Advertising break: NASCAR commercial time

Each year Super Bowl advertisements are scrutinized more than any other form of television. Or so it seems. Companies and corporations spend millions upon millions for 30-second commercial slots during the big game. (I think this year it's around $3 million for a 30-second slot)

Although most are ingenious and pretty funny (that E-Trade baby is one of my favorites) I still contend that NASCAR commercials are just as good as Super Bowl commercials, if not better.

Here’s a look at a few good NASCAR ads from the past few years.

“Her name is Amanda Brookman, and she is my destiny…”

One day I tweeted this (by the way, if you’re not following me, shame on you, and click that little button on the right side of the screen that lets you do so!) and a few of my friends actually thought it was real. Had to link the video to make sure they knew Amanda Brookman wasn’t my destiny, but that of the young man making his car.

If you don’t get a kick out of Denny Hamlin and David Reutimann’s exchange at the end of this commercial, you need to check your funny bone. It might be missing.

Hamlin: “Who doesn’t love love?”
Reutimann: “I love love.”

Classic, and good stuff from Toyota.

“Crazy old man”

I think Mark Martin fans informally voted this as their favorite commercial of all time when it came out. With some help from “Fernando,” Mark Martin pulls off one of the best stunts of all time.

Carl Edwards’s response: “Crazy old man,” is just fitting.

“Who doesn’t love kittens, bunnies and little baby seals?” along with “I choose Joey Logano as my avatar”

Please tell me you fall off your chair laughing at these commercials too? Seriously, that scene where the young Logano stands there in front of Michael Waltrip and Martin Truex Jr., is absolutely priceless…especially whatever that is that Mikey is wearing.

Hilarious. More props to Toyota for another good one.

“I’m gonna need it!”

Elliott Sadler and Jimmie Johnson in another old-time Nextel commercial here, and it’s a good one. As much as NASCAR fans hate on Jimmie Johnson, I’d be hard pressed to find one that doesn’t at least find that exchange between the now five-time champ and Sadler at least a little funny.

It’s especially good at the end when Sadler, defeated, just walks away, “Good talk Jimmie.”

“That was slight of hand”

That was magic.

Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne combine for yet another great Nextel commercial from way back when.

“Who’d you expect?”

Bob Dole? Anyone else want to go back to the days of Mark Martin Viagra jokes? Good, I don’t either. But this one was hilarious.

“When are you gonna stop wearing diapers?”

Pretty bad memory here for Mark Martin fans (the ’07 Daytona 500) but the “Chad on the Couch” segment here from FOX was pretty funny at least. “Mark, when are you going to stay retired?” he asks. Then Mr. Martin drops some knowledge on the youngster.

I hope everyone enjoyed the diversion day today and I hope next year I can find some more good commercials to run here. Two weeks and the wait will be over. Enjoy the Super Bowl this evening and we’ll be back tomorrow with a look at Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing.