Willie Lanier says his plans to get a Winston Cup team up and running for next season aren’t going quite as fast as he’d hoped when he and Jim Brown, another NFL legend, announced their NASCAR goals back in February. But Lanier, now an investment banker here for First Union, says his dreams are just as bright as ever. See the rest of the PitNow story at: Lanier’s NASCAR plans stalled, but he says he’s still optimistic — UPDATE: Willie Lanier remains enthusiastic about getting involved in the sport. But as a businessman, he realizes the window is closing for getting involved in Winston Cup next season. At the Daytona 500 in February, Lanier announced the formation of Celebrity Motorsports with Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown and Bill Futterer of Berea, Ohio. The group wants to become involved in ownership of a Winston Cup team through an alliance with an existing team. Lanier reportedly has spoken with NASCAR owner Felix Sabates, and hes had several meetings with potential sponsors. By getting involved with an established owner such as Sabates, the group hopes to cut down on start-up costs. Lanier and Brown are part of a new wave of minority ownership in NASCAR. Former Redskins running back Joe Washington formed a Busch Grand National team with Julius Erving in 1997, and track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee has formed a Winston Cup team with her husband. Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green is part of a group that will run Cup races next season Lanier isnt necessarily seeking a minority-themed sponsor, however. Lanier has been in the investment banking business for nearly 20 years, and he still sees potential for an influx of more sponsorship money(in part – Times-Dispatch )
