NASCAR’s Nextel dealings continue to have repercussions throughout the Winston Cup garage, and some car owners are increasingly worried about what appears to be NASCAR’s new aggressive stance in defining sponsorship categories, such as telecommunications. At the start of the season every driver and car owner must sign a contract with NASCAR agreeing to abide by a number of rules, including limits on sponsorships and marketing. No sign, no drive. With the Nextel-AT& –T furor, some car owners fear that NASCAR may expand those limits.( Winston Salem Journal ) UPDATE: heard that Nextel has been deluged with letters, emails and telephone calls from race fans, asking them to reconsider their decision to now allow AT&T to sponsor Ken Schrader. The reason NASCAR had to say something was to take the heat off of Nextel, and NASCAR agreed to say it was their decision, even though it obviously is Nextel’s. If the sponsorship is going to come through for Schrader, Nextel will have to agree to allow it to happen. If fans want to write, see the address on my NASCAR Sponsors Page [the end of the Winston/Nextel news](7-21-2003)
