Motorsports

How E-cigarettes Are Changing The Game In Motorsports

E-cigarettes, once seen as a niche alternative to traditional tobacco, are now taking center stage in motorsports. With rising popularity among consumers and shifting advertising strategies from vaping companies, the intersection of e-cigarettes and racing is becoming a central talking point in the industry. From eye-catching sponsorships to debates about public health and athlete behavior, […]

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

From eye-catching sponsorships to debates about public health and athlete behavior, e-cigarettes are reshaping how motorsports are financed, promoted, and perceived. While some celebrate these partnerships’ financial support, others are voicing concern over the ethics and image associated with these products.

This growing presence is raising essential questions. What is the role of e-cigarettes in a sport rooted in speed, discipline, and danger? Are these partnerships helping or harming the sport’s reputation? And what responsibilities do racing organizations have when it comes to promoting wellness?

Motorsports have a long history of being tied to high-risk industries. In the 1980s and 1990s, tobacco companies dominated racing sponsorships, funding some of history’s most iconic teams and cars. But by the 2000s, tightening global regulations forced tobacco ads out of most major racing circuits.

Enter e-cigarettes. These vapor-based alternatives have slid into a gray area where advertising is not yet as heavily restricted as with traditional cigarettes. Vaping brands have found motorsports to be fertile ground for visibility. Fast-paced visuals, brand-friendly demographics, and international broadcasts make racing events ideal for promoting e-cigarette products.

Companies like Blu, Logic, and Vuse have partnered with high-profile teams in Formula One, MotoGP, and NASCAR. Their logos are on team liveries, driver uniforms, and event signage. The result is a new wave of corporate influence that has brought millions of dollars into motorsports while reigniting debates about sponsorship ethics.

Shaping the Racing Image

E-cigarette marketing in motorsports does more than raise money. It also shapes how fans, especially younger ones, view the sport. With sleek branding, futuristic technology, and flavors that appeal to youth culture, vaping companies align themselves with the thrill and sophistication of racing.

Many critics worry about the subliminal messaging this sends. Although e-cigarettes are promoted as safer than traditional smoking, public health experts remain cautious about their long-term effects. Young fans who see these products associated with winning drivers and elite teams may be more likely to experiment with vaping themselves.

This concern is amplified when considering motorsports’ digital reach. Social media, live streams, and behind-the-scenes content often highlight sponsor involvement. Even when age restrictions are in place, the overlap between entertainment and promotion makes it difficult to shield younger audiences from exposure.

Conflicting Health Messages

The rise of e-cigarette sponsorships comes at a time when motorsports is also embracing wellness and mental health initiatives. Drivers and teams regularly speak out about managing stress, maintaining focus, and recovering from the rigors of competition. Many now follow structured training regimens, adopt plant-based diets, or use natural supplements for recovery.

This creates a complicated picture. On one hand, teams are promoting healthier lifestyles. On the other hand, they are partnering with companies whose products are still under scientific scrutiny. While e-cigarettes may be less harmful than combustible tobacco, they are not risk-free. Health organizations have linked them to respiratory issues, especially among youth and non-smokers.

In some cases, drivers have expressed personal discomfort with vaping partnerships. Others remain neutral, citing the need for financial backing in a sport where budgets often make or break a season.

The conflicting signals raise questions about consistency and credibility. Can a sports champion maintain health while promoting a product that may compromise it?

Regulatory Tensions

The involvement of e-cigarette companies in motorsports is also challenging regulators. Countries have varying rules about how and where these products can be advertised. A legal sponsorship deal in one region may be banned in another, forcing teams to adapt branding on a race-by-race basis.

Formula One, for example, has faced difficulties with Vuse and similar sponsors when racing in countries with strict advertising rules. Sometimes liveries must be redesigned at the last minute, or brands are replaced with alternative messaging that complies with local laws.

This inconsistency creates logistical challenges for teams and dilutes the impact of sponsorships. It also adds legal pressure, as governing bodies must navigate between commercial interests and public policy.

Some race organizers have begun calling for more straightforward guidelines or uniform global standards. Others believe the current model, where sponsorships are evaluated case-by-case, gives racing series the necessary flexibility.

Athletes as Influencers

In today’s media landscape, drivers are more than competitors. They are influencers with millions of followers and significant sway over public opinion. When athletes are associated with e-cigarette brands, that relationship extends far beyond the track.

In some cases, drivers have been featured in ads or social campaigns promoting their sponsors’ products. Even when not directly endorsing them, their presence lends a sense of credibility or coolness to the brand.

This raises ethical questions about athlete responsibility. Should drivers use their platform to promote potentially addictive products, mainly when their fan base includes impressionable audiences? Or is it simply a business decision, no different from promoting energy drinks, fast food, or performance gear?

Some drivers have opted out of these partnerships, stating that their values or personal health choices do not align with the brand. Others see it as a necessary part of the sponsorship ecosystem that supports the sport they love.

The Consumer Shift

Part of what has made e-cigarettes attractive to motorsports is the cultural shift around smoking and vaping. While traditional cigarette use has declined in many regions, vaping has surged, particularly among adults seeking alternatives. For many users, e-cigarettes represent harm reduction, not initiation.

Motorsports fans are typically adults with disposable vapes, a key demographic for vaping brands. As more fans move away from conventional tobacco, they may be more open to brands that align with change and innovation, traits both the racing and vaping industries claim to represent.

Still, the perception problem lingers. While some fans appreciate the technology and design of vaping products, others view them as part of a larger health issue affecting communities around the world. Balancing these perspectives remains a challenge for event organizers and league officials.

Looking to the Future

As the role of e-cigarettes in motorsports evolves, so will the debates around them. Some industry insiders predict stricter regulations are on the horizon, especially as more research on vaping health impacts becomes available. Others believe the industry will self-regulate, limiting youth-targeted marketing and prioritizing responsible messaging.

There is also a growing push for wellness-based sponsorships. Some teams are shifting toward these alternatives as plant-based wellness and recovery products gain popularity. Products like CBD oils, herbal supplements, and recovery tools are starting to appear in the sponsorship mix. However, the inclusion of anything linked to the cannabis plant remains controversial in some regions.

E-cigarettes may remain part of the motorsports ecosystem for the foreseeable future. Still, they must adapt to changing consumer values, evolving science, and the sport’s deepening commitment to health and responsibility.

Conclusion

E-cigarettes have undoubtedly changed the game in motorsports. They have brought new money, new controversy, and a renewed conversation about what it means to balance commercial success with public image. As teams, drivers, and governing bodies navigate this complex terrain, they are not just shaping the future of racing but influencing global conversations about health, youth culture, and ethical sponsorship.

In a sport where every decision counts and every second matters, the debate around e-cigarettes may ultimately serve as a test of values as much as velocity.

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Motorsports

NASCAR teams 23XI and Front Row seek urgent court order to retain charters

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are locked in a lengthy legal battle over the charter system, which is the equivalent of the franchise model in other sports. 23XI, owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Front Row, owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, last September rejected NASCAR’s […]

Published

3 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Motorsports

23XI, Front Row seek urgent court order to retain charters

The two race teams suing NASCAR over antitrust allegations filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction Monday to be recognized as chartered organizations for the remainder of 2025. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are locked in a lengthy legal battle over the charter system, which is the equivalent of the franchise model […]

Published

4 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The case is winding its way through the court system but now with urgency: the teams were set to lose their charters Wednesday and in the latest filing, they allege NASCAR has indicated it will immediately begin the process of selling the six tags that guarantee entry into every race as well as monetary rewards and other benefits.

After the filing NASCAR was ordered to respond by 5 p.m. Wednesday — which means there would be no ruling on if the charters will be revoked likely until Thursday, at the earliest.

“Today we filed a motion in the district court for a renewed preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to protect the teams’ ability to race chartered for the remainder of the 2025 Cup Series season and prevent irreparable business harm to 23XI and Front Row Motorsports until we can present our case at trial in December,” said Jeffery Kessler, attorney for the teams.

“New information surfaced through the discovery process that overwhelmingly supports our position that a preliminary injunction is legally warranted and necessary. The teams’ love of stock car racing and belief in a better future for the sport for all parties – teams, drivers, employees, sponsors, and fans – continues to motivate their efforts to pursue this antitrust case.”

There were large portions of the filing redacted because the arguments are based on information learned through discovery, making it confidential, for now. But, the urgency is likely tied to NASCAR indicating it plans to immediately begin selling the charters if they are revoked.

Should the teams have their six combined charters revoked, the drivers would have to qualify on speed to make each week’s race and would receive a smaller percentage of the purse. They may also have to refund money paid out through the first 20 races of the year.

NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of filing “a third motion for another unnecessary and inappropriate preliminary injunction” and noted it has made multiple requests to the teams “to present a proposal to resolve this litigation.”

“We have yet to receive a proposal from 23XI or Front Row, as they have instead preferred to continue their damaging and distracting lawsuit,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We will defend NASCAR’s integrity from this baseless lawsuit forced upon the sport that threatens to divide the stakeholders committed to serving race fans everywhere.

“We remain focused on collaborating with the 13 race teams that signed the 2025 charter agreements and share our mutual goal of delivering the best racing in the world each week, including this weekend in Dover.”

Also on Monday, Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club had a short virtual hearing in a North Carolina court over their fight for a charter.

Legacy, owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, contends it had an agreement with RWR to lease one of its two charters in 2026. RWR contends the agreement was for 2027 and it already has a contract with RFK Racing to lease that team a charter next season.

Legacy on Monday asked for and was granted the right to depose RWR over the recent revelation that T.J. Puchyr, one of the founders of Spire Motorsports, plans to purchase the race team. Legacy contends if Ware is selling the team, then one of the charters should be transferred to its organization.

Legacy also argued that Ware did not disclose he was entering into a sales agreement with a third party — Puchyr, who is now a consultant and brokered the initial lease deal between RWR and Legacy — in an April hearing. The judge in that case warned that RWR could be in contempt of court if it misrepresented its intentions in the first hearing.

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Motorsports

Santangelo stays hot with Stock victory at South Georgia Motorsports Park

The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at South Georgia Motorsports Park: COMPETITION ELIMINATORGlen Treadwell, Eustis, Fla., ’23 23T, M/AA, 19.869, no speed def. James Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., ’23 T, G/EA, broke. SUPER STOCKKevin Helms, Plant City, Fla., ’95 Achieva, SS/BM, 9.001, 145.16 def. Don Barber, […]

Published

25 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The following are final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at South Georgia Motorsports Park:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
Glen Treadwell, Eustis, Fla., ’23 23T, M/AA, 19.869, no speed def. James Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., ’23 T, G/EA, broke.

SUPER STOCK
Kevin Helms, Plant City, Fla., ’95 Achieva, SS/BM, 9.001, 145.16 def. Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., ’96 Avenger, FGT/E, 9.160, 150.83.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Joe Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.445, 118.26 def. Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’23 Copo, FS/C, 9.522, 136.46.

SUPER COMP
Chris Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’00 Horton, 8.911, 176.77 def. Ashley Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’04 Racetech, foul.

SUPER GAS
Jim Perry, Niota, Tenn., ’00 S-10, 9.934, 167.20 def. Keith Mayers, Ellendale, Del., ’88 Spider, 9.929, 151.29.

SUPER STREET
Keith Mayers, ’92 968, 10.874, 146.54 def. Michael Ruff, Orlando, Fla., ’92 Camaro, 10.862, 134.11.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Thomas Schmidt, Lakeland, Fla., ’10 GXP, 7.018, 198.38 def. Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 7.575, 179.73.

TOP DRAGSTER
Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’14 American, 6.342, 205.47 def. Robert Houston, Newland, N.C., ’23 Race Tech, 7.156, 183.44.

FIRDAY

The following are Friday’s final qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at South Georgia Motorsports Park:

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR
1) Glen Treadwell, Eustis, Fla., ’23 23T, M/AA, 7.832 seconds, -0.548 (under index)
2) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., ’32 Bantam, A/AA, 7.761, 0.611
3) James Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., ’23 T, G/EA, (no time)

SUPER STOCK
1) Mark Alvey, Chesterfield, Va., ’04 Sunfire, GT/GA, 9.423 seconds, -0.977 (under index)
2) John Fogle, Norway, S.C., ’05 Cavalier, GT/HA, 9.562, -0.938
3) Don Barber, Hohenwald, Tenn., ’96 Avenger, FGT/E, 9.091, -0.909
4) Russell Ghent, Mooresville, N.C., ’94 Camaro, SS/JA, 10.095, -0.905
5) Dan Starko, Nashville, Tenn., ’16 Copo, FSS/C, 8.766, -0.884
6) Marion Stephenson, Williamsport, Ind., ’06 Cobalt, GT/FA, 9.382, -0.868
7) Frank Beasley, Taylorsville, N.C., ’08 Cobalt, GT/JA, 9.935, -0.865
8) James Schaechter, Cumming, Ga., ’03 Cavalier, GT/H, 9.493, -0.857
9) Jarrod Granier, Labadieville, La., ’66 Nova, SS/F, 9.524, -0.826
10) Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., ’08 G5, SS/DM, 8.956, -0.794

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) James Marshall, Indian Land, S.C., ’79 Malibu Wagon, G/SA, 10.955 seconds, -1.045 (under index)
2) Thomas Mace, Jacksonville, Fla., ’90 Corvette, G/SA, 10.981, -1.019
3) Anthony Hughes, Mcdonough, Ga., ’66 Nova, K/SA, 11.747, -0.903
4) Mike Trumble, Pasadena, Texas, ’71 Chevelle, D/SA, 10.671, -0.879
5) Joel Warren, Clinton, N.C., ’94 Formula, H/SA, 11.294, -0.856
6) Orion Riley, Longwood, Fla., ’74 Nova, I/SA, 11.454, -0.846
7) Blake Hickman, Laurinburg, N.C., ’83 Camaro, J/SA, 11.633, -0.817
8) Joseph Santangelo, Marlborough, Conn., ’69 Camaro, B/SA, 10.439, -0.811
9) Timothy Fletcher, Selma, N.C., ’69 Camaro, F/SA, 11.065, -0.785
10) Darrell Bargeron, Jesup, Ga., ’72 Duster, E/SA, 10.922, -0.778

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Douglas Crumlich, Douglasville, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 6.610 seconds, 211.00 mph
2) Paul (jackie) Robison, Greer, S.C., ’66 Nova, 6.714, 208.84
3) Thomas Schmidt, Lakeland, Fla., ’10 GXP, 6.964, 199.46
4) Jeff Windholz, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., ’63 Corvette, 7.208, 197.91
5) James Hinkle, Danville, Ky., ’05 Grand Am, 7.273, 189.90
6) John Gifford, Naples, Fla., ’10 Cobalt, 7.395, 185.82
7) Frank Altilio, Longwood, Fla., ’02 S 10, 7.404, 184.02
8) Bruce Thaxton, Butler, Ga., ’03 Mustang, 7.457, 185.56
9) Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’63 Corvette, 8.012, 180.31
10) Daniel (danny) Leibham, Tomball, Texas, ’01 Camaro, 12.400, 69.51

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Robert May, Kinsey, Ala., ’24 Nelson Racecra, 6.128 seconds, 225.97 mph
2) Wayne Brooks, Monroe, Ga., ’19 Worthy, 6.168, 226.77
3) Casey Spradlin, Ranburne, Ala., ’14 Miller, 6.214, 228.15
4) Jeff Strickland, Red Bay, Ala., ’14 American, 6.253, 223.69
5) Darryl Childress, Spartanburg, S.C., ’25 Maddox, 6.615, 200.47
6) Tisha Wilson, Salisbury, N.C., ’25 Racetech, 6.704, 200.74
7) Alexis Whitaker, Telford, Tenn., ’21 Mike BOS, 6.808, 196.02
8) Chad Taylor, Laurens, S.C., ’19 Maddox, 6.846, 195.76
9) Jeremy Hancock, Commerce, Ga., ’19 M&M, 6.948, 196.02
10) Kelsea Hinkle, Danville, Ky., ’11 Miller, 6.983, 191.81

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Motorsports

From Denny Hamlin to Ryan Blaney, and where’s SVG?

Might as well lead off with who’s not here in our humble Top 10. It’s tough to win two straight races, and three of the past five, and stay on the outside looking in. But such is the disparity between Shane van Gisbergen on road courses and Shane van Gisbergen everywhere else. Given that one-sixth […]

Published

27 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Might as well lead off with who’s not here in our humble Top 10.

It’s tough to win two straight races, and three of the past five, and stay on the outside looking in. But such is the disparity between Shane van Gisbergen on road courses and Shane van Gisbergen everywhere else.

Given that one-sixth of the Cup schedule is on road courses, should SVG get at least a cursory visit to that 10th slot on our board this week? If not now, for Pete’s sake, when? Fair question.

Here’s another fair question: Should Denny Hamlin still be on the far-north end of our top 10? He’s had two clunkers in the past three weeks, sandwiched around a rare quality finish on a road course, maybe because that road course was actually a street course.

But with the other three-time winners (Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell) bogged down a bit, who else would you put there? So it remains Denny, for now.

1. Denny Hamlin

Grip on our top spot is weakening, as is his grip on the 23XI charter, if NASCAR decides to play hardball.

2. Chase Elliott

Keeps piling up points and conserving room in the trophy case.

3. Kyle Larson

Played some pinball at Sonoma as his Summer of Shove continues.

4. Christopher Bell

A fifth at Sonoma slowed his recent mini-slump.

5. Chase Briscoe

Made SVG work on the late restarts at Sonoma and got a rare good road-course finish.

6. Chris Buescher

Wonders why he’s never found the White Cliffs of Dover.

7. William Byron

Not back on eight cylinders yet, but probably back to 7½.

8. Alex Bowman

A win and five top-5s in his last seven Dover starts.

9. Tyler Reddick

Made some hay at road courses the past two weeks, but right-hand turns at Dover aren’t recommended.

10. Ryan Blaney

Wine country delivered sour grapes. Raise your hand if you didn’t irritate Blaney at Sonoma.

— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

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Motorsports

Watch: Unexpected Pit Crew Fight Breaks Out During NASCAR Cup Race at Sonoma

An unexpected fight broke out between the pit crews of RFK Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of Stage 2 of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma after Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski pitted. The unexpected clash was caught on camera, which helped NASCAR look into the incident. The pit stalls of […]

Published

44 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

An unexpected fight broke out between the pit crews of RFK Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of Stage 2 of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma after Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski pitted.

The unexpected clash was caught on camera, which helped NASCAR look into the incident. The pit stalls of both drivers in question were next to each other. Just as Keselowski’s crew was waiting for his arrival, Gibbs arrived before him and drove through the RFK Racing stall, grazing tire changer Telvin McClurkin.

McClurkin quickly approached crew members from JGR before things escalated to a fight. The video shows other JGR members eventually joining. McClurkin confirmed later that Gibbs made contact with the tire in his hand as he passed by.

NASCAR officials reportedly intervened but decided to clear Gibbs of any penalties, despite Keselowski’s team putting forward their case with the footage offering an overhead view of the incident. However, NASCAR did not accept RFK’s argument. Reports suggest the sport may levy a penalty after revisiting the clips of the incident by Tuesday.

Sonoma, California — Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Delta Ford, Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 SAIA LTL Freight Toyota, race during the NASCAR Cup Series…

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NASCAR’s Todd Gordon and Kyle Petty sided with the sport’s decision not to levy a penalty on Gibbs, hinting that the tire changer should have left some space in front of him. Gordon said:

“I see two cars coming to green flag pit in some of the shortest boxes we’ve got on pit road. I always talk about pit crew guys: you’re playing in traffic and that’s where you’re at here.

“One tire carrier has to carry two tires and he’s standing kind of sideways and that leaves his tires out, exposed… Ty comes through, makes a little contact with the outboard tire. It kind of spins the tire carrier’s wrist around and puts him a little behind.

“I think the tire carrier actually could stand to not be so wide, understanding that he’s got the car that’s in the box in front of him coming in right in front of his car. He’s got to make himself a little skinnier so that he isn’t put behind in that situation.

“As most everybody does, the carrier that carries two tires, you’re allowed to have two feet in the box, but you’ve got to be close to the wall. You’ve got to be in a position that’s as close to the wall as you can be but be down in the box. That’s where he was.

“But he was standing looking down pit road and he’s two tires wide, which is half a pit box. And Ty Gibbs is trying to get in and get close to his fueler. The boxes are short, so you’ve got to kind of use up the box behind you to get yourself pointed in the right direction.”

Petty said that the crew members have to adjust to a small pit box. He added:

“People get bumped, people get moved, people have to adjust. And I think it’s just the timing. It’s the perfect storm here. Ty had to be in his pit box, had to get in straight. When you’ve got a short pit box, the only way to get in your pit box straight and close for fueling and give the tire guys room is to come in the back door, to come in that back line completely straight. And when you see Ty come in, he comes through the 6’s box and into his box straight.

“No, I don’t have an issue with what Ty did. Now, I don’t really have an issue with what the tire carrier did either because he’s a little upset. He should have maybe kept his tire out of the way.”

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Motorsports

23XI, Front Row seek urgent court order to retain charters

Published

1 hour ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The case is winding its way through the court system but now with urgency: the teams are set to lose their charters Wednesday and in the latest filing, they allege NASCAR has indicated it will immediately begin the process of selling the six tags that guarantee entry into every race as well as monetary rewards and other benefits.

Later Monday, Rick Ware Racing and Legacy Motor Club had a scheduled court date in North Carolina over their fight for a charter. Legacy, owned by seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, contends it had an agreement with RWR to lease one of its two charters in 2026.

RWR contends the agreement was for 2027 and it already has a contract with RFK Racing to lease that team a charter next season.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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