Just like the average leftist to not see individuals, but as groups. A simpler term is that you can’t see the forest for the trees.
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BaldingEagle1776
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:52amIndyGuy, “troll?” I want you to look at your posts versus RJ’s posts in this thread. I think you’ll see that you are the troll here.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 9:59amINDYGUY, I’m with you on that. Its just ETCHASKETCH/PORKANVIL, and he will sign off at 5:00 Eastern this evening. Just not sure if he gets up and leaves his work desk at that time, or if they just kick him out of the coffee shop when they close at that time.
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:17amYAP YAP YAP GRrrrrrrrr! LOL
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YOURSENSEI
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:31amMr or Ms BALDINGEAGLE,
This is what you must know:
You have the witless in a tizzy. I salute you. You can make good money doing that.
It is so.
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IndyGuy
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 10:55am@YOURSENSEI…Talking to yourself again???
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Zipit
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 11:00amWang! If your getting paid for content this morning, I’m sure the dollar menu at WhackArnolds, will treat you well this afternoon!
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Sargeking
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:39amNASCAR is truly an authentic American institution, representing the best in freedom. Hearing this news from Texas makes me all the more proud to be a citizen of the greatest country in the world. Granted, our national freedom base has been under severe attacks from the Left and has somewhat constricted under the auspices of the N.E. (New York, especially). Fortunately, I live in Florida. Furthermore, my state has been the grand model for legal Concealed Carry” laws. I know. I voted for it!
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woodyee
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:38am…and I just went to your website! It’s really good and easy to navigate!
As an insider, what is YOUR take on the current scarcity of ammunition nationwide?
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SIG40ONDAHIP
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:34amthis is awesome, I may have to start watching NASCAR again
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:44amI was just thinking the same thing.
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soybomb315_II
Posted on March 5, 2013 at 8:58amgood luck with that. lol
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