My Rant Regarding NASCAR Sponsorship

I become a NASCAR fan about two years ago. I actually fell in love with the sport, yes sport, because of a fantasy game on the Sporting News website. Shortly after I began to follow NASCAR, I noticed a lot of people were very upset regarding the commercialization of the sport. Iowa Heel recently did a blog regarding this issue where he talks about how upset he is that "Cup Drivers (have) to even resort to sponsors." Let me begin by saying that Iowa Heel knows more about this issue and NASCAR in general that I do. I do not doubt that. Without sponsorship, though, how in the heck does anybody make any money? Without sponsorship how could the owners employ the drivers and haul the staff/vehicles/equipment all over the United States? Without sponsorship how could teams pay for the testing equipment needed to improve their teams? Without sponsorship how could race tracks make the money they need to keep their facilities up? Maybe I do not understand the issue, but sponsorship is a must.

I actually enjoy seeing the different sponsors. I think it is cool that companies want to invest millions of dollars into NASCAR. Sure, they do it for marketing purposes but the money they provide the sport with allows us, the fans, to see a good product on the track. As I analyze this issue more I keep thinking that I am missing something. To me it is so obvious that without sponsors NASCAR could not even exist. I understand that the sport may not be as pure as it once was, but guess what, neither is basketball, baseball, or football. Those superstars we watch year round do not compete just for the love the game. They have families to feed, bills to pay, and toys to buy. NASCAR is no different. I really cannot even understand the frustration regarding the sponsorship issue, maybe because I am a new fan, but can somebody please explain to me how in the world NASCAR would even make it without sponsors because I am freaken lost.