Travis Carter’s #23 team faces uncertainty with this week’s announcement that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.(Winston) won’t return as the team’s primary sponsor next season. Carter said Sunday he sensed as soon as last year that the contract wouldn’t be renewed beyond its expiration after this season, and he knew well in advance of this week’s announcement that the decision had been made. The team has been looking for a sponsor since the beginning of 1999 and is encouraged by the response he has found. Driver Jimmy Spencer is not signed beyond the end of the current season, and Carter said he wants to get the sponsorship matter settled before tackling that issue. Whatever happens, Carter said, his struggling team still needs to make the most of what’s left this season(in part from That’s Racin’ )
