Exide Batteries, who will leave the #99 Roush CTS Truck at the end of the year, may be leaving the #99 Cup team of Jeff Burton too. Rumors have CITGO moving from the #21 Wood Bros Ford and moving to the #99 (was rumored on the #16 too). Supposedly, Quality Care/Ford Credit(being replaced on the #88 with UPS) will go to the Wood Bros. ALSO hearing that Roush Racing sent out a fax on Wednesday(8/23) saying that Exide would not return as the primary sponsor for the #99 in 2001 and that they are looking for a sponsor UPDATE: Exide Corp., which sponsors the #99 Fords of Jeff Burton, has informed the team of its intention not to return next season. Exide has a contract with Roush Racing and Burton’s team through the 2001 season. The company has undergone financial difficulties over the past several months and is re-evaluating its entire involvement in motorsports. Sources said Friday that Burton’s car owner, Jack Roush, was aware of the company’s thinking and already has plans in the works for a new sponsor for Burton’s team. A formal announcement of Exide’s departure is expected Monday(That’s Racin’)(8-25-2000) UPDATE 2: Exide isn’t expected to return next season as Jeff Burton’s sponsor, and Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, says he’s looking for a major new sponsor of the caliber of Pfizer, the company that will be backing Mark Martin the next five years at $12($15?) million a year. Kevin Lepage will be back for another season with Jack Roush, Smith said. CITGO will probably not be back as sponsor for the Wood Brothers, Smith said; Quality Care could be their new sponsor(PitNow). Expect an announcement this week about Exide leaving and CITGO being the new #99 sponsor(8-27-2000) UPDATE 3: Exide will shift the focus of its motorsports programs to an associate sponsorship of the Roush Racing Team while retaining the company’s association with NASCAR. Total savings will be approximately $15 million annually, beginning in October 2000(Yahoo Biz) AND Roush Racing announced Monday that Exide Batteries would not continue its primary sponsorship of the #99 Ford driven by Jeff Burton. Exide will retain an associate sponsorship with the team(NOL)(8-28-2000)
