saw this on TNN’s Motorsports site and getting many questions on how it’ll effect Jeff Burton and the #99: Exide Pulling Top Fuel Program?: According to sources, Exide Batteries has apparently pulled out as sponsor of the Top Fuel team owned by Tony Schumacher’s father Don for 2000. The elder Schumacher reportedly will not field his championship-winning team without a major sponsor, leaving his title-winning son without a ride to defend it(TNN) I have not heard any problems with Exide and Roush for either the CUP or CTS deal. The CUP team even has a new Paint Scheme for 2000, but then again, so did Schumacher — UPDATE: a source tells me that the Schumachers are looking into the legalities of Exide leaving but that the move by Exide should not effect the CUP or CTS sponsorships(1-8-2000) — UPDATE 2: Exide restructured its motorsports sponsorship after suffering third-quarter financial losses, which reportedly caused them to get out of drag racing. Exide is staying with Jack Roushs NASCAR Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck teams both of which get more television exposure than the National Hot Rod Association despite the fact that Schumacher is the NHRA defending champion, while Roushs truck is driven by a series rookie(Kurt Busch)(SpeedVision)(1-10-2000) — UPDATE 3: Exide has decided not to leave NHRA and had re-joined Schumacher as his sponsor for 2000(SpeedVision)(2-3-2000)
