Ultra Motorsports has been informed this week that the primary sponsor of its #7 Dodges driven by Jimmy Spencer in the Winston Cup series, Sirius Satellite Radio , will not return next season, ThatsRacin.com has learned. Sirius has sponsored the team since the start of the 2002 season. The team is actively searching for a replacement, sources said.( ThatsRacin.com ), wonder if Sirius will return as title sponsors to Cup races at Michigan and Watkins Glen in 2004? AND SIRIUS will remain on the #7 car for the rest of the season — a year that has been somewhat of a resurrection for Ultra Motorsports’ Winston Cup team. Led by driver Jimmy Spencer and crew chief Tommy Baldwin, the team has registered seven top 20s, two top 10s and one top five. The team’s fourth-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway (May 25) gave SIRIUS its best finish since its arrival in the Winston Cup Series in 2002, and the #7 team is already $5 million ahead of television exposure value than it was at this point last year, according to Joyce Julius reports. “This is an exciting time for Ultra Motorsports, because we finally have people in place to make this team a winner,” Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith said. “I think the excitement Jimmy brings to the track gives sponsors a considerable advantage, because he draws so much attention wherever he goes. Pairing him with Tommy Baldwin has produced immediate results, and there is no doubt in my mind we’re heading in the right direction with this race team. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our partnership with SIRIUS, and we will continue to promote SIRIUS satellite radios throughout the year. I feel both sides have benefited greatly in this relationship, and we’ve given fans a lot to talk about. We’ve improved remarkably since last year, and we’ve contended for wins. Had it not been for just bad racing luck, we would’ve had a win under our belt already. We hope to take SIRIUS to victory lane before this season ends.” Smith said he has already been contacted by several companies interested in sponsoring this revamped Ultra program.(Ultra Motorsports PR(7-22-2003)
