Lowes to Hendrick? UPDATE 7: Winston Cup team owner Rick Hendrick hopes to announce the primary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson’s Winston Cup effort within the next six weeks. “We have associates and all that done, we just haven’t announced it,” Hendrick said Aug. 3. “Probably sometime in the next 30 to 45 days. We haven’t signed anything yet.” If Lowe’s were to leave Richard Childress Racing, rumors are the company could move to Hendrick Motorsports.(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read online) UPDATEs see more past news on this on the #48 Team News and Links page UPDATE 3: hearing that Haas Automation, currently an associate sponsor on the three current Hendricks cars(#’s 5,24,25) could be the primary sponsor of the #48 Chevy for Johnson(8-21-2001) UPDATE 4: There are indications that Lowe’s suddenly might not have as solid a sponsorship deal with Hendrick and rookie Jimmie Johnson as once anticipated, that Lowe’s might not be that interested in marketing such a young rookie, even with the Jeff Gordon tie-in.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-3-2001) UPDATE 5 – Hendrick to announce new team on Tuesday: Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon are expected to officially announce their plans for a 2002 Winston Cup team for Jimmie Johnson at Tuesday’s media day at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The selection of the site for the announcement is no coincidence since it appears that Lowe’s will be the primary sponsor for Johnson’s team(That’s Racin’)(9-17-2001) UPDATE 6: a letter/flyer was sent out by Lowes to Team Lowes Racing Fan Club members, the letter says (in part) – “In 2002, Jimmie Johnson will take the wheel of the No. 48 Lowes Monte Carlo and team with three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon as part of the successful Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers. You can catch a sneak preview of the new team at three events this year, as Jimmie will debut the No. 48 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, followed by runs at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 11 and Atlanta Motor Speedway on November 18(many readers), also see a ‘possible’ image of what the #48 will look like on my Paint Schemes page(9-18-2001) UPDATE 7 – it’s OFFICIAL: Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse announced today a multi-year primary sponsorship with Hendrick Motorsports for the new #48 Monte Carlo team to be driven by Jimmie Johnson in the Winston Cup 2002 season. In addition, Lowe’s will be an associate sponsor on the #24 Monte Carlo driven by Jeff Gordon, who will be Johnson’s new teammate. The new Lowe’s No. 48 will give fans a sneak preview on Oct. 7 when it makes its racing debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, followed by runs at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 11 and Atlanta Motor Speedway on Nov. 18. The car will run a full schedule in 2002. The Lowe’s sponsorship is the final piece of a program that began earlier this year when Hendrick signed Johnson to drive for the team in 2002. The #48 Lowe’s Monte Carlo will be co-owned by Hendrick and Gordon, a three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion. See an image from CMI on my Paint Schemes page(CMI PR)(9-18-2001)
