NASCAR has been around for decades, and today stands as America’s favorite motorsport. Much of that is down to the astute minds at the helm, the fallout of the CART/INDYCAR split in the 1990s, and Jeff Gordon’s mullet/mustache combo. However, a little promotion never hurt anyone, and NASCAR has done an able job at marketing itself over the years. But it’s hard to say anything could top Nick Offerman’s banger of a commercial from 2015, celebrating the return of NASCAR on NBC.
If you know Offerman, it’s probably from his role as the city administrator Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. In the popular sitcom, he cultivated an authoritative personality with a powerful intensity in his deadpan delivery. Parallels between Offerman and the character abounded, from his predilection for woodworking and his abilities on the saxophone. Now, thanks to a post from Chris Overland on Twitter, we’ve seen how his role on the NBC sitcom turned into a piece of NASCAR-related brilliance.
It’s easy to see why Offerman took the gig. He brought all of his gravitas and his beloved no-nonsense persona to the table. The result? A two-minute love letter to NASCAR and America that highlights everything that’s so magical about the sport of turning left at speed.
https://www.facebook.com/NASCARonNBC/videos/570540166415419/
“America, it’s time for a gut check,” says Offerman, addressing the audience in front of the Stars and Stripes and, actually, inside of the stars and stripes. Already, you’re paying attention. A marching bass line starts, backup singers at the ready. He chastises emoji use and those that avoid gluten, which is perhaps unfair to those that can’t stomach the occasionally-frustrating wheat product. But fear not, for he promises salvation—at the altar of NASCAR.
Here’s the thing. Making a good NASCAR commercial doesn’t have to be hard. The sport offers everything—tire smoke, battles on track, rivalries, crashes… you just have to showcase it. Tie it up with a top-tier personality, a humming tune, and a touch of bad language, and you’ve got yourself a humdinger. That’s exactly what this is.
We’re treated to Offerman taking part in all the best bits of NASCAR, from pitstops to pit lane fights, and wheel-to-wheel combat. He celebrates the sport for letting you grill your own meat and drink your own beer—something you can’t exactly do in the stands at a Dodgers game. In a pleasing move, he also promotes the sport as a place where everyone is welcome—”Even my friend in his American flag thong!” Don’t get too excited, though. Later in the video, it’s revealed the guy is wearing a Speedo with more of a brief cut.
“200 miles per freaking hour, 700 freaking horse freaking power,” is a line that’s music to our ears. We’re also treated to a sweet guitar solo—on a double guitar, no less!—and a reminder that NASCAR lets men and women compete on a level playing field. Something other motorsports could learn from, right? All the while, Offerman’s playing every role from pit crew to driver to trackside merch salesman. Oh, and apparently a team owner who keeps squeezing water bottles to death. Go easy, Nick!
Also, while some of the drivers mentioned are retired, the commercial was eventually right because Jimmie Johnson is going to do nine races this year.
It’s a quality piece of advertising; one that seems to draw from the same wellspring as the ad for the Canyonero in The Simpsons. There’s a country-fried soundtrack, plenty of horsepower, and a hard-boiled American telling us what’s what. A tip of the 10-gallon hat to Offerman, NASCAR, and the creatives that put it together. A job well done.
[Ed note: This is a good coincidence because one of the initiatives I was going to encourage this year was that we all watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series and keep up with it for fun. Maybe even do a meetup at a race at some point? Our pal Parker Kligerman is going to be doing more stuff around here and he’s racing a full season.
Also, this is the best NASCAR commercial of all time:
– MH]
Image credits: NASCAR on NBC via Facebook video screenshot
Nick Offerman on all things. He’s like bacon, just makes things better.
Next he’ll fix Middle East and Russia.
Stigs American cousin has returned!
That makes me proud to be American. And I’m from Canada
I didn’t know they made “Talladega Nights” into a musical!
Nope, nope, nope….
Nick is a great spokesperson for NASCAR. He’s 90% of what the stereotypical NASCAR fan is.
Unfortunately, it’s that 10% (wanting sensible gun control and not hating Biden) that will get him canceled by those same fans.
I always sort of saw NASCAR as auto racing’s equivalent of professional wrestling.
Actually, that is monster jam. Watched Megalodon land a flip live a couple weeks ago, to win the stunt off part of competition. It was the driver’s first landed flip in competition. Ashley Sanford was driving that day and she did awesome.
“…NASCAR lets men and women compete on a level playing field. Something other motorsports could learn from, right?”
I know you’re just being cheeky here but I watch a ton of racing and I can’t think of a single series that specifically states women can’t directly compete with men.
Excepting of course F1 Academy, the concept of which has been explained but I still struggle with it.
It’s a real mixed bag. NHRA does the best, probably. Sports car racing has been better, depending on where. F1 does the worst, almost certainly. MotoGP and most other motorcycle disciplines aren’t much better. NASCAR is probably in the middle. There’s been at least one woman with full-season rides in good equipment in one of the three series most years for the last decade or so, with Deegan getting a good ride in Xfinity this year.
NHRA is obviously the standard-bearer, but there are several promising female talents currently in F4/FR series overseas, and of course F1A. It’s not a big percentage but just considering where we were only a few years ago, it’s improving. It’s going to take some time, getting girls into karts is the key. Whether 11 year-old-girls are not naturally tended to such interests or specifically steered away from them is for a deeper discussion I suppose.
Totally on NHRA, but I’ll go one step further – it’s also in big part to John Force! 😉
Yeah but what do? There have been several women compete in higher tier motorcycle racing. While I know there are biases out there, by and large teams want lap times. As Matt Sexton said, other than ensure the rules are gender neutral, what does a motorsport do to increase the number of female participants that isn’t in some way pandering?
(emphasis added)
I don’t believe that’s an accurate depiction.
I give it credit for trying to do a delicate dance by upending what we’re all thinking, but I’d have gone with say convincing Sasha Baron Cohen to reprise Jean Girad, just to make it super over the top.
The ad is a bit cheeky with that, but NASCAR has really been promoting their inclusivity the past few years. I’ve seen lots of “NASCAR Pride” shirts at the track and a lot of young people of all backgrounds checking out the races. I’ve even gotten several friends who saw NASCAR as the “redneck sport” to the track and they were impressed with how much fun and engineering there was.
Sure you can still have a classic, southern, “It goes Trump, Jesus, and then Buc-ee in terms of respect” encounter at the track. But that’s only if you really want it. Everyone is there to have a good time and watch a race.
Ron Swanson created God after His own image.
Prove me wrong.
“Bring me all the eggs and bacon you have”
“That’s a party platter, it serves 12 people..”
“I know what I’m about son”
Always suspected motorsports properly belonged on the Pyramid of Greatness. Behold!
What’s the word on Chevy’s entry this season? I’m assuming it will in fact be the model it no longer actually makes but would be intrigued if turns out to be the Blazer or something…
Camaro ZL1, so it’ll be, as it should: Mustang, Camaro… Camry.
Even better when the Camry is 100% hybrid.
What do you mean I can’t get a high horsepower RWD v8 gas Camry!
Right now it’s the Camaro, which is going to hurt Chevy. Ford and Toyota were able to re-do their aerodynamics and Chevrolet was not. Next year the rumor is they may run the Camaro as just a “Chevrolet”. They also are rumored to be working on a Malibu, so who knows.
Fascinating – thank you! I wondered about the downsides of running a no-longer-current vehicle.
And it’d be like when Chevy rebranded the old Malibu as the Chevy Classic!
Dodge did the same thing for a year when they were in between the Stratus and Charger as their NASCAR model. It’ll be interesting to see what GM comes up with.
https://cdn-7.motorsport.com/static/img/mgl/200000/200000/204000/204500/204547/s8/nascar-cup-atlanta-ii-2004-sterling-marlin.jpg