Uncle Sam pairs up with NASCAR’s David Gilliland

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We’ll try hard to avoid saying that this is yet another government bailout, but here’s the latest example of your tax dollars at work: Uncle Sam is helping a financially struggling NASCAR team.

The Federal Communications Commission signed up to be the primary sponsor of the No. 38 Ford of David Gilliland in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, starting with Sunday’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Why? As you might know, most U.S. TV stations will switch to digital-only broadcasting next Feb. 17. The FCC wants to make sure the 17 million or so households that rely on antennas are prepared for the switch.

And the latest step in the FCC’s get-out-the-word campaign is to sponsor Gilliland’s car, which will carry the ‘Digital TV Transition Ford’ paint scheme at Martinsville, along with the upcoming Cup races at Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin called the move ‘an extremely effective way’ for the FCC to spread the word ‘among people of all ages and income levels across the United States who loyally follow one of the most popular sports in America.’

And a much welcome way, financially, for Riverside native Gilliland and his Yates Racing team, which has struggled to find sponsors this year in the face of the weakening U.S. economy.

-- Jim Peltz