Wells/PPI Motorsports in Trouble? UPDATE 2 McDonalds to the #32 in 2002 as an Assoc: Some who should know believe owner Cal Wells is worse off than many believe and could be out of the game after this season. Wells faces the loss of McDonald’s, sponsor of his #96 team, and is negotiating with Tide, sponsor of his #32. The McDonald’s unrest has kept Andy Houston’s #96 out of the past two races, and although the team will return at Indy, it may run only a limited schedule the rest of the way. McDonald’s plans, meanwhile, remain entirely unclear, although most believe the company will not be a team sponsor next year. Wells is trying to keep a brave face on his two-year-old effort, which began with much fanfare at Daytona in 2000 but has been hobbled by misfortune from the start. He said he expects to be able to clarify the McDonald’s/96 situation by mid-week. He adds that he and Tide are on good terms and that he hopes to have that side solid by the end of the season. Wells recently re-signed Ricky Craven, driver of #32.(SpeedVision)(7-30-2001) UPDATE: Cal Wells hoped to reach an agreement with McDonald’s by July 31 regarding the relationship between the sponsor and his #96 PPI Motorsports team. McDonald’s is currently sponsoring rookie Andy Houston. The team, however, skipped the last two races at Loudon and Pocono after each side issued statements saying they were in discussions regarding the future. There was speculation McDonald’s would be on the car for just five more races the rest of the season, including the Aug. 5 Brickyard 400. Wells was unwilling to comment on the situation at Pocono, preferring to wait until a resolution was reached. Wells did say that Houston will continue racing for the team beyond Indy(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online)(8-2-2001) UPDATE: After reassessing its team sponsorship involvement in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, McDonald’s has reached an agreement with PPI Motorsports to revise its current sponsorship package. The agreement calls for McDonald’s to phase out of its current primary sponsorship of the PPI-owned #96 Ford Taurus and to become an associate sponsor in 2002 of the (#32) PPI/Tide Ford. “McDonald’s remains committed to supporting NASCAR,” said Georgina Roy, McDonald’s manager of sports marketing. “We decided to revise our sponsorship package after a thorough review of our current motorsports programs and discussions with PPI. McDonald’s will continue to support motorsports as the Official Drive Thru of NASCAR and as an associate sponsor of the PPI/Tide Ford through 2002.” PPI Motorsports will enter the McDonald’s Ford, driven by Andy Houston, in seven remaining races in 2001 with the primary sponsorship ending after the Sept. 30 race at Kansas Speedway. The seven races are: Indianapolis (Aug. 5), Brooklyn, Mich. (Aug. 19), Bristol, Tenn. (Aug. 25), Darlington, S.C. (Sept. 2), Richmond, Va. (Sept. 8), Dover, Del. (Sept. 23) and Kansas City, Kan. (Sept. 30)(PPI Motorsports PR)(8-3-2001
