Roush and Valvoline, meanwhile are continuing to negotiate, with proposals out and under evaluation. Rumored replacements include GE(General Electric) and Wal-Mart. Also Valvoline could end up a major assoc across all the Roush teams like Quaker State is with Hendrick Motorsports(SpeedVision) UPDATE: hearing that Pfizer may in the running for sponsorship of the #6 Ford(5-28-2000) UPDATE 2: While there are talks about extending the Valvoline deal, another possibility is that Pfizer’s sponsorship could wind up on that (#6)car(That’s Racin’)(5-29-2000) UPDATE 3: Top sponsor will change for Martin. Pfizer/Viagra will be the primary sponsor for NASCAR driver Mark Martin’s #6 Ford next year. The new deal for Martin and Roush Racing is reportedly worth $60 million over five years, according to several sources within the NASCAR industry. This years primary sponsor, Valvoline, and Martin have enjoyed one of the longest-running relationships in the sport. (Valvoline) is more likely to be an associate sponsor than as a primary sponsor next year — that would be a true statement, said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, on Tuesday evening. But as far as other things going on, were not going to talk (about names and specifics) until everything is completed. Pfizer/Viagra is the primary sponsor of Pontiac #27 driver Mike Bliss this season(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(5-31-2000) UPDATE 4: The Valvoline Company has announced that at the conclusion of the 2000 season it will no longer be the major sponsor of the Roush Racing Ford driven by Mark Martin on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. Valvoline is pursuing other opportunities within NASCAR and is confident that they will continue to be a major sponsor in Winston Cup racing as they have been for the last 25 years(Yahoo Biz)(6-1-2000) UPDATE 5: Although Valvoline will no longer be a primary sponsor, they still expect to be associated with them(Roush) in some capacity in the future and that Valvoline is confident the company will continue as a “major sponsor” in Winston Cup. Sources told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week that Martin and Roush were to sign a five-year, $72 million contract with Bentonville-based Wal-Mart, a deal that would include a $5 million bonus to win the Winston Cup championship, beginning next year. But the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported this week that a five-year, $60 million deal had been signed with Pfizer/Viagra as company that Martin signed on to work with an advertising campaign for the company this season along with fellow drivers Bobby Labonte and Rusty Wallace. Other potential sponsors believed to be interested include United Parcel Services, Ford Quality Care and General Electric. No word has come from Roush Racing at all(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)(6-5-2000)
