NASCAR Sponsorship

Updated: 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

U.S. Census defends NASCAR sponsorship: The U.S. Census is using sports to try to get the word out that people need to mail in their forms that will arrive in 120 million households next week. Its Super Bowl ad was lambasted for costing $2.5 million and not being to the point and others are now surprised that the Census has signed a $1.2 million deal to be on Greg Biffle’s car for three weeks, beginning this past Sunday. The bashing comes from people who don’t seem to understand why the government agency, which happens to have a $14 billion budget, has to advertise. “We are facing a three-decade decline in mail response forms for the Census,” said Census spokesman Stephen Buckner. “And what that means is money. For every one percentage point that the Census can increase mail response rates, we save taxpayers $85 million not having to send somebody out to knock on your door.” As for that Biffle sponsorship, Buckner says the Census is spending roughly 1.6 cents per NASCAR race to get the word out on his car.(CNBC/Darren Rovell)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Keyed-Up Motorsports announces sponsorship: Keyed-Up Motorsports, in conjunction with ADFAST Marketing, named 75000000.com as an associate sponsorship of its No. 90 Chevrolet Impala and driver Casey Mears for the 2010 Sprint Cup Series Schedule. 75000000.com is an innovative site that track the millions of fans of NASCAR and donates to the program Race 4 Pets, a pet adoption program that helps homeless pets find homes. The site also gives members the opportunity to win monthly prizes such as gift certificates, race tickets, pit passes, cars and cruises. "We are pleased to be partnered up with Keyed-Up Motorsports,“ ADFAST Marketing President Gene Pittman stated today. “We researched NASCAR as an outlet to gain awareness for this program and when we found out that 65% of NASCAR fans are pet owners, we knew immediately that this (NASCAR) was where we wanted to unleash this program.” (PR)

Monday, March 8, 2010

U.S. Census Bureau spends $1.2 million on NASCAR sponsorship: Greg Biffle’s No. 16 Ford carried sponsorship from the U.S. Census Bureau at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the first of a three-race, $1.2 million sponsorship with Roush Fenway Racing. The Census, which will adorn the car in the next two races at Bristol Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, aired an ad during the Super Bowl and is making a push in the NCAA tournament to promote the census forms, which will be mailed out this month. In 2000, 72% returned the forms. Census director Robert Groves says every 1% who return forms save $85 million. (USA Today)

SMI extends deal with Coca-Cola: Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and Coca-Cola North America are extending their long-term partnership through 2015, ensuring NASCAR fans who visit premier speedways in locations such as Charlotte, Atlanta and Las Vegas can open a Coke and Open Happiness as they cheer on their favorite drivers. (Business Wire)

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The latest on rear spoiler: There are still many unknowns in the advent of the transition from wings to spoilers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the pieces are coming together. Teams have received retro-fit pieces to adjust the template grids for the change from the wing to the spoiler which will measure four inches on intermediate and down force tracks and 4.5-inches at Talladega and Daytona. A two-inch "ear" will be at the ends of 64.5-inch spoiler for Talladega similar to the construction on the truck spoilers. All spoilers will mount on to the cars at exactly 70-degrees without adjustability, thereby preventing modification by individual teams. Although NASCAR is preparing for the roll out of the new spoilers at Martinsville Speedway on March 26, teams will be responsible for manufacturing their own spoilers for the test scheduled on March 16th at Talladega Speedway. NASCAR template guru Billy Berkheimer anticipates each team having at least two spoilers by the time NASCAR rolls into Charlotte Motor Speedway for the test following Bristol on March 22nd. Spoilers will be distributed to teams at the same time so one team does not gain an advantage over another. Following the initial distribution, teams will be able to place orders for additional spoilers. Despite initial wind tunnel reports of the spoiler providing more downforce than the wing on the new car, Berkheimer said, "If this works the way I expect it will, the downforce numbers will the same with the spoiler and the wing." Most of the top organizations have tested cars with spoilers at tracks such as Walt Disney World Speedway (1 mile), Rockingham Speedway (1.017 mile) and Little Rock (0.526 mile).(FOXSports)

Friday, March 5, 2010

U.S. Census on Biffle's No. 16 at AMS: The U.S. Census Bureau announced an agreement with Roush Fenway Racing to serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 16 Ford Fusion driven by Greg Biffle for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. The agreement will see the No. 16 carry a special 2010 Census livery in Sprint Cup Races at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 7, Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 21, and Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 28. To increase awareness and encourage participation in the upcoming 2010 Census, the three-race sponsorship schedule lines up with key census mail-out and mail-back dates. The 2010 Census No. 16 Ford Fusion will feature the familiar Post-It Brand notes of primary sponsor 3M carrying both the 2010 Census logo and "Mail It Back" on the hood, rear quarter panels and rear bumper. In addition, Director Groves will visit Atlanta Motor Speedway this coming weekend for the Kobalt Tools 500. Biffle recently filmed a racing-themed 2010 Census Public Service Announcement that can be viewed online atmediadownload.census.gov/content/greg-biffle. For more information on the 2010 Census visit2010census.gov.(RFR)

Thursday, March 4, 2010

NASCAR Automotive joins Hall of Fame as a sponsor: The NASCAR Automotive Group has committed to a multi-year agreement to sponsor the NASCAR Hall of Fame on behalf of its exclusive NASCAR Performance automotive partners. Through this sponsorship agreement, NASCAR Performance will integrate its family of automotive brands into an interactive exhibit area in the Race Week section of the Hall of Fame. The NASCAR Performance Race Shop is designed to give visitors an overview of a modern-day race-team shop and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes for teams and their automotive engineers and technicians to prepare a car for the upcoming race weekend. (NASCAR.com PR)

Charter Air Transport to sponsor Gilliland at Atlanta: Welcoming sponsorship from Charter Air Transport this weekend, David Gilliland and the No. 38 Charter Air/Taco Bell Ford team head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. Charter Air will adorn the lower hood and upper-rear quarter panels. This will be Charter Air Transport's second time being a sponsor in the sport. The company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in 30-passenger turbo prop planes. They have been a carrier of teams in NASCAR for the past five years. They also service collegiate athletic teams and business professionals with their fleet of turbo props and jets. The company takes pride in being environmentally friendly, with its fleet of EMB-120 aircraft burning only 150 gallons of fuel an hour. For more information, visit www.charterairtransport.com (Breaking Limits/FRM

Lance on Ambrose's No. 47 at Atlanta: Lance, Inc. has a longstanding history in racing and this season they will have major presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Lance partnered with JTG Daugherty Racing and driver Marcos Ambrose for multiple primary races. Lance fully brands Ambrose's Toyota Camry for the first time this year at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 7th for the Kobalt Tools 500. In addition to sponsoring Ambrose's efforts to capture his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, Lance has also partnered with Kids Crooked House to give one lucky race fan the opportunity to win a customized racing-theme Kids Crooked House by visiting www.lance.com.(JTG Daugherty Racing)

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Valvoline to sponsor Kenseth in three races: Roush Fenway Racing announced that Valvoline, the leading innovator and supplier of quality, high-performing automotive products, will sponsor the No. 17 entry and driver Matt Kenseth for three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the 2010 season. The No. 17 Valvoline Ford Fusion will debut this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway and then will also serve as the primary sponsor for April's Talladega race weekend as well as the November Cup Series race in Phoenix. Valvoline first teamed up with Roush Fenway Racing in 1990, and together the duo has brought home 44 wins in the Sprint Cup series. Valvoline is the official motor oil at Roush Fenway Racing, and has been providing Americans with the best motor oil and automotive products longer than any other motor oil company.(RFR)

TaxSlayer to serve as primary sponsor for Bobby Labonte at AMS: As tax season gets into full swing, TaxSlayer.com has decided to add the Kobalt Tools 500 to its list of primary sponsorship races for the No. 71 TRG Motorsports team and NASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte, who returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway as the track's most winning active driver. TaxSlayer.com made its debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last year at Watkins Glen International Raceway and served as the primary sponsor of the No. 71 a total of six times in 2009 before signing on for a multi-race sponsorship in 2010. Jimmy Rhodes, President of TaxSlayer.com, has seen a tremendous upswing in the company's business since joining the ranks of NASCAR sponsors. "We've seen that the power of sponsorship really does work since we've joined forces with TRG as the primary sponsor on the No. 71," Rhodes said. "This is always our busiest time of year, but we're really seeing a return on our investment in the sport and believe that adding the Atlanta race to our primary sponsorship schedule can only serve to grow our business further."(TRG Motorsports)

Friday, February 12, 2010

Tissot to continue to reward Pit Road Precission Award in 2010: Tissot, the official watch and timekeeper of NASCAR, will continue to recognize Sprint Cup pit crews in 2010 with the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award will be presented in each of the 36 Cup races to the team whose car spends the least amount of time on pit road and finishes on the lead lap. The winning pit crew in each race will earn $5,000 and a Tissot V8 Quartz Chronograph watch. The team with the most Tissot Pit Road Precision Award wins at the completion of the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule will receive a $105,000 bonus plus Tissot watches for the over-the-wall crew members and driver. The Tissot Pit Road Precision Award is coming off a competitive 2009 season which saw 18 different teams claim the weekly competition. The championship went to Greg Biffle's No. 16 3M pit crew, which won a season-high of six times.(Tissot PR)

Tebow pimps Gatorade at Daytona: Tim Tebow, who attended the Daytona 500 last year, recently signed a contract with Gatorade. “I don’t know if I’m becoming the face of products, but I’m enjoying the transition,” Tebow said. “It’s something that has been a lot of fun. It’s been a little bit overwhelming, but very enjoyable. I’m just trying to take everything in stride and just stay focused and keep working as hard as I can and looking forward to everything in the future.” Tebow talked to several of the Sprint Cup drivers, looked over a few of the cars and even took a few laps around the famed 2.66-mile superspeedway. He also signed autographs and posed for pictures with the race fans. “It’s just really exciting,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to meet a lot of people. To be here with Gatorade is a great opportunity. And, to just be able to meet these people and to know the drivers, as well as to get to know the sport better and to just be around it, it’s just a great opportunity for me.” Tebow, though, refused to answer any questions about football or his Super Bowl ad. (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

Daytona 500 advertisers enjoy higher brand recall, likeability: According to data gathered by Nielsen IAG, traditional ads airing in last year’s Daytona were 26% more likely to be recalled by race viewers than those who saw the ad run elsewhere. Spots by NASCAR advertisers Home Depot, McDonald’s and State Farm Insurance particularly enjoyed brand recall levels that were at least twice that of airings outside the race. (Nielsen Wire)

No. 26 team signs associate sponsor: Latitude 43 announced that Sacred Power has signed as an Associate Sponsor for the first 5 races of the 2010 season with Boris Said and the No. 26 Ford Fusion.Sacred Power is a Native owned solar energy company based in New Mexico. That's right Latitude 43 is going green. Sacred Power's President / Ceo David Melton stated "We are excited to be the first Solar Energy Company to be a sponsor of a team in the top series in NASCAR. We understand the marketing power of NASCAR and are excited to be with a team that is locked into the top 35 in owner points. We are even more excited to be with a driver as recognizable as Boris Said." Sacred Power's V.P. / COO Odes Armijo-Caster added, "We look forward to attending the race in California next week where Sacred Power will adorn the hood of the car. We would love to be in Daytona this week but things have been put in place too quickly for that to happen."(PR)

Monday, February 8, 2010

ASK.com no longer in NASCAR: This time a year ago, Ask.com was preparing to make the splash of the season at Daytona. It had a custom-made motor coach, pretty girls dressed in red and white to act as Ask Ambassadors throughout the speedway, and up to 30 new 15-second ad spots. The eager search engine had seemingly thought of everything for its first year of an official partnership with NASCAR and a team sponsorship at Hall of Fame Racing. But as the industry rolls into Daytona this week for the start of the 2010 season, the major question will be: What happened to Ask.com? Despite trumpeting successful results from its sponsorships and advertising in NASCAR last year, the Barry Diller-owned company opted not to return this year, allowing its NASCAR partnership and team deal to expire after one year. A change in leadership -- CEO Jim Safka did the NASCAR deals last year but was replaced by president Doug Leeds in October -- led to changes in marketing. Ask.com spent about $15 million on its NASCAR sponsorships and activation last year, industry insiders said. Its official deal with NASCAR was in the low seven figures, while the team sponsorship cost Ask.com $4 million. The majority of NASCAR sponsors whose deals were up last year renewed, including Dodge, Unilever, DuPont, DirecTV, Kraft, and Procter & Gamble brands Gillette, Old Spice and Prilosec OTC. NASCAR also added Screenvision and Drive4COPD as new partners, with Screenvision being the official cinema ad agency and Drive4COPD, a group that drives awareness and screening for lung disease, serving as the official health initiative. Among the sponsors that didn't renew for this year: P&G brand Duracell, Best Western, Yardman/Cub Cadet, and Kellogg's, along with Ask.(NASCAR.com)

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Monster Energy to sponsor Robby Gordon at Daytona: Robby Gordon Motorsports announced an extension of their partnership with Monster Energy, who will serve as the primary sponsor for the Daytona 500 of the No. 7 Toyota. Monster Energy and Robby Gordon already have a well-developed partnership through Robby's off-road endeavors. Monster Energy currently serves as the one of the primary sponsors on Gordon's Trophy Truck and Hummer. Robby Gordon's off-season did not include much downtime, instead the driver of the No. 7 Monster Energy Camry spent most of his time racing. After securing the SCORE International Off-Road Racing 2009 Championship in the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck, Robby Gordon and the Robby Gordon Off-Road team quickly turned their focus to the 2010 Dakar Rally, which took place January 2-16 in South America. In that event, Gordon raced his Monster Energy / Toyo Tires HUMMER across the deserts of Argentina and Chile where he won Stage 4 and finished 8th-place overall in the grueling 14-stage event. Immediately after crossing the finish line in the Dakar Rally, Gordon headed to Laughlin, Nev., where he raced the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck in the Laughlin Desert Challenge for the SCORE International Off-Road Racing Series. Robby's Remarks  "I had a lot of fun during the NASCAR off-season," commented Gordon. "It gave me a chance to return to my off-road racing roots, secure a championship and celebrate victory with the Robby Gordon Off-Road team. Even as much as I love off-road racing, I'm ready for the NASCAR Season to get underway. We are very fortunate to have Monster Energy on the hood of our Camry for the Daytona 500, and I'm excited to extend our partnership with them. Monster Energy is a great brand that I love representing. We have been very strong at Daytona in the past, so I hope that we can bring home a great finish for Monster Energy's 2010 NASCAR debut."(RGM)

Friday, February 5, 2010

Crown Royal to sponsor No. 17 in additional races: Roush Fenway Racing announced that Crown Royal has extended the number of races in which it will be primary sponsor of driver Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 Sprint Cup Series team. Crown Royal will serve as the primary sponsor for 35 Sprint Cup Series races in 2010 [of 38 races counting the Bud Shootout & All-Star race). The makers of Crown Royal Canadian whisky, a subsidiary of Diageo plc, have been partners with Roush Fenway Racing dating back to 2003. "I'm thrilled that Crown Royal chose to expand their sponsorship of our team for the entire 2010 season," said Kenseth, one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to win the Sprint Cup rookie of the year award, a Sprint Cup Championship and the Daytona 500. "I know that this is going to be a successful season for our No. 17 team and it will be great to represent the Crown Royal brand for 35 Cup Series events. I had the honor of working with DIAGEO and their Smirnoff ICE brand back in 2003 where we developed a great relationship. In addition to the sponsorship, we look forward to helping Crown Royal promote its responsible drinking platform, as well as kick-off the annual Crown Royal "Your Name Here" program this week, which awards naming rights to the Spring race at Richmond International Raceway to an adult fan." Kenseth will make his inaugural run in the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford on Saturday, Feb. 6 for the non-points exhibition event, the Budweiser Shootout, at Daytona International Speedway. The first points race of the season will be the Daytona 500 the on Sunday, Feb. 14 in which Kenseth is the defending champion of the event. (Roush Fenway Racing)

Miccosukee Tribe pulls sponsorship in all three series: James Finch learned late Thursday afternoon that Miccosukee Resort and Gaming will no longer sponsor his Phoenix Racing teams. Finch had a contract for the full Nationwide Series schedule and 18 Sprint Cup races but when the Chairman of the Miccosukee tribe Billy Cypress lost the last election, Phoenix Racing became sponsor-less for Daytona and beyond. "They're not going to do anything," Finch said of the Miccosukee future involvement in NASCAR. "We had a contract, but our only recourse is to go in front of the tribal council and that's not a case I'm going to win. If it was back in the old days, I could go in the parking lot and steal some hubcaps to race, but no one uses hubcaps anymore." Although Finch attempted to make light of the situation, he seemed more distressed by his inability to lock into the Daytona 500 field. Finch won the Aaron's 499 at Talladega last spring but was 38th in points after running just 27 Cup races. "If I could buy my way into the Daytona 500 I would," Finch said. "Losing my sponsor isn't going to keep me from racing next Sunday. I could finish fourth in the 150s and go home. The rules are (messed) up. I'm not going to pay more for the points than I can get for winning. I've seen a lot of people come and go from this sport. I stay because I'm a racer. But when you get to where you can't race because of the rules, that's B.S."(FOXSports.com)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Aaron's announces additional race sponsorships:  Aaron's, Inc. announced it will add six more Sprint Cup races, plus the Sprint All-Star Race to its 2010 schedule. The additional races increase Aaron's total to 24 races as the primary sponsor of the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine driven by David Reutimann. The six additional point races coming in the first half of the season include: Auto Club, Dover, Pocono, Michigan, Infineon and New Hampshire. "We are pleased that Aaron's expanded our involvement with David and the No. 00 team this season," said Robin Loudermilk, Chief Executive Officer for Aaron's, Inc. "We have developed an excellent relationship with David, Michael Waltrip and this organization over the years and they have continued to deliver solid results for Aaron's. Adding these six races reinforces our commitment to this team and confidence in this sport. We look forward to another exciting year on the track." Aaron's is in the second year of a three-year Sprint Cup sponsorship agreement with Reutimann and MWR after serving as the team's Nationwide sponsor since 2000. In addition to Reutimann's 24 Sprint Cup races, Aaron's plans to sponsor nine races on the No. 99 Toyota for newly-formed Diamond-Waltrip Racing and 18-year-old Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide Series. Aaron's will also sponsor Waltrip's return to the Nationwide Series at the Aaron's 312 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 24.(MWR PR )

Air Force to serve as primary sponsor for No. 19 in five races: Air Force officials begin the 10th year of sponsorship in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by renewing the partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2010 season. Executives at GSD&M Idea City, the Air Force's advertising agency, organized the sponsorship and will roll out a multi-media advertising campaign to support the partnership in early 2010. For this year's sponsorship, representatives of Richard Petty Motorsports have chosen the No. 19 car driven by Elliot Sadler to represent the Air Force. The Air Force will feature the dark blue paint scheme on the No. 19 Ford in five of 38 NASCAR races this season. "We are thrilled to have Richard Petty Motorsports as partners for another NASCAR season with the Air Force '19' car," said Col. Michael J. Tillema, AFRS chief of strategic marketing and communications. "The Air Force is all about speed, agility and pushing the boundaries of technology and we believe those features align well with this great American sport and its fans."(Air Force)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Wood Brothers announce Motorcraft and Quick Lane to sponsor No. 21: For the 10th consecutive year, Ford Customer Service Division's Motorcraft brand will team with the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team to compete in the highest form of stock-car racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. A new addition to the No. 21 Ford Fusion for the 2010 season is the co-sponsorship of Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers. Ford Motor Company's Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers are the fastest growing service brand in the country and is on track to reach 600 stores nationwide in early 2010. "We are very pleased to have Motorcraft and Quick Lane with us for the 2010 season," said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood. "We value Ford Customer Service Division's involvement with us for the past 10 years, and we are excited to have both Motorcraft and Quick Lane on our NASCAR Fusions this season. Ford Customer Service Division has been loyal to us, and we have always been loyal to them. It feels like family  Wood Brothers Racing with Motorcraft and Quick Lane on board." Motorcraft, a Ford Motor Company brand of automotive parts ranging from filters and spark plugs to engines and transmissions, will be the primary sponsor on the Wood Brothers No. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford Fusion for 10 races, beginning in February at the Daytona 500 and culminating with the season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "It's a new and exciting year for us. We look to build on the strides we made last year," said Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Len Wood. "On our partial schedule in 2009, we achieved five top-10 starts and four top-16 finishes. We hope to carry that momentum into 2010." Bill Elliott, who drove the Coors/Motorcraft Thunderbird to a NASCAR championship in 1988, is scheduled to be the driver for all of Motorcraft and Quick Lane's sponsored races. Elliott, Motorcraft and the Wood Brothers first joined forces in 2007. For the 2010 season, the Motorcraft and Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers logos will appear on both the No. 21 Ford Fusion in NASCAR and on the Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car of Bob Tasca III in NHRA. FordParts.com will also have a presence on both race cars for the 2010 season. In addition to the serving as the primary vehicle sponsor for Wood Brothers and Tasca Racing, FCSD brings a very aggressive brand awareness campaign with a significant trackside presence at selected NASCAR and NHRA events in the form of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience. The massive display, spreading out over half a football field, will let race fans connect with Motorcraft and Quick Lane brands in a unique way.(Motorcraft/Ford PR)

ExtenZe Racing to sponsor Kevin Conway: ExtenZe Racing announced that its ExtenZe and Alteril brands will partner with driver Kevin Conway in his effort to win the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year award behind the No. 37 Ford of Front Row Motorsports. ExtenZe will sponsor Conway for the entire 2010 season while the all-natural sleep-aid Alteril will be a major associate sponsor on his Ford Fusion. ExtenZe is not a stranger to Conway, who partnered with the all natural male-enhancement product during the 2009 race season competing in the Nationwide Series. ExtenZe Racing made 12 starts with him and together they make their move into the Sprint Cup Series. "This is a great opportunity for ExtenZe Racing," said Robert Wihovsky, Director of ExtenZe Motorsports Marketing. "Kevin has been a great spokesperson for our brands, especially ExtenZe. Front Row Motorsports is giving us a great platform to reach the millions of NASCAR fans and educate them about our products. We're looking forward to spreading the word with Kevin and the Front Row Motorsports team." Conway was announced last week as the driver of the No. 37 Ford for Front Row Motorsports and competing for rookie of the year. The 30-year-old Virginia native has starts in the NASCAR West, Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series. He'll make his first Sprint Cup start this season, but does so with a sponsor he's familiar with."I'm very excited to have the privilege to compete for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title, and to be able to campaign my effort with ExtenZe Racing and Ford is a dream come true," said Conway. "I've been honored to have had the opportunity to work with them over the last year, and I'm ready to work hard for them on the track again this season. ExtenZe Racing and the Front Row Motorsports crew have all the tools necessary to win rookie-of-the-year honors."(Front Row Motorsports PR)

Satuday, January 16, 2010

Kroger announces single-race partnership with JTG Daugherty: JTG Daugherty Racing announced that Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer and world's largest florist, will be the primary sponsor for Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 Toyota team during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. This year, NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious race happens to fall on Valentine's Day, February 14. To recognize the traditional day of love, Kroger is running a special floral paint scheme of red roses on Ambrose's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) entry as a reminder that they offer floral arrangements and gifts for every occasion. You can order flowers with ease by calling 1-800-900-6575 or visiting www.Kroger.com. "Kroger and our family of stores are excited to bring the Daytona 500 closer to our customers and race fans this year," said Don Becker, Executive Vice President of Kroger. "Sponsoring Marcos in the race on Valentine's Day is particularly thrilling since Kroger sells more roses that day than any other florist in the world." Because Kroger delivers flowers internationally in addition to domestically, they are top of mind for Ambrose to send flowers to his family and friends in Australia. Just like Ambrose is passionate about racing and delivering results, Kroger's family of stores are passionate about flowers and deliver the freshest flowers from growers around the world. This year, Kroger will come in handy for the Aussie while his wife Sonja and two daughters remain in their homeland during the Daytona 500 on Valentine's Day. In addition to Kroger's presence on the hood, they are extending the sponsorship to their family of grocery and multi-department stores by including Baker's, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Food 4 Less, Gerbes, King Soopers Ralphs, QFC and Smith's. Kroger will also have one of their jewelry stores on the quarter panels to remind people to visit Fred Meyer Jewelers, which carries a large selection of watches, engagement rings, wedding rings, gemstones, diamonds and more.(JTG Daugherty Racing)

Keyed-Up Motorsports announces partnership with Ergodyne: Keyed-Up Motorsports announced a partnership with St. Paul, MN-based Ergodyne, a leader in the development of products for worker protection and performance. Ergodyne is the official gear provider to Keyed-Up Motorsports and will outfit the Keyed-Up crew members with its ProFlex gloves and knee pads, CORE Performance Workwear and Arsenal Equipment Storage Systems throughout 2010 Cup season.(Keyed-Up Motorsports)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

JTG Daugherty announces Bush's Baked Beans to serve as primary sponsor on No. 47: Today JTG Daugherty Racing team officials are proud to announce Bush Brothers and Company’s Bush’s Baked Beans brand will be a primary sponsor of Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 Toyota team for five primary races and will also serve as an associate sponsor during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. “We are proud to enter our ninth season as partners with JTG Daugherty Racing and thrilled to have Marcos as our driver,” said Ray Kielarowski, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Bush Brothers and Company. “We look forward to kicking off the new season at the track and sharing the Winner’s Circle with him in 2010.” Bush’s Baked Beans will be positioned on Ambrose’s No. 47 Toyota’s hood for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25, Richmond International Raceway on May 1, Bristol Motor Speedway on August 21, New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 19 and Dover International Speedway on September 26. Ambrose, who finished 18th in the championship standings, was pleased to hear the news. “This is really great news,” Ambrose said. “I’ve always been a big fan of Bush’s Baked Beans. Because I love the outdoors, I really enjoying firing up the grill with my family and we always include Bush’s Baked Beans as a side item after we finish up grilling with Kingsford® Charcoal. It doesn’t matter if we are at home or at the track, grilling is a great experience all season long.” Tad Geschickter, co-owner of JTG Daugherty Racing, has been partners with Bush Brothers and Company for nearly a decade. (JTG Daugherty)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Kelloggs to sponsor Edwards in 2010: Kellogg's will sponsor Carl Edwards next season following a 16-season stint with Hendrick Motorsports. Kellogg's will be the primary sponsor for two races on the No. 99 Ford and an associate sponsor for the remainder of the season.(FOXSports.com)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

3M expands partnership with NASCAR: 3M, a diversified technology company serving customers with innovative products and services, and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) announced today an agreement for 3M to expand the categories for which it holds exclusive NASCAR marketing rights to include bandages, first aid supplies, braces, supports and hot & cold therapy products. For nearly 10 years numerous 3M products associated with automotive, industrial, professional and home use applications have been designated as exclusive NASCAR licensed products with the rights to use NASCAR-themed marketing elements in advertising and promotional materials. The 3M products range from hearing protection to automotive care and refinishing products, adhesive tapes, abrasives and many more. With this expansion of the agreement, 3M Nexcare bandages and first aid tapes, ACE, Futuro and Tru-Fit support devices and certain other 3M medical products will be permitted to carry the prestigious NASCAR mark on packaging, promotional elements and related media. "We are truly excited to join 3M’s portfolio of NASCAR Officially Licensed Products," commented Ty Silberhorn, vice president, 3M Consumer Health Care Division. "3M and NASCAR both stand for innovation, quality and commitment to the fans of racing, so the association between our organizations is natural and mutually beneficial." "Partnering with NASCAR gives us an excellent platform to promote our wide range of products," said Bob MacDonald, senior vice president, 3M Marketing and Sales. (3M PR)

Starbucks to debut in NASCAR; Coffee chain to serve as associate sponsor on No. 1: The Starbucks coffee chain will make its NASCAR debut this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Starbucks will serve as an associate sponsor on EGR’s No. 1 Sprint Cup Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex Jr., and samples of the company’s products will be available throughout the weekend. (SportingNews)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Little Debbie to return to No. 47 in 2010: McKee Foods, a family bakery best known for their Little Debbie brand, announced that they will once again sponsor 'Awesome Aussie' Marcos Ambrose and the No. 47 JTG-Daugherty Racing Toyota Camry in 2010. Chris McKee, EVP of Marketing & Sales, says the sponsorship of Ambrose has paid dividends in 2009. "Marcos is a tremendous driver and a great spokesperson for our Little Debbie brand. Little Debbie is all about adding simple fun and enjoyment to life and Marcos' ever-present smile and upbeat attitude really illustrates our brand message. We are impressed with his performance in his first full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and we are excited about the possibilities for next year. 2010 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Little Debbie Brand so it's a big year for Little Debbie and I think it is going to be a big year for Marcos and JTG-Daugherty Racing." 2010 will mark the fifth consecutive season that Little Debbie has been a business partner with JTG-Daugherty Racing. Team co-owner Tad Geschickter is proud of the partnership. "Little Debbie is a great, family-oriented brand and we are proud to help promote their products. In a year when many sponsors are leaving the sport, I'm thankful for their continued support of our team. We look forward to rewarding them with an even bigger return next season on the track and in the stores."(JTG-Daugherty Racing PR)

Wednesday, Novermber 4, 2009

Delphi and Hendrick extend partnership: Delphi announced that it will continue its associate sponsorship of Hendrick Motorsports during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. Delphi will be the primary sponsor for two Sprint Cup races with driver Mark Martin in the No. 5 Delphi/GoDaddy.com Chevy. The race details will be announced in the near future. Additionally, Delphi will be an associate sponsor of all Hendrick Motorsports 2010 Sprint Cup entries. Delphi will continue to be featured on the uniforms of all Hendrick Motorsports drivers for the 2010 season, including four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin. "Our long-standing relationship with Delphi has been fantastic," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "The association has been incredibly important to our company from both a quality and technology standpoint, and we look forward to having Delphi continue as a key partner for the 2010 season."(HMS PR)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Choctaw Casino Resort to sponsor Mears at Texas: Richard Childress Racing has partnered with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for a one-race primary sponsorship of the No. 07 Choctaw Casino Resort Chevy in the November 8 Dickies 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The Choctaw Casino Resort, in Durant, Oklahoma, approximately 105 miles northeast of Texas Motor Speedway, is undergoing a major expansion. Projected to open in February 2010, the new casino will be 110,000 square feet and house approximately 3,000 slot machines, 30 poker tables and 40 table games. Jack Daniel's, the primary sponsor of the No. 07 team for the majority of the season, will serve as an associate sponsor for the Texas Motor Speedway race and will return to its primary position for the final two races of the season.(RCR PR)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Best Buy to sponsor Allmendginer? Team officials familiar with RPM's personnel moves tell The Associated Press that sponsor Best Buy will move from Sadler's car next season to Petty's famed No. 43 with AJ Allmendinger as the driver. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the changes have yet to be announced. Stanley Tools will become the sole primary sponsor for Sadler. Both Best Buy and Stanley had shared Sadler's car this season.(Associated Press)

Friday, October 9, 2009

New FTC rules could affect driver endorsements: When Carl Edwards broke his foot playing Frisbee last month there were jokes about how fortunate he was to be sponsored by AFLAC, which sells disability insurance. Edwards even made reference to the obvious irony and talked about filing a claim and getting a check. NASCAR fans are so used to drivers hawking their sponsors' products - and dropping the sponsor's name in every TV interview - that they rarely think twice about it. That's what drivers do when they aren't driving. But pretty soon drivers might have to do something else if they find themselves endorsing a sponsor's product. They might have to disclose that the sponsor is paying them to do it. The Federal Trade Commission this week issued new guidelines for those who endorse products. There is a new requirement that endorsers - whether it's a lowly blogger or a high-profile actor or athlete - must say if they are being paid by that company. So, how would this affect NASCAR, the most blatantly commercial sport around? Depends on the context. So says David Zetoony, an attorney specializing in consumer product-liability cases with the firm Bryan Cave. For instance, when Edwards does a commercial for AFLAC, it is understood by not only NASCAR fans, but also by the public at large that he's being paid to do so or that it's part of his obligation to his sponsor. And when he gives an interview standing in front of his AFLAC Ford, wearing his AFLAC driver suit and says something like "the #99 AFLAC Ford Fusion was awfully fast today," he's also in the clear. That's considered product placement, Zetoony said, and it won't get a driver in hot water with the FTC. What will cause trouble is when an athlete takes it a step further and endorses a product. But again, context is important. So if Tony Stewart gives a TV interview and is asked to name his favorite hamburger and he says "I never eat anything but flame-broiled Burger King Whoppers," he'd be required to disclose his relationship to BK. If he said, "I never eat anything but those juicy Whoppers my sponsor Burger King makes," he'd be OK. Confused? You aren't alone. It's going to take time and probably litigation to sort out where the lines will be drawn.(Alabama Live)

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009

Jim Beam and Robby Gordon to part ways: Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., maker of Jim Beam Bourbon, the world's number one-selling Bourbon, announced that its marketing plans for 2010 will not include a return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. As a result, the company will not extend its current partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports in 2010. The company plans to focus its marketing resources for Jim Beam into other platforms that directly impact the end consumer. "It was a difficult decision to transition away from being a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team sponsor," said Bill Newlands, president Beam Global Spirits & Wine U.S. "We always take a hard look at our marketing resources and how we can best interact with legal purchase age consumers. After an extensive review of our marketing strategy, we have come up with new alternatives to fuel growth for Jim Beam in 2010." Jim Beam will continue its support of Robby Gordon Motorsports for the remainder of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup series schedule."Jim Beam has been a great partner for the past five years," said Robby Gordon. "I would like to thank them for their support through the years. They have been with me since we started the team in 2005, helping build our Cup team and aiding in its success. Great relationships have been formed, and I expect those to continue well into the future."(RGM PR)

Monday, Sept. 21, 2009

Jack Daniels to end sponsorship in NASCAR: Brown-Forman will conclude its Jack Daniel's NASCAR program and will not extend its sponsorship with Richard Childress Racing's No. 07 team. A change in Brown-Forman's spending priorities led to the decision to conclude the sponsorship that began in 2005. The Brown-Forman/Jack Daniel's partnership with RCR will continue for the remainder of the 2009 racing season and the entire team is committed to being competitive on the track each and every race. "Jack Daniel's has enjoyed a good five-year run with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and NASCAR, and we are pleased with the overall performance of our sponsorship program," said Tim Rutledge, vice president and brand director for Jack Daniel's. "We have enjoyed building strong relationships with the people in Richard's organization and throughout NASCAR. While it is difficult for us to end our formal relationship with RCR, the current economic environment has compelled us to revaluate our spending and we've concluded that other areas in the marketing mix require additional investment. We want to thank the many friends and fans of the Jack Daniel's 07 Racing Team, and we can't say enough about your incredible support over the last five years. And, as we have since 1866, we will continue to find ways to thank you and keep your loyalty of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey." Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel's, and RCR are particularly pleased to have taken a leadership role in communicating a responsible drinking message throughout its NASCAR sponsorship through its core message of Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly, featured in all NASCAR promotional materials, including on the race car itself.
"Brown-Forman has been a great partner of RCR for the past five years through its Jack Daniel's brand," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "They quickly became a NASCAR-industry leader in the promotion of the Jack Daniel's brand through the Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly messaging, which our fans have embraced. We understand the shift in their spending priorities during these tough economic times and the No. 07 Jack Daniel's Racing program will continue to provide that successful platform for the rest of the 2009 season. We have built many valuable relationships with the loyal Brown-Forman employees and their distributors during our partnership and look forward to maintaining those relationships in the future."(RCR PR)

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009

Discount tires moving to Penske from Roush Fenway: Just days after announcing his move from JR Motorsports in 2010, Brad Keselowski and Penske Racing have signed Discount Tire as their sponsor for 26 Nationwide Series races next year. Keselowski will drive the No. 22 Dodge full time in the Nationwide Series next year along with a full-time Sprint Cup schedule. Discount Tire will also be an associate sponsor on Keselowski and teammate Kurt Busch's Sprint Cup Series cars. Additionally, the company will have a presence on all three Penske Racing cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A full announcement is expected later this week. Discount Tire currently sponsors David Ragan's No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide Series ride. The partnership has been in place since the start of the 2007 season.(FOXSports.com)

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009

Roush Fenway Racing still looking for sponsors in Cup and Nationwide series: Roush Fenway Racing is still looking for many sponsors for next season. What it is not looking for is sponsorship for Danica Patrick. Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith said time is running out to get sponsorship for the organization's No. 26 team in order to be able to move that group to Yates Racing. Roush Fenway must cut from five to four Cup teams after the 2009 season. It still needs to find half a season of sponsorship for Matt Kenseth on the Cup side as well as sponsors to help field the organization's three or four Nationwide teams. Smith said the problem in trying to do a multiple-sponsor deal with one team is that the organization can't guarantee it would run the entire season. Even if a company isn't interested in a full primary sponsor role, it wants to be with a team that is running the full schedule, Smith said.(SceneDaily.com)

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009

Irwin Tools likely to leave Roush Fenway Racing: Irwin Tools appears to be ending its relationship with Roush Fenway Racing. In a release discussing the company's new title sponsorship of the August race at Bristol Motor Speedway – the Irwin Tools Night Race – the company stated that it was time for a "new chapter" for the company. The company has been a mainstay in the sport since 2003, serving as a primary car sponsor for Roush Fenway Racing. During that span, drivers Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray both won races in company-sponsored Fords while Busch won the NASCAR Cup championship with that sponsorship in 2004. McMurray has been sponsored by Irwin this season. "It's been a great ride with Roush Fenway Racing," said Eric Pinkham, Newell Rubbermaid's Vice President, sponsorship and event marketing. "They clearly helped us put Irwin Tools on the map, and we appreciate what they've done for the Irwin brand. Now it's time for a new chapter for Irwin."(SceneDaily.com)

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009

Survey: Sport sponsorships expected to grow only .7% in 2009: Sports leagues around the country are inking some offbeat deals as they hunt for new sources of ad dollars, particularly to replace financial-services firms and auto makers. Spending on sports sponsorship deals in North America is expected to grow just 0.7% to $11.48 billion this year, after growth of almost 15% last year, according to IEG, a research company owned by WPP PLC. (Wall Street Journal)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Mayfield working on 'big sponsorship' deal: Jeremy Mayfield, who says he's "80 percent there" on getting a major sponsorship deal that might enable him to once again drive in the Sprint Cup Series, isn't on the entry list for Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. But that doesn't mean he won't be at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend.Mayfield spoke by phone Tuesday morning, prior to meeting his legal team to discuss his ongoing court battle over NASCAR suspending him from competition as either an owner or a driver as of May 9, due to a positive result for methamphetamine in a random drug test taken May 1 at Richmond International Raceway. "I'd like to come to Indy just to come watch, and to try to get a ride," Mayfield said. "We're working on sponsorship deals as we speak and I'm telling you, if this works out, it's going to be big. "And what's funny is, it could be big in all kinds of different ways, and all I needed was [NASCAR's] support, and to work with me on this. They could have had races sponsored and tracks sponsored and I could have been with one of their big teams with a big sponsor and I guess they don't want that, because I didn't need them to get it." (NASCAR.com)

DeWalt Tools will not renew contract after season: Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DeWalt Power Tools will not renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the No. 17 team for the 2010 NASCAR season. “We would like to thank DeWalt for serving as a great partner for the past 10 years,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “During that time we have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as the sponsor of Jack Roush’s first Sprint Cup Championship team. Despite this success – in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the construction industry – DeWalt’s decision to not return is not a great surprise to us. Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very near future. All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the No. 17 DeWalt car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to contend for a second championship this season.”(Roush Fenway Racing)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Long looking for Bristol sponsorship: Carl Long is still considerably upset at NASCAR for his suspension and $200,000 fine for an oversized engine, but he's talking with various sponsors about paying his penalty and resuming his part-time driving career. "I'm looking for one corporate sponsor to sponsor my car at Bristol," Long said Monday in a telephone interview. "I know I can make the race. I have a ton of experience there." Long said he won an All Pro Series race at the high-banked, .533-mile oval and has qualified for the last six Sprint Cup Series races that he has attempted. "That's a real good track for me," he said. (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Several Cup teams looking for sponsors: We've been hearing for months that sponsors, including those at top teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, won't fully commit past this season. Team owner Rick Hendrick made that clearer on Sunday when he indicated that Kellogg's and Carquest may not return in their full capacity in 2010. "Our sponsors are coming back," Hendrick said after Martin won at Michigan. "We don't know to what extent. That's the question. As you go along with this economy companies are taking longer to get their budgets in line. They're not a year out, or not even eight months like they have been in the past. We're in good shape. We have a lot of sponsors inside our company that we're talking about, you know, splitting up the car. So look for the guys that are on it to be back, but there will probably be someone new along there with them." That not only goes for the No. 5, but the No. 24 of Jeff Gordon and No. 88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr. also could have more partners next season. Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's appear solid on the No. 48. The same sort of restructuring is going on at other organizations such as Roush, which is trying to find multiple partners to lessen the load of DeWalt.(ESPN Insider)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Danica Patrick could bring $50 million in new sponsorship dollars to NASCAR: What would it mean to Nascar to have Danica Patrick line up each week with the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, current three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and a host of other well-known drivers and personalities? Well, some sports pundits believe it could bring in $50 million in fresh sponsorship money, not to mention the ripple effect her popularity would have on TV ratings and at-track attendance. "I guarantee this is what will happen if Danica Patrick jumps to Nascar," a sports marketing executive who does business with the racing league told AdAge.com. "One, every TV rating for every race will increase from the year before as new fans and old tune it to see if she wins, crashes or pitches a fit and gets into fights on pit road like she does now. Two, track attendance will go up. Three, even though Nascar has a pretty loyal and wide-open fan base now among women, it will skyrocket if she's driving every week. And four, I guarantee it will bring in $50 million in new sponsors annually of marketers looking to activate around her, whether it's [sponsorship] on the car or off the track." (Ad Age)

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Jeremy Mayfield Motorsports sitll sponsor hunting: The No. 41 Mayfield Motorsports car did not pull out of Dover because of sponsorship issues, Mayfield Motorsports' team manager Bobby Wooten said. But it sounds like things are a bit in flux, as you'd expect. Wooten said that they withdrew from the race to give themselves time to organize and catch their breaths a little bit. He said the team would like to get J.J. Yeley back in the car, but very vaguely said that's in the works. "Everything's on hold," Wooten said. Of course, Mayfield has filed suit against NASCAR to lift his suspension at least until the conclusion of a court case. If he succeeds, he can get back in the car. Asked about sponsorship, Wooten said the team is still trying to figure out options. He wouldn't give any names of companies the team is involved with and said previous sponsors "may or may not be" associated with the team in the future. This season Mayfield Motorsports has been sponsored by All Sport, Big Red Soda and Smallsponsor.com.(Orlando Sentinel)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

CompUSA to sponsor No. 71: David Gilliland and TRG Motorsports are ready to tackle 600 miles of racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. The team was able to take away a lot data from last weekend to apply to race this Sunday. The key component will be a different No. 71 CompUSA/TRG Motorsports Chevy than the team ran in the Open. Kevin Buckler, TRG Motorsports team principal, is forging ahead with limited resources to keep this team going on the track. "The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the biggest races on the schedule and I wanted to make sure we put our best stuff on the track," Buckler said. "The car we ran in the Open we didn't think was going to do we needed in the 600 so we brought a different one. We have very limited resources with this team so we are picking our battles very carefully and trying to perform at a very level on selected stages. We still need to land that sponsor/partner that can help us take this great little team forward into the future."(TRG Motorsports PR)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Sprint gives fans unprecedented access to NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers meeting: Sprint announced exclusive access to a typically-private race weekend tradition, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver/crew chief meeting. It is the first time in NASCAR's 61-year history race fans have been invited to listen live to the top-secret pre-race meeting between NASCAR officials, drivers and crew chiefs. This one-time opportunity will be available to fans prior to the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race May 16. The audio broadcast will be streamed exclusively on Sprint phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile for customers away from the track and on NASCAR Sprint FanView for race fans at the track. All drivers and crew chiefs attend the meeting each week. NASCAR penalizes any driver or crew chief who misses or is late to the meeting by requiring that team to start at the back of the race, regardless of qualifying position. In addition to this content, Sprint customers also will be treated to SPEED's television broadcast of NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race XXV in its entirety on Sprint wireless phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile. NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, an exclusive wireless phone application from Sprint, also will offer video highlights of the popular NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge May 14. These special All-Star related offerings are available in addition to an already robust set of features including: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series news; driver stats; in-car audio; radio broadcasts; and post-race press conferences. NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile is available with data plans at no additional charge. To download the application text NASCAR to 7777 on Sprint phones (standard rates apply) or visit www.sprint.com/speed for more information. Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., start at $25 and can be obtained by calling 1-800-455-FANS or at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.(Sprint PR)

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Army official defends NASCAR sponsorship: The U.S. Army will pay Stewart-Haas Racing $11.6 million to sponsor Ryan Newman's No. 39 car for 23 races this season, and the Army official who oversees it says the money is worth it. Army and National Guard were the only branches of the military that served as primary sponsors for cars in Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Lt. Gen. Benjamim Freakley said the Army looks at different ways to determine if the sponsorship is worthwhile but admits it comes down to one thing. "At the end of the day, for the Army, it's does someone join the Army or not," Freakley said. He said 41 people agreed Saturday at the Army's booth at the track to be interviewed by an Army recruiter. "That's powerful," Freakley said. Army sponsorship is a year-to-year agreement. Because Congress controls the money that goes to the military, the budget can fluctuate from year to year. That, Freakley says, makes it challenging to do multi-year deals. He said he won't know his budget until this summer. He said he and his group have started to assess the sponsorship and what they want to do for 2010 but no decisions have been made. (Hampton Roads)

Monday, April 6, 2009

Comcast to buy Sprint-Nextel? "As telco giants AT&T and Verizon move deeper into the TV business, cable giants like Comcast  may have to get into the wireless business to compete. That could eventually involve Comcast buying Sprint Nextel, the No. 3 U.S. wireless carrier," writes Silicon Alley Insider here. Comcast and Sprint are backing the Clearwire 4G wireless network, and its WiMax system. If Clearwire doesn't connect, and cash-rich Comcast decides it's easier to buy than build, "the most logical deal could be for Sprint, which currently has a $12 billion market cap," Insider says. "It's not a new idea. But it could make sense in the next few years." (Philly Daily News)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Sprint committed to NASCAR: Sprint remains committed to sponsoring NASCAR's premier series through the duration of its contract that runs through 2013 despite tough economic conditions, director of Sprint entertainment and marketing Steve Gaffney said Wednesday. "Committed more than ever," Gaffney said. "This sport and what we get from this sport in terms of real business, subscribers and existing subscribers is demonstratively good for our business. "You mention the economic downturn, we need to focus more on areas where we think we're winning business. And this sponsorship is winning business," Gaffney said. Sprint, at the time Nextel when the deal was signed, reportedly committed $700 million over 10 years to the series. (ESPN.com)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Budweiser committed to Kasey Kahne and NASCAR: Kasey Kahne says Anheuser-Busch appears committed to him and the Sprint Cup series even though the beer company on Monday ended its sponsorship with the NHRA and Kenny Bernstein Racing. "We have another year with Budweiser," Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, said during a Wednesday tire test at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "They've been great to work with. They've been my favorite sponsor I've ever had. "I hope we do things to keep them happy and keep impressing them and keep working with them for a long time." Dan McHugh, vice president of media, sponsorship and activation for Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement: "Budweiser remains committed to its presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including sponsorship of Kasey Kahne and the No. 9 Budweiser Dodge, as well as the Budweiser Shootout." (ESPN.com)

SPOT LLC announces RGM sponsorship at Bristol: SPOT LLC (www.findmespot.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc.a leader in personal satellite messaging and emergency communications, today announced it is sponsoring Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. SPOT is the primary sponsor of Robby Gordon's No. 7 Toyota Camry, which will be branded in SPOT's familiar black and orange colors for the Food City 500's racing action at Bristol Motor Speedway. SPOT is the world's first Satellite GPS Messenger. The personal handheld satellite-based messaging, safety and tracking device sends the user's GPS location coordinates and select messages over a global satellite network to friends, family, co-workers or in case of an emergency, a rescue coordination center. Because SPOT uses satellite technology, it works regardless of cellular service availability from virtually anywhere around the world. Robby Gordon was an early adopter of the SPOT Satellite Messenger(tm), using its satellite and GPS technology to stay connected with his support team and his friends and family while practicing and racing off-road, often times in extreme remote areas. SPOT enables Robby to send his GPS location and selected message to his contacts so they know he is OK. SPOT also allows others to track his GPS position, updated automatically in real-time on Google Maps(tm). For a limited time fans of Robby Gordon and NASCAR can take advantage of a special promotional offer on the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. Visit www.findmespot.com/robby for complete details. Offer valid for U.S. residents only.(RGM)

Monday, March 9, 2009

Roush Fenway looking for sponsors: Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith should only be negotiating to renew the one NASCAR Sprint Cup sponsorship he has open – the No. 17 Ford and DeWalt – for 2010. But Smith’s organization is working on helping nearly all of its Cup sponsors (No. 26-Crown Royal, No. 16-3M and No. 99-Aflac) find other companies willing to pony up the money to buy some races for 2010 and beyond even though they have contracts obligating them for the entire season. Smith said the companies have requested help, and it’s imperative in these economic times that the organization find more sponsors willing to share some of the costs. DeWalt, whose contract is up after the 2009 season, has also indicated it wants a partner. The only sponsor that has not requested a partner is UPS. A new sponsor could be on one of those cars by the end of 2009 if there is a commitment for future years, Smith said. Even though Roush Fenway can have only four Cup teams next year, it also is responsible for sponsorship for Yates Racing, so it is continuing to court companies to sponsor Cup teams. On an initial call, Smith said the organization will offer anything open in its portfolio. The one thing his company won’t do is to stagger sponsorships on a car because the organization has to commit to a salary for the driver and needs the sponsorship to back it up. Smith said that car owners must realize that they need to spend money on sales. He said he has “a whole team” making cold calls about sponsorship.(SceneDaily.com)

Friday, March 6, 2009

Sponsorship survey -- Motorsports budget slightly down: A report released last month by sponsorship experts IEG found that North American companies would spend about 6 per cent less in motorsport-related activities than in 2008, NASCAR's teams should keep motoring along at the expense of many other sports. "NASCAR is the major player in the U.S. when it comes to motorsports and they draw by far the most sponsorships than anything else," said William Chipps, senior editor of the IEG Sponsorship Report, which tracks and analyzes corporate sponsorship. "Companies always flock to the biggest and the best sports property. For the most part, NASCAR's competition from a sponsorship sales perspective isn't in the motorsports space, it's almost like other sports properties. The report found that North American companies earmarked an estimated $3.3-billion (U.S.) for racing sponsorships this year. While a significant amount, the 2009 figure represents a $200-million drop from last year, marking the first time the study has predicted a dip in sponsorship in almost two decades. (More at Toronto Globe and Mail)

Sunday, March 1, 2009

No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports signs two sponsors: Gunselman Motorsports has enjoyed the benefits of making their first race of 2009 in several ways. And, the enjoyment keeps coming, even hours before the Shelby 427 green flag at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Already gaining two sponsors before qualifying on Friday in Core Construction and Curtiss Steel, the team has now signed on two more for the race. The No. 64 Toyota with Todd Bodine behind the wheel will now also carry NY Bagel Deli and Communication Electronic Systems. NYC Bagel Deli is out of Chicago, Ill and specializes in kettle-boiled bagels. Principal owner Corey Kaplan, a longtime friend of co-driver Geoff Bodine, was so excited about his involvement he became a licensed team member during the weekend. Communication Electronic Systems is a low-voltage subcontractor in the Las Vegas area. Brian Thomas and Dave Ellis are the principals involved with the sponsorship.(Gunselman Motorsports PR)

Friday, February 27, 2009

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to serve as R. Gordon associate sponsor: Jim Beam will serve as the primary sponsor for Sunday's 285-lap event. In addition to MAPEI and Menards, Robby Gordon Motorsports is excited to announce that Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will also serve as an associate sponsor this weekend. (PR)

Thursday, February 26, 2009

USG Sheetrock on No. 17 at Vegas: #17-Matt Kenseth will run the USG Sheetrock paint scheme on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first of three times this season. The other two USG Sheetrock races will be Chicago in July and Phoenix in Nov.(Roush Fenway Racing PR)

Energizer on No. 42 at Vegas: The #42 Chevy of Juan Pablo Montoya will sport the Energizer paint scheme this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the #42 team will bring chassis #805 to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(EGR PR)

DuPont slashes motorsports budget: DuPont, long recognized as the leader in hospitality among NASCAR sponsors, is drastically reducing its program this year as part of its companywide cost cutting. Instead of entertaining the 17,000 guests it had at 37 races last year, DuPont will buy hospitality packages at just six races this season and will host fewer than 2,000 guests. “The economy has had a huge impact on us,” said Larry Deas, DuPont’s motorsports manager. “The current environment along with the high cost of hospitality have forced us to make significant cuts.” Whether DuPont’s cuts signal the beginning of the end for its sponsorship of Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet remains to be seen. DuPont, which has been on the car since 1993, has been the only primary sponsor Gordon has known at Hendrick Motorsports and together they own the longest driver-sponsor-owner streak in the sport. DuPont’s current contract with Hendrick Motorsports runs through the end of the 2010 season. Deas would not speculate on how DuPont’s team deal might be affected in the future, but industry experts say it’s a bad sign that an iconic sponsor has made such deep cuts, which could represent a savings well into the seven figures, analysts say. Most high-end team sponsorships cost $20 million or more a year before activation. (SportsBusinessJournal)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

NASCAR sponsorship renewals down: According to Andrew Giangola, head of Nascar business communications, sponsorship renewals are running at about 90%. Granted, a 10% decline over a few months is sharp, but I'm sure Madoff and Dow index fund investors would give their right arm to be down just 10%. Some big-name companies that have dropped out include Texaco, Wrigley's, Bass Pro Shops and Napa. But other sponsors are either holding firm or even expanding their Nascar sponsorships. (Wall Street Journal)

Petty: Slow down in corporate sponsorship bigger threat than lagging attendance: Kyle Petty, whose father won more Nascar races than anyone, said the slowdown of corporate investment is a bigger risk for the motor sport than the recession’s effect on attendance. The 48-year-old from Randleman, North Carolina, who won’t be in the driver’s seat as Nascar kicks off the 2009 season with the Daytona 500 race on Feb. 15, said the racing league has done a good job of keeping venues filled. “As long as we can keep entertaining, I don’t think it’s going to be a major impact,” Petty said in a telephone interview from Nashville, Tennessee. “The major impact will come from sponsorship dollars that are out there and how people choose to advertise in the future.” (Bloomberg.com)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

ScottsMiracle-Gro to sponsor No. 08 Boris Said: ScottsMiracle-Gro and Carter/Simo Racing announced that they will sponsor Boris Said in the #08 Ford Fusion for the Daytona 500. The #08 Ford Fusion will feature the Scotts Bonus S Max Lawn Fertilizer paint scheme during Daytona Speedweeks. “I’m really happy that Scotts is on board for the 500,” commented Said. “Between using Scotts products on my lawn and helping Carl (Edwards) with his road racing efforts, I feel like I already have a strong relationship with Scotts. I’m thrilled to represent them over the next week.” “It is great to have an opportunity to team up with Boris Said for the Daytona 500 where he will be driving the Scotts Bonus S Max Ford Fusion,” said Jim Shertzer, Event Marketing and Sponsorship Manager for ScottsMiracle-Gro. “Living in Southern California, Boris has already started to enjoy his Scotts lawn and his Ford Fusion is featuring Scotts Bonus S Max Lawn Fertilizer – with its unique 3-in-1 formula that kills and prevents fire ants for up to six months, kills dollarweed and feeds your lawn!”. Carter/Simo racing is proud to offer fans with a unique way to interact with them at the 51st Daytona 500. Fans will be able to join a social network where they will get an unrestricted view of how the teams prepare for Daytona. Fans will be provided multiple live daily updates of the teams progress. They can also follow the team through practices, Coors Pole qualifying, Gatorade Duel events, and ultimately the Daytona 500. Photos, videos, and messages will all come direct from the team, to the fans at no cost. More info at www.em-motorsports.com.(Carter/Simo Racing PR)

Subway to sponsor No.99 Carl Edwards three races: Subway Restaurants will serve as the primary sponsor of Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Sprint Cup Series Ford for three races in 2009, which includes the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in April. Edwards will also pilot the car in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway and then a to be announced race.(RacingOne)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Skinner lands Daytona 500 sponsorship: R3 Motorsports announced Friday that Mahindra Tractors will serve as the primary sponsor on the team’s No. 23 Chevrolet that Mike Skinner will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Daytona 500. R3 Motorsports, which fielded a part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series effort last season for driver Robert Richardson Jr., will attempt to qualify for its first Cup race with Skinner behind the wheel. Skinner, who plans to run a full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season in 2009, has 15 previous Cup starts at the 2.5-mile Daytona trioval. “I first want to thank R3 Motorsports and Mahindra Tractors for this opportunity to race," said Skinner. "The Daytona 500 is one of those things, that as a racer, it is an honor to be able to compete in. The crew has been busy working back at the shop to put a car out there that will be strongly competitive and qualify for the big show. “Even though the team is very young and it is their first Cup race, there is a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise at R3 Motorsports. I hope with my veteran status that I can lend a hand and produce strong results at Daytona." (SceneDaily.com)

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Guitar Hero to be featured on No. 1 and No. 8 EGR cars: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced a partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., the publisher of the top-selling Guitar Hero video game franchise, for a multi-race deal that will include primary sponsorship of multiple races with Aric Almirola and his No. 8 Chevy, and multiple races with Martin Truex Jr. and his No. 1 Chevy. In the 2009 Daytona 500, the first race to feature a Guitar Hero branded car, the No. 8 will race around the track with a paint scheme of Activision’s latest #1 music-based video game - Guitar Hero World Tour. The orange and black car will sport the familiar Guitar Hero World Tour logo and the same graphics as the game’s packaging. Subsequent races will feature the No. 8 or the No. 1 cars branded with upcoming Guitar Hero titles. Aric Almirola: Driver,No. 8 Chevy: “I was excited about running my first Daytona 500 to begin with, but now having the Guitar Hero brands on my car will make it even that much more fun. I can’t think of another brand that I would rather have on my car. I play the Guitar Hero games all the time and to now be representing it is very cool.”
Martin Truex Jr.: “I am really looking forward to pairing up with Activision and Guitar Hero. It is one of my favorite video game brands and I can’t wait to see it on my car.”
Steve Lauletta: President, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: “I really love to see big brands come into the sport and it is even better when they are on one of our cars. I don’t know if there is a bigger or hotter video game brand right now than the Guitar Hero franchise. We had an opportunity to work with them last season and now look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with Activision.”(Aric Almirola site

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Academy Sports to sponsor Labonte five races: Hall of Fame Racing announced that Academy Sports + Outdoors, a leader in the sports and outdoor industry, will sponsor Bobby Labonte and the No. 96 Ford for five races in the Sprint Cup Series in 2009. Academy Sports + Outdoor's will debut with the No. 96 Academy Sports + Outdoor Ford at Bristol Motor Speedway. The retail leader will again race at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500, Daytona International Speedway in the Coke Zero 400, Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Pep Boys Auto 500 and Talladega Superspeedway in the Amp Energy 500. (Yates Racing PR)

Monday, January 26, 2009

NASCAR's sponsors making large cuts: The grim economic news isn't just affecting NASCAR's teams as they prepare for next month's season openers at Daytona International Speedway. Four of NASCAR's largest corporate sponsors -- including Sprint Nextel Corp. -- announced major layoffs and cutbacks Monday as a result of the worldwide economic slowdown. In an effort to reduce labor costs by more than $1 billion, Sprint Nextel officials announced the company will eliminate 8,000 jobs -- or 14 percent of its workforce -- by the end of the March, placing a freeze on salary increases and suspending its 401(k) match for the year. The nation's third-largest wireless phone carrier posted a net loss of $326 million in the third quarter of 2008 and nearly $1.2 billion for the first three quarters of 2008. (More at NASCAR.com)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Report: Labonte in No. 96; Ask.com to sponsor: Former Sprint Cup champion Bobby Labonte will drive the No. 96 car for Yates Racing. Hall of Fame Racing announced earlier in the day that it has aligned itself with Yates Racing to run the 96 for the entire Sprint Cup season. Labonte, who had been in discussions with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing for the No. 8 car, will be the driver as part of a three-car operation. His car will be sponsored by Ask.com for the first 18 races of the season, starting with the Daytona 500, with an option to buy more as the year goes on. Ask also signed on as "the official search engine of NASCAR," in two separate deals that bring new money into NASCAR at a time most of the industry is scouring the crumbling economic market for funding. (ESPN.com)

Official -- Hall of Fame Racing & Ask.com Team/NASCAR Sponsorship

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