Major sponsor calls on NASCAR to boycott Donald Trump

A major title sponsor has told NASCAR that they will no longer support the sport if the sanctioning body does not cut ties with billionaire and presidential hopeful Donald Trump; that according to a report Friday. NASCAR later said they will indeed cut all ties with Trump.

Trump has stirred up controversy in recent weeks for stating that "rapists" and "killers" are migrating over the United States' southern border. Univision and NBC Universal have cut ties with the businessman, refusing to air the "Miss Universe" pageant he partially owns as a result, and Macy's department store announced Wednesday it is discontinuing a clothing line with his name on it.

Friday TMZ reported that Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis has sent a letter to NASCAR CEO Brian France to express his anger over Trump's comments. Lemonis’ company sponsors the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and last year extended the relationship until 2022.

In his letter to France, Lemonis writes … "Last year, our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards Ceremony was held at the Trump National Doral in Miami, and due to recent and ongoing blatantly bigoted and racist comments from Donald Trump in regards to immigrants of the United States, I would like to inform you that I will not, nor will any representative of Camping World, participate or attend in the ceremonial event if it is held at any Trump property."

"I would hope that the entire NASCAR organization would agree with my sentiments," he added.

On Thursday, the Reelz network announced it would be picking up the pageant and the reigning Miss Universe joined a chorus of voices denouncing controversial remarks by the pageant’s owner.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck series celebrated its season and its champion last November at Trump’s National Doral in Miami. The ceremony came a day after the season ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards held a joint celebration on Monday, November 17, at the Trump National Doral Miami. The event honored the series driver and owner champions, as well as the top five drivers in each series.

This was the first year the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Awards were held at Trump National Doral Miami.

The property had been recently purchased by the Trump Organization with plans for a $250 million resort-wide restoration. Late Friday a NASCAR spokesperson at Daytona International Speedway announced that NASCAR will not hold the awards at the Trump owned property. Examiner.com