The Real Brandon Isn’t Happy About How His Name Is Being Exploited

NASCAR driver Brandon Brown spoke out about being unwittingly being thrust into the political spotlight as the namesake of the phrase “Let’s go Brandon.”

“I accidentally became one of the most famous drivers in NASCAR,” he wrote in an opinion piece for Newsweek which was published Monday. “Thousands of fans could be heard chanting what the reporter (incorrectly) said was ‘Let’s Go Brandon!,’ and a meme was born.”

The chant took off at Talladega Superspeedway in October after Brown had just won the race. A section of the crowd was filmed as they were chanting “F*ck Joe Biden.” Sportscaster Kelli Stavast said that the crowd was instead chanting “Let’s go Brandon.” The phrase quickly grew into a popular substitute for the original expression.

“This whole Talladega race win was supposed to be a celebration, and then it was supposed to be something that I was able to use to move up, and I really wanted to capitalize on that,” Brown said.

He stated that he’d kept quiet about the whole thing because of the politics involved and the concern about alienating some fans, but it didn’t stop him from having some fun with it. In a non-political tweet just days after the interview, Brown added a twist.

He wrote in the op-ed that since that day, he has heard his name being chanted in “every conceivable” place, from sports arenas to the chambers of Congress.

“I understand that millions of people are struggling right now and are frustrated. Struggling to get by and struggling to build a solid life for themselves and their families, and wondering why their government only seems to make it worse. People have a right to frustration — even anger,” he added.

However, Brown said he has no interest in getting involved with any political debate. “I race cars. I am not going to endorse anyone, and I am certainly not going to tell anyone how to vote.”

“But, I’m also no longer going to be silent about the situation I find myself in, and why millions of Americans are chanting my name. I hear them, even if Washington does not,” he continued.