NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France seems surprised by reaction to his endorsement of president candidate Donald Trump.
According to the Associated Press, France has been dealing with the "fallout" ever since making what he saw as a "routine endorsement" of a candidate.
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With France making the personal endorsement, and Trump subsequently touting his NASCAR endorsement, France told the AP that he did not expect the move to call into question strides in diversity made in the sport over the years.
"I was, frankly, very surprised that my diversity efforts for my whole career would have been called into question, over this, in my view, a routine endorsement," France said Wednesday in an interview with the AP.
He told the news organization that he's had conversations with sponsors since making the endorsement when appearing at a Trump rally.
Trump is arguably one of the more controversial candidates in recent years, saying he would temporarily ban Muslims from the U.S. In a June speech concerning his policy stating, Trump said of Mexicans: "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
Since his endorsement, France told the AP that he's "made a few calls and clarified some things."
He's also worked hard to make it clear that he is the one who made the endorsement, not NASCAR. In the news release announcing France's endorsement, Trump is quoted as saying he is proud "to receive the endorsement of such an iconic brand and a quality person such as Brian." He has been widely reported as continuing to state that he is endorsed by NASCAR at campaign rallies.
As to France, he said that it's not his first foray into endorsing a candidate, pointing out past associations and support of President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
"In both of those cases, I have never agreed with all of their policies," France said.
Still, he admits that he is "enamored" by Trump and the "excitement he's brought."
Citing sources, the story further states that NASCAR rookie Chase Elliott also endorsed Trump at the rally without letting his team or sponsors know, causing issues for him as well.