Source: www.docstoc.com Author: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids staff Auto racing is the number one live spectator sport in the United States, the second most watched sport on TV, and "the hottest, fastest-growing spectator sport in American."1 With disproportionate numbers of youth viewers, auto racing offers prime marketing opportunities to promote products to kids -- and the cigarette and spit tobacco companies have been taking full advantage. Winston, Marlboro, Kool, and Skoal are all prominent brand-name sponsors of racing events and teams. But auto racing could easily thrive without tobacco dollars, and switching to other sponsors would significantly reduce the amount of tobacco marketing that directly reaches and attracts kids. Auto Races are Popular Family Events With Large Youth Audiences Contrary to tobacco industry claims, kids are a big part of both the crowds at auto races and their television viewers. While 12-17 year olds make up less than 11 percent of the total 12+ population, they are almost 14 percent of those who attended NASCAR auto races in 1996 and over 18 percent of those who attended sports car racing. In 1996, more than 25 percent of 1217 years olds, or over 100 million kids, watched auto racing on television.2 The racing industry also aggressively reaches out to kids. Race weekends often include live music, rides, contests, racing-related merchandise sales, and hospitality areas. Beyond the races are NASCAR Thunder stores, featuring a children’s area called NASKids with toddler and youth apparel, the new NASCAR Café family restaurants with racing [...]