Posted on 06/02/2002 10:14:04 AM PDT by Gabz
Cigarette maker sponsors races in Delaware, where soon indoor smoking will be illegal
Staff photo/John King John Wunder Jr., left, and his father, John, were visiting Dover International Speedway Saturday from Philadelphia. The smokers said Delaware's recently passed antismoking law will not deter them from at-tending races in Dover.
By Joe Rogalsky, Staff writer
DOVER - During the NASCAR events this weekend at Dover International Speedway, the presence of Winston brand cigarettes cannot be missed.
Winston, owned by R.J. Reynolds, sponsors NASCAR's top series - the Winston Cup. Around the outside of the facility, workers invite smokers to take a survey and receive free cigarettes. Smokers wishing to avail themselves of the offer enter bright red Winston booths.
On a table in the infield media center, free packs are available to reporters.
However, in less than six months, on Nov. 27, a state law prohibiting smokers from lighting up in indoor public places will take effect. Fraternal organizations and fire halls will be exempt.
Some have wondered how NASCAR and Winston will react to the ban. NASCAR has two Winston Cup events in California, where there are smoking restrictions similar to Delaware's.
Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Downs' gaming and motorsports operations, said he will meet with NASCAR officials this morning to discuss the ban.
"They are not happy about it," Mr. McGlynn said. "But we are not in danger of losing a race."
Mr. McGlynn said parts of the law need to be revised, such as the section that allows smoking in skyboxes leased by private companies or individuals, but not in skyboxes used by the speedway.
Depending on the way government officials interpret the law, smoking could be banned in trailers and mobile homes parked on the speedway's property. If the officials determine the trailers and mobile homes to be vehicles and not residences, smoking would likely be permitted, Mr. McGlynn said.
"I don't know how they are going to do that," Mr. McGlynn said. "The bill has holes."
Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, a staunch supporter of the smoking ban, will attend today's MBNA Platinum 400. She said she does not anticipate a negative response from Winston.
"I do not think Winston is going to have a problem," Gov. Minner said. "NASCAR is coming twice this year, and we look forward to having them back next year."
David Howard, a Winston spokesman, said Delaware's new smoking restrictions will not hinder his company's ability to sponsor NASCAR events at Dover International Speedway. Whether future races will be held at Dover is up to NASCAR, he said.
"That kind of decision is made by NASCAR," Mr. Howard said. "It is based on them."
Reaction among smoking fans at Dover International Speedway was mixed, but they said the ban will not keep them from attending races.
Sandra Abeel comes to Dover's NASCAR weekends from New York. The new smoking prohibition will not keep her from the track, she said, because many restaurants in New York are already smoke free.
"I am used to that," Ms. Abeel said. "It is already like that in a lot of places. If you want to smoke, you just go outside or don't go to those places."
John Wunder of Philadelphia describes himself as an "occasional smoker" and said the smoking ban is a good thing, even for bars.
His son, John Jr., said he likes a cigarette when he goes out for a drink. Both said the ban will not keep them from Dover International Speedway events.
Jennifer Mayer, a Smyrna native now living in New Jersey, criticized the ban, but said she would put up with the smoking restrictions to attend NASCAR races.
"Drinking and smoking go together," she said. "It is ridiculous."
Joe Rogalsky can be reached at 741-8226 or jrogalsky@newszap.com.
Hypocrite.
If you insist on tacking another 35cents to a pack of Winston's - a lot more people than just Winston are going to be having even bigger problems with than they are now.
This is one of the most ridiculous concepts of this totally ill conceived piece of legislation. Did someone forget that the Speedway is a private company????? And they own the property.
What this means is that - if I am invited to view the race from the skybox of MBNA, the sponsor of today's race - I can smoke in there. But if Mr. McGlynn invites me into his skybox next to MBNA's I can't smoke there because it is owned by the track and therefore "public property" - even though it is by invitation only.
The more folks look into this law - the more problems they are discovering with it.
This one will be interesting to watch.
The final budget estimates will be coming out on June 17 - They are going to include the projected revenue losses from the smoking ban.
There is going to be a lot of scrambling in Dover during the last 2 weeks of June - and it won't be occurring on a race track!!!
There's a saying about one persons rights ends where the next persons nose begins, or in this case lungs.
It was known in Columbus's time that tobacco was addictive. So addictive in fact that England started the tobacco trade in America to compete with the Spanish traders, because of all the money that was taken out of England due to tobacco.
It's sad what people will do to hold on to an addiction that they insist is a Right. While the elites profit and the government profits from the taxes.
Just like the opium that the East Indian Tea Company was selling to the Chinese. The people became addicted and the Chinese government warned the drug traders to quit. When they didn't, the Chinese government captured a drug ship and dumped the contents in the river as an example.
The drug traders from both America and England went back to their governments demanding to be paid back for their lost drugs.
America and England easily defeated China with steam powered ships. The Chinese government was then forced to pay back the drug dealers and America and England for the cost of the war.
It doesn't take much imagination to see why the drug trade is never stopped. And that all that happens is citizens lose their Rights, in the name of a phony "Drug War".
Keep on puffing our government needs the money and the doctors are waiting...
But what about the right of the property owner, who also happens to be a smoker???? You think your right as a non-smoker supersedes the right of the owner of the building to choose to permit or prohibit smoking in his/her establishment??? You believe the government should be taking away that right.
If you support such a ban, that was just passed in Delaware that's exactly what you are saying.
Depending upon the interpretations, this is so emcompassing that I will be forbidden from smoking in my own home if I decide to renew my business license - even though my clients don't come to my home - I go to them. Tell me this is not a private property rights issue.
As to the other War on Drugs - I don't disagree - I think it's stupid, a waste of money and has created a greater black market and crime syndicate than prohibition ever did about alcohol.
That's the problem: most smokers won't complain. Just take it.
But not ME or MY friends or family. Go figure: NASCAR sponsored by RJR and they probably won't pull out of Delaware. It's like RJR is saying "Who cares! Who needs you."
Well..........I smoke......and they don't want me. Fine! I will save money. Fork em!
SURE, JENNIFER.........THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO!
Only if they tried to enforce it. ;-)
A lot of it is going to depend on just how the interpretation comes out about whether all venues on the property must be non-smoking or just the indoor one of the building proper.
It is going to be a very interesting 6 months before this goes into effect.
I'm sitting in the comfort of my home - with the race on the TV - a fridge full of beer and my puter and my cigarettes. Life couldn't get any better - as long as I don't try to go anywhere for the next few hours!!!!
Traffic is absolutely horrendous.
Hey Eustace, how about reading THIS:
Federal Court Rules Against EPA on Secondhand Smoke
And RINO Eustace?
Goodness, dummy me.
Well, it's called the Winston Cup and they soak a lot of money into NASCAR , that's why I can't understand them running at Dover when they are banning their smoker fan base.
it will effect any fans who want to go into the casino or other restaurants there - but we still don't know if it will have any implication out doors.
That is is the problem here.
Most people dont realize - this is NOT ABOUT SMOKING - and what really bugs me is the people here on FR that just won't look beyond their perceptions of smokers and the imaginary clouds of smoke they are forced to encounter.
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