hearing NASCAR turned down an AT&T team sponsorship in the past few days due to the new deal with Nextel. Wonder if it was for the #99 team since they used to sponsor the #17 team as an associate? AND from USA Today : Though Nextel will not be granted the same exclusivity [as Winston/RJR] — existing team sponsors such as Alltel and Cingular will be ”grandfathered” into the series, even though they are Nextel’s competition — Roush Racing officials are not sure what that means to their sponsorship deal with AT&T Wireless. In anticipation of losing CITGO, an oil company, as the sponsor of Jeff Burton’s #99 Ford, Roush executives have been working the last few months to line up AT&T, one of the team’s associate sponsors, to become Burton’s primary sponsor next season. Team President Geoff Smith says NASCAR officials have not made it clear to him whether they’ll allow the sponsorship. ”We have something in place there,” Smith says. ”Whether or not it survives scrutiny, I don’t know.” The team might have to find another sponsor for Burton’s car, but Smith isn’t giving up hope for AT&T: ”It may still be a very real opportunity, depending on what the announcement is as to what the rules are.”(6-19-2003) UPDATE – Bang Racing? hearing that a new Winston Cup team – Bang Racing was in line to receive the AT&T Wireless sponsorship – not Roush Racing. Bang Racing is a new team founded by Alex Meshkin, a young technology executive from Reston, VA. Ironically – the same city where Nextel is headquartered. Meshkin founded a software company that he sold when he was just 19 years old he is now 23. Also hearing that Bang Racing is not just another race team – but a technology-based team that enables corporations to make NASCAR sponsorships interactive and measurable using a patented wireless technology. Apparently, this technology will allow fans to interact with teams and sponsors using any wireless phone – not just Nextel phones. Have heard that Bang Racing has been in talks with Nextel about a car sponsorship deal – but Nextel decided to become the title sponsor instead. Nextel and Bang Racing are still talking about a technology deal that would allow Nextel to exclusively offer this technology to their subscribers. Also, hearing that Larry McReynolds may be one of the owners along with Alex Meshkin and other technology executives from Reston, VA. AND the #49 BAM Racing team is sponsored for seven Cup races in 2003 by AT&T with 1-800-CALLATT and Carrott Top, no word on if this sponsorship will continue in 2004 or be effected.(6-19-2003)
