June 9, 2006 6:48 AM

Man, I can hardly wait until Fred Phelps discovers NASCAR

Scientology publisher to sponsor team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Race fans, let the couch-jumping begin. The Church of Scientology, the religion for which actor Tom Cruise crusades, will attempt to spread its “Ignite Your Potential” message into auto racing through sponsorship of a race car in one of NASCAR’s lowest levels. Kenton Gray, a 35-year-old Californian, will attempt to make the field for a late model race Saturday night at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. His No. 27 Ford Taurus will be sponsored by Bridge Publications, which publishes Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s bestseller “Dianetics.” The hood of the car will say “Dianetics” on it, along with a volcano to mimic the book cover.

Hey, why not a “religion” sponsoring a NASCAR team, eh? After all, this is still (nominally) a free country, and if the Church of Scientology decides that this is how they want to spend their money, so be it. If Scientology wants to put itself on a par with beer, milk, and smokeless tobacco, why not? When you get right down to it, religion is merely another product to be packaged and sold to a population whose demand has been created by clever and skillfull marketing.

I’m not going to denigrate the concept of religion here. That would be a pointless and disrespectful digression. What I AM going to do is wonder why NASCAR has leapt into bed with a “religion” that is a borderline cult. Granted, I’m not expert on Scientology, and I’d sort of like to keep it that way. There is a “slippery slope” potential here as well. If NASCAR allows Scientology to sponsor a racing team, how long before We see the Westboro Baptist Church’s “God Hates Fags” Chevrolet, or Operation Rescue’s Pontiac with pictures of aborted fetuses on the hood? Go ahead and laugh, but NASCAR is just another vehicle for extremist religious groups to get their messages across…and since NASCAR core fan base trends very Conservative, it’s a marriage made in Heaven…so to speak.

No, I’m not advocating censorship, but I have to wonder where (or if) NASCAR draws the line. If a potential sponsor has the money and represents a sufficiently Conservative cause, does NASCAR shakes shake hands with them and welcome to the family? I’m not here to say that I know what is right or appropriate, but where DOES the line get drawn? If MoveOn.org or Veterans Against the War wanted to sponsor a NASCAR team, would they get laughed out of Charlotte?

Scientology is not the first religion to make its way into racing.

Morgan Shepherd has competed the past few years in the No. 89 Victory in Jesus Racing Ministries car. NASCAR had to sign off on his paint scheme, and refused to let his first offering onto the track before finally agreeing to allow the message “Racing With Jesus” onto the hood of the car.

And in 2004, Bobby Labonte drove the season-opening Daytona 500 in a car that advertised Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of The Christ.”

Still, NASCAR keeps a close eye on what it allows on its tracks.

“When you get into philosophies and morals, that’s a slippery slope,” Hunter said. “But we do understand that NASCAR has broad national appeal, and we reach millions of people every week. Not all of our fans agree with some sponsorships, but they do understand that it is imperative for our cars to have sponsors in order to succeed.

“Obviously, philosophically, everyone has different opinions.”

True enough. I just want to know where and how the lines are drawn. After all, if NASCAR accepts Scientology as a sponsor, it really isn’t a stretch to imagine the Westboro Baptist Church or Operation Rescue queueing up to be next in line.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on June 9, 2006 6:48 AM.

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