The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, otherwise known as NASCAR, has reportedly started to take a “gradual shift” on its stances surrounding the Second Amendment.
The revelation comes after multiple gun companies have said that NASCAR, which has a primarily Republican base, banned them from running advertisements that feature guns.
“Dark Storm Industries said an ad it submitted featuring one of the company’s AR-15s was rejected and online retailer K-Var Corp. said an ad featuring an AK-47 and 9mm handgun was also rejected,” The Washington Free Beacon reported. “Both said a NASCAR advertising agency solicited ads from them for NASCAR publications. They submitted ads but were told NASCAR would not accept them.”
In a statement, Dark Storm industries wrote on Instagram:
NASCAR decided to turn their back on their customer base, joining the likes of Yeti, Dick’s and Under Armour. We were approached by a NASCAR publication eager to earn our business, but after submitting our ad it was immediately rejected, stating that we cannot depict “assault weapons”… whatever those are. We resubmitted the ad after adding a large ‘CENSORED’ bar over the rifle, with a tag reading “This publication rejected our ad.” This too was rejected by NASCAR. They said they did not like that we called them out. We resubmitted a third time, with a tag line reading “Visit www.Dark-Storm.com to find out why!” This was again rejected. They did not like the words “FIND OUT WHY.” As we have learned, NASCAR has made a “gradual shift” but this doesn’t seem very gradual to us. It seems as though NASCAR has turned their back on the overwhelming majority of their fan base in the most embarrassing way possible. #nascar
The Free Beacon noted that K-Var was working with National Event Publications, which selects ads for NASCAR publications, and planned on running a series of ads which they believed “would be good for brand awareness since the NASCAR audience is considered to be very gun-friendly and notable gun companies had previously advertised in the program.”
In an email obtained by The Free Beacon, Sunny Berlin, art director for National Event Publications, told K-Var:
We just heard back from NASCAR on a number of gun related ads and unfortunately due to a gradual shift in their position on guns, these ads must be edited/changed — especially those that are depicted as assault style rifles/sniper rifles. They are still open to some ads featuring some of the less controversial gun accessories, concealed carry, or classes. Can you supply a new ad that would fit more along these guidelines? NASCAR will then review again.
The Free Beacon added that the reaction to NASCAR adopting left-wing politics, specifically the demonization of the Second Amendment, has generated a significant amount of backlash.
One specific example came in an article written by radio host Mark Walters, who wrote: “Go ahead NASCAR, try to fill the stands with a bunch of David Hogg, Moms Demand Action, Everytown for Gun Safety, urban, progressive, skinny jean wearing, soy sipping, man-bun wearing, Antifa loving, gun-hating socialists. I won’t be around to see how that turns out for you.”