NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is an organizer of car racing events in the United States.
==2002==
In 2002, NASCAR teamed up with the Muppets for a marketing campaign that involved plush toys, die-cast cars and other merchandise meant to promote a series of car designs used to decorate cars in the organization's primary Winston Cup Series.
In addition to a program car which featured all of the Muppets, the following teams of Muppets and drivers appeared:
Picture	Driver 	Muppet 	Number	Car 	Team 	Sponsor
 	Casey Atwood 	Rowlf the Dog 	#7 	Dodge Intrepid 	Ultra Motorsports 	Sirius Satellite Radio
 	Johnny Benson 	Fozzie Bear 	#10 	Pontiac Grand Prix	MBV Motorsports 	Valvoline
 	Bill Elliott 	The Swedish Chef 	#9 	Dodge Intrepid 	Evernham Motorsports 	Dodge Dealers
 	Dale Jarrett 	Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog	#88 	Ford Taurus 	Robert Yates Racing 	UPS
 	Bobby Labonte 	Pepe the King Prawn 	#18 	Pontiac Grand Prix	Joe Gibbs Racing 	Interstate Batteries
 	Jeremy Mayfield	Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker	#19 	Dodge Intrepid 	Evernham Motorsports 	Dodge Dealers
 	Ricky Rudd 	Gonzo 	#28 	Ford Taurus 	Robert Yates Racing 	Havoline
 	Jimmy Spencer 	Animal 	#41 	Dodge Intrepid 	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	Target
On April 25, 2002Getty Images, a press conference was held announcing the marketing campaign. Muppets in attendance included Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Rowlf the Dog, The Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Pepe the King Prawn, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, and Sweetums. They were joined by NASCAR drivers Dale Jarrett, Casey Atwood, Jeremy Mayfield, Bill Elliott, Johnny Benson, Jimmy Spencer, Bobby Labonte, and Ricky Rudd who were all dressed in uniforms featuring the Muppet logo. Additionally, Brian Henson and Mia Sara attended.
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 1.jpg|Miss Piggy with Dale Jarrett
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 2.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 3.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 10.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 4.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 5.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 8.jpg|Pepe, Kermit, and Gonzo
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 6.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 7.jpg|Animal and Fozzie
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 9.jpg
File:2002 Muppet NASCAR press conference 11.jpg|Brian Henson and Mia Sara
File:The Muppets -NASCAR Sizzle|sizzle reel
==2014==
Gonzo served as the Grand Marshall for the Auto Club 400 on March 23, 2014.Nascar.com "Gonzo to start the Auto Club 400 on opening weekend for 'Muppets Most Wanted'" March 13, 2014, Staff report
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480181073R.jpg|Dale Earnhardt Jr.
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480181081R.jpg
File:Amy Reimann and Dale Earnhardt Jr.jpg|Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Amy Reimann
File:Gonzo Auto Club 400 car.jpg|
File:Gonzo Auto Club 400 Jessica Smith.jpg|Jessica Smith
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480181233.jpg|Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus
File:Gonzo Auto Club 400 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480181279.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480180705R.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480180741.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480180789.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480181457.jpg|Mindy Kaling
File:Kiss Mindy Kaling Gonzo.jpg
File:Gonzo Auto Club 400 Kim Coon.jpg|Kim Coon
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480203489R.jpg
File:Nascar-Gonzo-(2014-03-23)-480203491.jpg
==References==
* Sesame Street featured a spoof called "Nascount" in Episode 4154 (2007). In the sketch, the Count is a race car driver on a pit stop who refuses to rejoin the race until he has counted all forty cars that go by.
* Racing driver Jimmie Johnson inspired a Muppet Celebrity T-shirt featuring Kermit as a NASCAR driver in 2005.
* Sesame Street Episode 4203 features the Worm racing organization, WASCAR, as well as several spoofs of famous NASCAR drivers (and an appearance by Jeff Gordon as commentator).
Nascount.jpg|NASCOUNT parody
Shirt9.JPG|Jimmy Johnson celebrity T-shirt
4203c.jpg|WASCAR spoof (Episode 4203)
KyleSquish.png|Kyle Skwush (spoof of Kyle Busch), Smellogg's Worm Flakes(Episode 4203)
4203d.jpg|Juan Mudtoya (Juan Montoya), Wiggley's Rotten Fruit(Episode 4203)
WASCAR-Shawna.png|Shawna Wiggleson (Shawna Robinson), Worm*Mart(Episode 4203)
WASCAR-Dale.png|Dale Womhardt Jr., Goopont(Episode 4203)
WASCAR-Slimey.png|Slimey, The Worm Depot(Episode 4203)
==See also==
* SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
 
Category:Live Appearances
Category:Marketing Tie-Ins
Category:Sports
Category:Sports References