Dallas Cowboys and RCR? UPDATE 3: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may not be able to get his team to the Super Bowl, but he could have a car in Daytona. Officials confirmed Thursday that Jones is negotiating to invest up to $10 million in the Richard Childress Winston Cup racing team. Jones has said the goal is to have an agreement in place by February of 2002 when the NASCAR season starts with the Daytona 500. These discussions are the latest example of the Cowboys thrust to market the club beyond the football field. The club attempted to strike a deal to have their colors and logo placed on a car in the Direct TV 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway last year, but the deal fell through(FoxSports)(7-27-2001) UPDATE: Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, has been in discussions with Richard Childress Racing to either invest in or sponsor a Winston Cup team next season(That’s Racin’)(7-28-2001) UPDATE 2: Jones has talked with Richard Childress, president of Richard Childress Racing, on issues of NASCAR ownership and the business of securing sponsors to pay the bills. “We’re just in the preliminary discussion stage right now,” Jones said. “We recognize that NASCAR is an outstanding sport and has a great number of fans who have a lot of synergy with Dallas Cowboys fans.” Jones has been told by NASCAR officials that “upwards of $9 million to $12 million a year” can be brought in by sponsors vying for advertising space on the car. “As owners — again, if we’re involved — we will use the credibility and the visibility of the Dallas Cowboys to promote the racing team during its season and have a [marketing] tie-in during our season,” Jones said. “We are going to be sponsored by other companies. That’s the business of racing … to cover your expenses of owning a car. If you do it right, that could mean upwards of $9 million to $12 million a year covered by sponsors. Certainly, we would anticipate that.” Jones wouldn’t hint at possible sponsors. But he has had business associations with Pepsi-Cola, Miller beer and Dr. Pepper, to name a few. “It would be obvious to everybody that this was the Dallas Cowboys’ car out there,” Jones said. “It will done — if we do it — strictly on a business basis.” Jones’ sons, Stephen and Jerry Jones Jr., are involved in the day-to-day operation of the Cowboys, and they also have significant roles in projects such as Dallas’ new Arena Football League team, which begins play in 2002. “Right now, this is the Dallas Cowboys teaming up with people who are in the [NASCAR] business,” Jones said. “But no matter what we might do here, my focus will remain on football. I am the owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. The car, the visibility, the success of [racing] would be done just like I run the Dallas Cowboys — just not by me.” Jones’ family members will handle all corporate decisions, even the hiring of the driver(Star Telegram)(7-29-2001) UPDATE 3: Might we see the silver background and blue star of the Dallas Cowboys on a Richard Childress car in the future? It’s a distinct possibility. “We’d be crazy not to listen to the Cowboys,” says Childress, whose stable includes five cars — three in Winston Cup and two in the Busch Series(Sporting News) and a story at NASCAR.com Childress: On Purvis, Harvick, Cowboys(7-30-2001)
