A Republican congressman from Savannah is defending his backing of a measure that would strip $80 million annually from the military budget used for sports sponsorships.

U.S. Rep. Jackson Kingston helped push an amendment through the House Appropriations Committee last week that would remove the money, a move that has drawn criticism from some NASCAR fans.

Kingston is a NASCAR fan, but he says the push to get the government out of sports sponsorships is based on finances, not fanfare.

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. suggested that Kingston would have a change of heart if he went to a race and said that Kingston should get more facts about the situation.

Tags: NASCAR, House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Jackson Kingston, military budget