Faith

Christian NASCAR Driver Gets New Sponsor After Being Dropped Following ESPN Ad Ban

Last month, The Blaze reported about NASCAR driver Blake Koch and his campaign aimed at educating fans on the importance of voting in U.S. elections. As we highlighted, Koch alleged that ESPN refused to air his purely non-partisan and non-religious commercial based purely on religious content present on his personal web site.

(Related: ESPN Allegedly Pulls NASCAR Ad Over Religious Undertones on Driver’s Personal Web Site)

Christian Company Backs Blake Koch After ESPN Pulled Ad & He Lost His Sponsor

Here’s a portion of our original report:

Koch has teamed up with his sponsor, the Rise Up and Register campaign, in an effort to inspire greater political efficacy. But in an interview on “FOX & Friends,” Koch explained that an television ad he appeared in for the campaign never aired, as he alleges that ESPN rejected it based on purported political and religious overtones.

Koch told host Brian Kilmeade that ESPN relayed a message that the ad was pulled because of the religious undertones on his own web site. But the race-car driver reiterated that his ad was only intended to register one million people to vote. The effort, Koch said, wasn’t tied to any party or candidate.

Christian Company Backs Blake Koch After ESPN Pulled Ad & He Lost His Sponsor

Now, The Christian Post is reporting that another sponsor has stepped up after his original backer, Rise Up and Register, dropped its support for Koch after ESPN issued its decision. The Post has more:

Fortunately for Koch, however, ChristianCinema.com intervened by sponsoring him for a race and by starting a campaign to help him find a more permanent solution to his financial problems on the track.

“It shows me how much God has his hand on the situation that he would bring along ChristianCinema.com at just the right time,” said Koch in a statement. “I’m excited about how they encourage families in their faith, which is extremely important to me. God is always faithful!” [...]

“We’re excited to support Blake and his stand for his faith,” said the website’s CEO, Bobby Downes, in a release. “This is a great opportunity to keep him racing and at the same time bring awareness about Christian movies that reflect family values.”

In order to help Koch beyond just one race, however, the company has also started the #KeepBlakeRacing campaign to make others aware of his need for a long-term sponsorship partner. The company is also promoting awareness by offering a free month of DVD rental service for the first 10,000 people who sign up to their site using the promotional code “BLAKE.

While Koch was practically forced to back out of the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 race at the Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas last weekend due to the loss of his initial sponsor, ChristianCinema.com’s support kept him in. Now, the company‘s campaign to help the racer will impact whether he’ll be able to continue competing.

Standing for his faith apparently came at a cost, but it seems there were people out there willing to back him up. Find out more about Koch here.

(H/T: Christian Post)

Comments (102)

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  • strewth_cobber
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:38am

    Godspeed, Blake!

    Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:53am

      I’ve been looking for a New Driver to follow – Just found him!

      Report Post » db321  
    • Pacman116
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 6:35am

      Me too DB321! Hope he gets that sponsor.

      Report Post » Pacman116  
    • CowboyExpat
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:01am

      Texas Motor Speedway is in Fort Worth Texas…Not Dallas….Just like DFW airport is in Fort Worth, Not Dallas….Just like the Texas Rangers are in Arlington, not Dallas….Just like the Dallas Cowboys are in Arlington, not Dallas.

      The only thing in Dallas has is the Mavericks…and they can keep them and their owner Mark Cuban.

      Report Post » CowboyExpat  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:31am

      Right on! Dallas is supposed to be more elite, while Ft. Worth is a cow town. Even Glenn Beck lives closer to Ft. Worth than he does Dallas, but he claims Dallas is where he lives. Snobs!
      DFW airport is in Colleyville, which is Ft. Worth. There has always been contention between the two cities. Since I’m a latent cowgirl, give me Ft. Worth any day. I’ve had fun there in my youth.

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 1:52pm

      Trevor Bayne a good Christian kid who won last years Daytona 500 has the same problem. He says a prayer with the wood Brothers before each race and does the same in Nationwide Series. Didn’t race Rouse Ford last week because of Funding problems. I don’t know why Johnson & Johnson doesn’t sponsor him and pull some of their ESPN spnsorsip funds and not conpete against the Beer money in NCCA sports.

      Report Post »  
    • rosebud13
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:41pm

      Thank you Lord, You are always faithful to Your own!
      We are proud tp profess our faith in You!

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on April 20, 2012 at 12:55am

      Thank you all Nascar fans for not supporting Obama…please get out to vote in November

      Report Post »  
  • piper60
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:14am

    ESPN. The same idiots who dropped Hank Jr. What a bunch of maroons, to paraphrase bugs bunny.

    Report Post » piper60  
    • Rohawk
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:51am

      Christians that vote and Patriots who express an opinion on Obama do seem to be the two demographic groups that have way too much influence (at least according to the powerless media that keep censoring them).

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:52am

      Not to mention what they did to Tim Teabow!

      Report Post » db321  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:35am

      I quit watching ESPN years ago right after they fired Rush for a non-racist statement that they insisted was racist. People ESPN is just one of the tools being used to indoctrinate people. Wake up and drop your cable and satellite services. Don’t let these evil entities into your house over the airwaves. Life without 200 plus worthless channels is so much more fulfilling.

      Report Post » jcldwl  
    • timeout
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:19am

      I cannot stand ESPN and their announcers. They are totally political, lack much “spiritual” awareness in my view. I try not to watch them. The incident is purely Christain hating.

      Sports is getting to be a real drag…..

      Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:35am

      Time for Christians to unite. Let’s stop supporting the others. Love this driver and glad he got a new sponsor and God Speed, safely.

      Report Post »  
    • Tamminator
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 3:56pm

      ESPN is owned by Disney, which also owns ABC.
      All a part of the Christian-hating left.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Disney

      Report Post »  
  • IreBelle
    Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:13am

    Well GBTV, step up and sponsor!

    Report Post »  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:25am

      Irebelle

      GREAT IDEA!! Glenn.. Blaze moderator…WHOEVER!!.. we all need to Tweet or message askraj@gbtv.com

      MERCURY ONE!! needs to at least partially sponsor this man and his efforts. think of the EXPOSURE if the Mercury One logo is on the hood of the car for just one race and on the fender panels for the rest of the racing season!!

      THIS is a cause I can get behind…something with local and national impact…promote an athlete with values, faith, character…we need MORE like him and Tebow and Bubba – the new master’s winner..

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
    • magadog
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:54am

      Agreed! Step up Mercury One!

      You’ve got enough followers via The Blaze to get additional support for the race team.

      Give us something to rally around…the politicos aren’t doing it for me

      Report Post » magadog  
    • Maggie the Cat
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 3:02pm

      Yep!

      Report Post »  
    • MontanaMEL
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 6:03pm

      I’ll second, third, and forth that idea…
      Looking at the car…and it’s graphics package…Glen should take the “HOOD” for every 3rd race thru this season (partial) and he should move to the “wing” for the other’s…both sides of that “WIDE billboard”…front and back…it’ll show in all photos that way…
      Then, he should start a movement to gather many, many, small people/companies together.. maybe even form an LLC for this…tax purposes being what they are… Set this up for NEXT SEASON for sure, Perhaps the ending races of this season if it comes together fast… Take the HOOD every 4th or 5th race, and the “air dam” for all others..maybe in “reverse text” like it was being viewed in the rearview mirror,, eh?… SPONSORED BY or FOR GOD…that’s all… Maybe Glen keeps a 1/4 panel for next season in his name… NOW..THAT WOULD BE SOME STATEMENT!! Kick the Wanker’s aside, let’s race.

      Report Post »  
  • Bn2D
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:19pm

    ESPN=Especially Sensitive People Network

    Report Post » Bn2D  
  • DORVAN
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:07pm

    Blake, God rewards those who stand on their faith. May He keep opening doors for you and bring long-term sponsors. Stand your ground. Blessings

    Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:59am

      Help starving kids the world over or help rich NASCAR driver. Seams to me the second option isn’t exactly the moral one to pick.

      Report Post »  
    • Sickofthebull2012
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:12am

      @EvilSciFi, How many children of the world have you saved lately? Ridiculous statement from you.

      Report Post »  
    • Vickie Dhaene
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:44am

      Your right DORVAN, When you live in the faith and light of God, He will provide for you.

      Report Post »  
    • CougarNick78
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:52am

      @ Scifievil-crybaby—- Hey, why don’t YOU go airdrop some food to them starving kids? Why don’t you do something? Also, tell me how the godless have fed any of the starving. As I recall, the USSR, China, Cambodia, Ethiopia, all had commie regimes, and all STARVED more kids than they fed.

      Stand up and do something yourself, or just shut your pie hole.

      Report Post » CougarNick78  
    • hopeakukko
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 4:00pm

      God does not always reward those “who stand by their faith.” As one martyr of God once said, you may pray for God to fill your rice bowl, but He may break your rice bowl. God’s purposes are always higher than ours.

      And as for Christians who are NASCAR fans, Mr. ScienceIsNotEvil, it’s not either/or, it’s both. Christian individuals, churches and other Christian organizations give more time and money to the homeless, to disaster relief, and to starving children around the world than all the governments in the world—partly because 90 to 95% of all the money donated goes directly to those who need aid rather than toward administrative costs and big salaries.

      To COWBOYXPAT, the great State Fair of Texas is in Dallas as well as the North Texas Irish Festival. Dallas isn’t a waste land. We were smart not to use taxpayer money to build Jerry Jones’ own playpen. Besides the Mavericks, we have the Stars—although I am not a sports fan.

      DFW lies within the incorporated cities of Coppell, Euless, Grapevine, and Irving—neither Ft. Worth nor Dallas.

      Report Post »  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 10:46pm

    Need to BAN espn

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
    • Rohawk
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 12:52am

      Glad they don’t cover the NHL. I really don’t have to watch their station at all!

      Report Post »  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on April 19, 2012 at 8:00am

      Do you always call for government force to ban things you don’t like?

      Report Post »  
  • Magyar
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:52pm

    AH the Lord— he always takes care of his flock! I love it!

    Report Post »  
  • THXll38
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:36pm

    Is this like MTV’s Rock the Vote?

    Report Post » THXll38  
  • GrumpyCat
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:10pm

    I remember when ESPN used microphones and headphones from Radio Shack.

    Many years ago I quit looking at the TV listings for ESPN simply because they had nothing worth watching other than an occasional Formula 1 race. World Series of Poker? Watching grass grow is more fun. Then they started adding NASCAR which I’m sure all the individuals making up NASCAR are great guys, collectively I think NASCAR is worth less than the sum of its parts. Its like watching professional wrestling, it looks staged.

    As a free market capitalist I do not like the way one might get a 10 second lead in NASCAR then a yellow caution period takes that hard earned advantage away. Its the kind of thing that would only make sense to an Obamanomics advocate. I have no doubt the drivers deliberately do not go much faster than their competition because they know The Government (NASCAR) will step in with a caution flag and take it way from them.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:34pm

    …
    Blake Koch is one of the good guys. Keep the faith Blake.

    ESPN is in bed with Satan, Obama and the Democrats.
    ESPN and the Democrats were afraid of Blake’s voter registration campaign.
    They were worried that those newly registered, one million race car fans, would vote against Obama.

    Report Post »  
    • what4
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 10:24pm

      And who owns ESPN…..ABC, and who owns ABC Mickie Mouse AKA DIsney….Now we are at the heart of the evil!

      Report Post »  
  • Just in time
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:32pm

    Now he can trully go with God.

    Report Post »  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 10:37pm

      Love to follow these great guys who love the Lord. That always gets my attention first. Ordinary people have nothing of interest, Christians are a joy to watch. Love that Tim Tebow too.

      Report Post »  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:26pm

    Well, ESPN certainly lost my viewership, what they did was dead wrong.
    What we take from that is ESPN does not support Christianity, so conversely
    I don’t support ESPN. ESPN will learn that they “reap what they sow”.
    Thank the Lord for Daystar.

    Report Post »  
    • ICEDRAGONNITE
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:44pm

      Its part of the Agenda 21 program. Sustainable living crushing Christianity and Judaism. ESPN are losers for what they have done. Many people remember what they have done and or reflect in their income. The Christians of this nation are very quiet and it’s time that they begin to get noisy. Where are the Christian leaders. Everything from the Catholics, the Presbyterians, the Protestants the Lutherans, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons Evangelicals where are they, why are they not sounding off? you have been hiding your light under a bushel, it’s time that stops. Stop sitting on the fence. Take aside, good or bad tepid is not the way to be.all you have to do is demand from your preachers your ministers your father’s board everyone: to get the show on the road and stand up to this nation to stand up for God, Jesus Christ the Holy Ghost. Stop sucking your thumb in the closet and be something besides a lukewarm dead fish.

      Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
    • pschlentz
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 9:42pm

      I’m tired of all these LIBERAL companies and people that are just going with the flow. The heck with them! I stand by companies and people that stand for morals, family and Country.
      The rest can have themselves, they deserve what‘s comin’ down the pike…. They might want to stock up on cooling agents and fire blankets cause it might get a bit hot where folks go that purposely, and defiantly denounce their Creator. Doesn’t usually go too well for them.
      Stand by your faith Blake, you’re a good man.
      God all gave us a free will, we do with it as each of us sees fit.
      Blake is prepared, ESPN, not so much…

      Report Post »  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:22pm

    What? What in the heck offended ESPN ? I watched his ad and nothing in it referred to one party or one candidate. I can understand dropping sponsorship over driving ability, but over that ad? Somebody help me understand this.

    ESPN is showing some colors that I (a NASCAR race attendee on a regular basis) do not like and will need to take into consideration when I plan future trips.

    Report Post » OlefromMN  
  • grimmy
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:21pm

    F ESPN and boycott anyone who advertises with them.I am not a religious person, though i am a believer,but this type of crap has to end,and i say boycott them,hit them where their life and heart is, their pocket book.

    Report Post »  
  • geonj
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:18pm

    my best regards to Christian cinema. God‘s grace to them for their support of a Christian promoting Christ’s glory and ressurection.

    Report Post » geonj  
    • lillymckim
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:28pm

      ESPN has been occupied and over run for years by the felons, and convicted rapists, like Mike Tyson there is no room for the Jeremy Lin’s, Tim Tebow‘s and Blake’s at ESPN

      Report Post » lillymckim  
    • lillymckim
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:30pm

      Come on Country Music support this guy! and sponsor him

      Mitt Romney here’s your chance to connect with the Nascar crowd!

      Report Post » lillymckim  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:02pm

      I love Christian movies they are all I watch and some hallmark ones too (or football). will be using ChristianCinema.com this story does my heart good. stopped watching espn a while ago. actually ever since they made that monday night football stink about Hank and fired him. they cannot even hold a steady camera or make a decent comment on the football games its awful but regardless they have no ethics.

      Report Post »  
  • ShyLow
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:16pm

    Was it Peter that denied Jesus before the crowing of the .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6AlEYreD6k&feature=related

    Report Post » ShyLow  
  • geonj
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:16pm

    funny how the links don’t work, blaze

    Report Post » geonj  
  • TEARS FOR AMERICA
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:14pm

    Go Blake! You are an inspiration to many! Thank you!

    Report Post » TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • Shasta
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:08pm

    Nicely done young man.

    Report Post » Shasta  
  • Derfel Cadarn
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:02pm

    I personally am an atheist but I believe that everyone has a right to their own belief. What ESPN did here was WRONG and for what it is worth they have lost my business.

    Report Post »  
  • valleyfever
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:57pm

    Stand by your faith Blake, there are plenty who want to walk on it.

    Report Post »  
  • ImChiquita
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:56pm

    When God shuts a door, there is always an open window….or something to the effect of:
    Eat that, Satan!

    Report Post »  
  • dominke
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:53pm

    ESPN sucks.

    Report Post » dominke  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 8:06pm

      I stopped watching and supporting NASCAR when they teamed with Michelle Obama in the last race >>> Daytona last year. Now you may say who cares or what would that do .. this year for the first race Daytona again .. I was a Nielson family (I made certain I was watching something else at the time of the race) .. God works in mysterious ways. ;-)

      Report Post »  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:52pm

    Fine business! ESPN sux.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • Laus Deo
    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 7:41pm

    Laus Deo!

    Report Post » Laus Deo  
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