Nick Offerman Made The Best NASCAR Commercial Of All Time

NASCAR has been around for decades, and today stands as America’s favorite motorsport. Much of that is down to the astute minds at the helm, the fallout of the CART/INDYCAR split in the 1990s, and Jeff Gordon’s mullet/mustache combo. However, a little promotion never hurt anyone, and NASCAR has done an able job at marketing itself over the years. But it’s hard to say anything could top Nick Offerman’s banger of a commercial from 2015, celebrating the return of NASCAR on NBC.

If you know Offerman, it’s probably from his role as the city administrator Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. In the popular sitcom, he cultivated an authoritative personality with a powerful intensity in his deadpan delivery. Parallels between Offerman and the character abounded, from his predilection for woodworking and his abilities on the saxophone. Now, thanks to a post from Chris Overland on Twitter, we’ve seen how his role on the NBC sitcom turned into a piece of NASCAR-related brilliance.

It’s easy to see why Offerman took the gig. He brought all of his gravitas and his beloved no-nonsense persona to the table. The result? A two-minute love letter to NASCAR and America that highlights everything that’s so magical about the sport of turning left at speed.

“America, it’s time for a gut check,” says Offerman, addressing the audience in front of the Stars and Stripes and, actually, inside of the stars and stripes. Already, you’re paying attention. A marching bass line starts, backup singers at the ready. He chastises emoji use and those that avoid gluten, which is perhaps unfair to those that can’t stomach the occasionally-frustrating wheat product. But fear not, for he promises salvation—at the altar of NASCAR.

Here’s the thing. Making a good NASCAR commercial doesn’t have to be hard. The sport offers everything—tire smoke, battles on track, rivalries, crashes… you just have to showcase it. Tie it up with a top-tier personality, a humming tune, and a touch of bad language, and you’ve got yourself a humdinger. That’s exactly what this is.

We’re treated to Offerman taking part in all the best bits of NASCAR, from pitstops to pit lane fights, and wheel-to-wheel combat. He celebrates the sport for letting you grill your own meat and drink your own beer—something you can’t exactly do in the stands at a Dodgers game. In a pleasing move, he also promotes the sport as a place where everyone is welcome—”Even my friend in his American flag thong!” Don’t get too excited, though. Later in the video, it’s revealed the guy is wearing a Speedo with more of a brief cut.

“200 miles per freaking hour, 700 freaking horse freaking power,” is a line that’s music to our ears. We’re also treated to a sweet guitar solo—on a double guitar, no less!—and a reminder that NASCAR lets men and women compete on a level playing field. Something other motorsports could learn from, right? All the while, Offerman’s playing every role from pit crew to driver to trackside merch salesman. Oh, and apparently a team owner who keeps squeezing water bottles to death. Go easy, Nick!

Also, while some of the drivers mentioned are retired, the commercial was eventually right because Jimmie Johnson is going to do nine races this year.

It’s a quality piece of advertising; one that seems to draw from the same wellspring as the ad for the Canyonero in The Simpsons. There’s a country-fried soundtrack, plenty of horsepower, and a hard-boiled American telling us what’s what. A tip of the 10-gallon hat to Offerman, NASCAR, and the creatives that put it together. A job well done.

[Ed note: This is a good coincidence because one of the initiatives I was going to encourage this year was that we all watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series and keep up with it for fun. Maybe even do a meetup at a race at some point? Our pal Parker Kligerman is going to be doing more stuff around here and he’s racing a full season. 

Also, this is the best NASCAR commercial of all time:

  – MH]

Image credits: NASCAR on NBC via Facebook video screenshot