"Walrus" Solesbee |
The new laws regulating tobacco advertising has taken on serious implications. The weekend event of Craftsman Truck and CART series wrapping up their 2001 year at Fontana, Nov. 2-4, was sponsored by Marlboro. Nothing new about that, tobacco companies have been sponsoring motor racing events for 30 years. But what happened this weekend could have serious consequences in the future. |
Seems one of the new rules limiting tobacco companies in their advertising is that none of the participants can be under the smoking age 18 years old. As a result, Kyle Busch, 16 year old brother of WC rookie Kurt, was not allowed on the track during this weekends events. Kyle has been running a limited number of truck races in the second half of the season, since turning 16 earlier this summer, for Roush Racing. Limiting his races to maintain status for Craftsman Truck Series ROTY in the year 2002.
Naturally this would mean any weekend events the trucks race at in 2002 that are sponsored by a tobacco company will sideline Kyle not only in 2002, but the first half of 2003. I guess the tobacco laws that are intended to prevent stunting the physical growth and health of minors is also meant to stunt the growth of careers.
The bigger question is where will this lead. Will this snowball to where not only do the participants have to be of legal smoking age, to the point requiring they all smoke as well? Will Rusty, Sterling and Dale Jr. be required to pop and guzzle a cool brew during caution flag periods? Does Mark Martin have to drop several Viagra pills as he climbs into his race car? Will Mike Waltrips engines have to really be built using NAPA over the counter parts? What's next? No under aged fans allowed in the grand stands? This is a classic case of going overboard, legistlation run-amuck and as Barney Fife would say, "Time to nip it in the bud".