No More Winston in ‘Winston Cup’? UPDATE: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., stands accused of violating the 1998 multi-billion dollar tobacco settlement with state governments by advertising year-round at race tracks. If the signage is struck down, it could cause RJR to re-evaluate its financial support of racing, which industry sources believe approaches $40 million a year. See full story at the CNN/SI site: RJR accused of violating tobacco settlement, to much info to cut down or post here AND also at the CNN/SI site: What’s in a name? – Future of ‘Winston’ Cup remains uncertain some highlights: If by some long-shot, R. J. Reynolds decides to withdraw its NASCAR sponsorship after the season, who’ll fill the Winston Cup void? You might expect several corporate giants — like soft-drink producers, for starters — to eagerly line up and hand over tens of millions, industry sources say. It’s also a fair bet NASCAR would ignore the big-money guys tied to edgier products, such as major beer companies Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing.(4-25-2001) UPDATE: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. officials acknowledge a decision has been reached to continue bankrolling stock car racings Winston Cup Series beyond this season. A formal announcement of the sponsorship extension is likely within the next two weeks, along with details of the tobacco giant’s future relationships with the NHRA Drag Racing Series and golfs $1.6 million Vantage Championship — both of which it also presently sponsors. “There is no question that our most valued sponsorship, given the duration of our partnership, has been the NASCAR sponsorship,” said Rick Sanders, president of RJR’s Sports Marketing Enterprises. “We’re still finalizing our plans on how to proceed with all of them, but it’s a fair assumption our Winston Cup/NASCAR sponsorship, in general, will continue on into the future.” RJR has until the end of the year to reduce its sponsorship to a single cigarette brand in order to comply with the 1998 tobacco settlement. It currently has the three sports-related sponsorships.(CNN/SI)(6-7-2001)
