Thursday Open Line

Submitted Article June 16, 2011 Open Lines 10 Comments

I’ll keep it light today and put up for consideration our official North Carolina State Sport may soon become NASCAR if the Governor signs the bill on her desk. Good choice?

Discuss and more on your open line…

CategoriesOpen Lines

10 Comments

skipper June 15, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Nah, too political. I think it oughta be sandlot ball, baseball, softball in honor of all the kids who learned sportsmanship from playing.
Dagny June 16, 2011 at 6:42 am

Good Choice. Go JR.
Mr. Mojo Rison June 16, 2011 at 9:20 am

I think NASCAR should be our official state sport. It all started here and is a national phenomenon that is here to stay not to mention the billions it pumps in to our economy. Bev and I may agree on something here.
jdcathtc June 16, 2011 at 10:12 am

NASCAR is not a sport. It is a private for-profit corporation based in Florida. It markets its name as the be-all end-all of stock car racing. There are other organizations that also sanction stock car racing in the state. This would amount to the endorsement of a private company.
Phil Hart June 16, 2011 at 10:34 am

You’re right jdcathtc, the official bill reads ‘stock car racing’. The exact text is as follows:

AN ACT to adopt stock car racing as the official sport of north carolina.

Whereas, stock car racing has played a significant role in the history, heritage, and culture of North Carolina; and

Whereas, stock car racing leads the way in the motorsports industry in North Carolina; and

Whereas, the motorsports industry has a six billion dollar economic impact in North Carolina annually and creates over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs; and

Whereas, North Carolina continues to grow and advance the grass roots of the sport of stock car racing with over 30 short tracks located throughout the State hosting over 700 events per year; and

Whereas, North Carolina educates and trains individuals in its University system and Community College system for jobs in stock car racing; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of the coveted stock car racing NASCAR Hall of Fame and the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of more than 90 percent of NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race teams; and

Whereas, the Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts three stock car races annually in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, more than any Sprint Cup events held annually in any other state, and Charlotte Motor Speedway brings more than one million visitors to North Carolina each year; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of “The King,” Richard Petty, stock car racing legend Junior Johnson, dubbed “The Last American Hero” by writer Tom Wolfe, and seven?time champion, the late Dale Earnhardt; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of stock car racing and North Carolina is committed to the continued growth and popularity of the sport; and

Whereas, stock car racing should be adopted as the State’s official sport.
jdcathtc June 16, 2011 at 11:13 am

I would agree with the bill with that wording.
littlelamb1186 June 16, 2011 at 3:24 pm

As much as I love NASCAR, I don’t think our politians should be wasting time making it a state sport! Don’t they have bigger things to worry about?? Politicians complain about how long they have to stay in meetings and it was just reported on the news last night they were trying to “hurry things up and get out before the end of the week.” I think their time would be better spent discussing real issues…like our economy versus what our state sport should be. If things don’t improve us folks who enjoy going to NASCAR races won’t be able to even go because we will all be broke! Come on Congress…worry about bills that will make a difference and mess with the sports when you have time to play!
Dagny June 16, 2011 at 5:24 pm

Agree Lamb – It is like Congress spending time and money on drugs in baseball. The league can police themselves.
NASCAR employs a lot of people around the country. Would still like to see JR win again soon. He was cheated out of his family business by the evil step mother and it sure didn’t get her any where.
Bubba June 16, 2011 at 5:31 pm

What about “Cornhole” toss as the official NC sport? It is much more sophisticated than stock car racing…. But then “beer pong” is more sophisticated than stock car racing too!
Anon1 June 16, 2011 at 8:10 pm

#4 – Aren’t MLB and NFL and NHL and NBA all for-profit corporations? As a matter of fact, doesn’t MLB hold the only exemption to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?

I think our state sport should be moon-shining. You know, hide the still, heat the mash, shoot the revenuers — the possibilities are endless.

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