An American Revolution: NASCAR and Hip-Hop

NASCAR is going to have to do a lot more than put Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a commercial with T.I. or video with Jay-Z to convince the hip-hop community that its athletes are on par with basketball greats Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, et. al.

Herald Sun columnist John McCann says a NASCAR driver isn't any more of an athlete than a mechanical bull or a brother strolling through the 'hood back in the day with a boombox perched on his shoulder. Link to Audio

In fairness, he quotes from Webster defining an athlete as "one having the natural aptitude for physical exercises in sports as strength, agility and endurance"--which drivers undeniably possess. McCann also quotes some guy with credentials from Duke, who contends that the physical demands of driving a racecar qualify the drivers as athletes, citing the tremendous upper body strength, mental concentration, hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes.

NASCAR's #1 athlete and Back 40 Records owner Carl Edwards graces yet another men's magazine cover showin' off his killer bod this month? But I digress ...

So, we can agree that drivers are athletes--or not--but does that mean hip-hop can't embrace NASCAR?

Being a fan of both NASCAR, the most redneck of sports, and hip-hop, the most urban of music, I happen to enjoy the marriage of the two. I was thrilled when I heard about Jay-Z featuring Junior in his video, and I especially love this Chevy Impala SS "Infield" commercial with T.I. and a killer "Sweet Home Alabama" remix:

Chevy had no trouble identifying common denominators of the two fan bases: an affinity for great music and appreciation of a sweet ride.

The good news for NASCAR is, they don't have to convince hip-hop that the drivers are athletes--only that racing is entertainment and that the marketing of the two=cash.

Check please.