By Danny Yadron

Rep. Betty McCollum wants to put the brakes on the Defense Department’s 10-year sponsorship deal with NASCAR racing teams, saying the multimillion-dollar recruiting effort is a waste of money.

The Minnesota Democrat is also dubious that stock car sponsorship has much to do with enlistment numbers or troop readiness.

“This is not only putting a sticker on the car. This is paying for a racing team,” Ms. McCollum’s chief of staff, Bill Harper, told Washington Wire. “That doesn’t contribute to military readiness.”

The amendment is one of more than 400 that lawmakers want attached to Rep. Paul Ryan’s spending bill to fund the government through Sept. 30.

In an effort to let the “House work its will,” Speaker John Boehner is letting lawmakers in both parties offer amendments. The proposals have ranged from offbeat to uncompromising. One would ban using federal funds to round-up wild horses, unless for breeding purposes. Another would defund the Environmental Protection Agency.

It’s unclear which proposals will end up in the final bill, scheduled for a vote later this week.

Congress directed the Army in 2000 to explore motor sports sponsorships as a recruiting tool. At some point last decade, each branch of the military had a partnership with NASCAR racing. The Marines axed their racing team in 2006 because of a smaller ad budget and because there was no way to know if it actually boosted recruiting. Today, only the Army, the National Guard and the Air Force still sponsor race cars.

Ms. McCollum’s office estimates the Pentagon has spent more than $100 million on its own NASCAR teams.

Col. Derik Crotts, director of the army’s sponsorship, told Washington Wire in an email that the Army spends $7 million a year on its racing team, and finds it valuable.

“Youth surveys show that motorsports is a passion point for young Americans,” wrote Col. Crotts. “It is critical that the Army use these passion points to communicate with prospects and their influencers.”

He continued, “In a 2009 among nationwide fans, 37% feel more positive about the Army due to its involvement in motorsports.”

Ms. McCollum introduced another amendment Tuesday: No more than $200 million of the spending package can be used to fund military bands. - WALL ST JOURNAL

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- As the 2011 season launches with a new, greener fuel, the nation's corn growers are joining forces with NASCAR to promote the use of corn-based American Ethanol. As an official partner of NASCAR, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will leverage their relationship to spread the message to fans around the role American farmers play in the development of American Ethanol.

In December 2010, NASCAR unveiled its landmark partnership with American Ethanol just weeks after announcing a 2011 switch in its three major national series to Sunoco Green E15, a new 15-percent ethanol blend fuel made with corn grown in the United States. Growth Energy, a leading ethanol advocacy organization, created the American Ethanol partnership to push for broad acceptance of a renewable domestic fuel for all American motorists.

"NASCAR is very proud to welcome as partners the hard-working family farmers all over the United States who grow the corn that will be used in our new Sunoco Green E15 fuel," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. "We are happy our sport can play a part in creating jobs and fostering energy independence by using a renewable fuel grown and produced in America."

NCGA will work closely with Growth Energy throughout the 2011 season to create educational and promotional activities in support of the corn growers who play a vital role in the American Ethanol industry.

"The goal is to bring ethanol's positive messages from job creation to cleaner air to consumers. When people hear a message like 'American Ethanol: Trusted By NASCAR' that carries a lot of weight and adds to ethanol's credibility and reputation," Ihnen said. - official release

PHOTO CREDIT: MISS SPRINT CUP TWITTER PAGE

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Jan. 26, 2011 – With just a few weeks remaining until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season gets under way, Sprint unveiled its 2011 Miss Sprint Cup lineup Wednesday night in Charlotte, N.C.