NASCAR is going after some ‘Let’s go Brandon’ users

NASCAR plans to come after those who are illegally using their trademarks to promote the viral “Let’s go Brandon!” movement.

It took over a month, but NASCAR finally addressed the viral “Let’s go Brandon!” movement that began on Saturday, October 2 at Talladega Superspeedway after Brandon Brown secured his first career Xfinity Series victory when the race was called early due to darkness.

When Brown was being interviewed by NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast on the frontstretch of the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) high-banked oval in Lincoln, Alabama following his victory, a chant broke out from the grandstands.

This three-word, NSFW chant about a certain former vice president was one that had been chanted quite often in the months leading up to this race, specifically during college football games at packed stadiums across the United States.

But Stavast indicated to viewers that it was “Let’s go Brandon!” that was being chanted, even though the microphones picked up quite clearly what was actually being said.

“As you can hear the chants from the crowd, ‘Let’s go Brandon,’” Stavast said.

And with that, “Let’s go Brandon!” became a viral meme — and it has shown no signs of slowing down.

Apparel with the phrase has been produced and sold, “Let’s go Brandon!” has become synonymous with the actual phrase that was being chanted, and “Brandon” has become a nickname for the aforementioned former VP. Somebody even put a “Let’s go” sign on top of a road sign for Brandon, Minnesota. You get the idea.

At no point in the month-plus since the race has there been any indication that the trend is slowing down, and NASCAR president Steve Phelps addressed it ahead of championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway last weekend.

"“It’s an unfortunate situation and I feel for Brandon, I feel for Kelli. I think unfortunately it speaks to the state of where we are as a country. We do not want to associate ourselves with politics, the left or the right. We obviously have and we’ve always had, as a sport, tremendous respect for the office of the president — no matter who is sitting."

As for Phelps feeing for those two individuals, Brandon himself has commented “Let’s go Brandon!” on social media (multiple times and on multiple different outlets).

Kelli, however, has not addressed the situation, specifically regarding whether the phrase originated as a way to turn the attention away from what was actually being said — or if it was really just a misunderstanding.

Phelps isn’t happy about the fact that it is NASCAR, of all sports, which started the viral movement.

"“Do we like the fact that it kind of started with NASCAR and then is gaining ground elsewhere? No, we’re not happy about that. But we will continue to make sure that we have respect for the office of the president.”"

It’s somewhat — really more than somewhat — of a bold statement from Phelps regarding NASCAR not associating themselves with politics, considering we have seen individuals use the sport to garner attention for causes championed by both sides of the aisle, ranging from “Trump 2020” to “Black Lives Matter”.

NASCAR has, however, been consistent about showing respect to the office of the president of the United States. Most recently, Donald Trump gave the command to start engines for the 2020 Daytona 500, and he got to take “The Beast” around Daytona International Speedway before the green flag.

But some of the apparel that has been made amid the “Let’s go Brandon!” movement has featured NASCAR’s trademarked color bars, and Phelps added that NASCAR will be coming after those who are profiting off of the phrase by using said bars.

"“We will pursue whoever (is using logos) and get that stuff. That’s not OK. It’s not OK that you’re using our trademarks illegally.”"

Of course, this could very well prove counterproductive and instead lead to increased sales of such products in the meantime, as those in support of the movement basically laughed off Phelps’s remarks and found it quite funny that he even bothered to address the scenario at all. What ultimately happens on the trademark front remains to be seen.