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One of their own NASCAR has adopted Arizona conservative KylPosted: Friday March 02, 2001 4:36 PMUpdated: Thursday March 22, 2001 10:59 AM
While seeking re-election in 1999, Jon Kyl asked NASCAR officials if they would put their muscle behind his campaign. The race crowd, in particular then-NASCAR president Bill France Jr. and his family, promptly sped to his aid. "As a dear friend, [Kyl] asked if we could possibly do a small, little fundraising lunch for him,'' said Sue Santa, head of public and legal affairs for International Speedway Corp, which is also controlled by the France family. Given that Kyl was a U.S. senator from Arizona, that ISC owned Phoenix International Raceway and that Kyl had played a role in helping improve access roads to the facility, the answer was pretty simple. NASCAR staged a Saturday afternoon fundraiser at its Phoenix track, shortly after the drivers finished final practice. It was like a union shop rallying membership to support its designated candidate. Wealthy car owners got the call. Winston Cup champions like Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon were brought to a hospitality tent, joined by Kyl, France, current NASCAR president Mike Helton and other influential players.
Bottom line? Kyl, a Republican who easily won re-election to a second term in November, is obviously on the same page as NASCAR movers and shakers. They like his politics. "It has come to our attention that we see eye-to-eye on a lot of the issues that have to do with racing and in general,'' said veteran driver Mark Martin, who makes his home down the road from NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. Fundraisers are common practice for Washington politicians, and Kyl's haul from NASCAR was hardly a windfall. Yet it's definitely not something seen in other pro sports. The only thing close is the support ex-NBA star Bill Bradley attracted from individual athletes in his failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. But this relationship is deeper. The racing crowd has adopted the Arizona lawmaker as one of their own, offering Kyl more of their financial support than any other federal candidate in recent years, according to a CNNSI.com computer analysis of federal campaign contributions. He's a serious fan, dating back to the 1970s when he was a volunteer corner worker at the Phoenix track who warned drivers of debris on the oval. On the eve of last November's election, with 100,000 fans in attendance, Kyl was invited back - this time as grand marshal for a Winston Cup race. Just a few months earlier, he co-hosted a "Race to Victory'' luncheon sponsored by NASCAR at the GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. No other sport enjoyed such a presence at the convention, simply because the others aren't as united or open in their political leanings.
While those in NASCAR endorse Kyl's stand on the issues, most drivers and officials are vague when pressed about specifics. Not so, however, on the perception that Kyl greased the wheels for construction of a five-lane bridge that leads to the Phoenix track. The nearly half-mile Gila River bridge, built by the county and state at a cost of $14.6 million, alleviated some of the race-day congestion at the track, which was bought by the Frances and ISC in 1997, a year before the span was completed. "He was certainly instrumental in helping us in our challenge to improve our roadway to accommodate 110,000 at a sporting event,'' said Robin Braig, executive vice president of the Phoenix track. "And the bridge is the pinnacle of that piece of work, although Jon continues to keep us alerted and informed of issues that could affect our track.'' Driving great Darrell Waltrip, a Kyl contributor: "They did some road work at the track out there, and I don't know that he did it himself or what he had done. But he took some credit for that.'' Kyl, however, downplays his role, emphasizing that no federal money went to the project. He accepts credit only for getting things rolling by arranging a meeting between track officials and then-Gov. Fife Symington. NASCAR has never sought federal monies that might benefit racetracks, he says. Nothing legislatively, either. "They're not the kind of people who ask for favors,'' Kyl said of his racing friends.
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