On Speed Channel’s Inside Nextel Cup, Michael Waltrip said he would be making a sponsor announcement for the 2007 season for his Toyota team this weekend [at MIS]. Ken Schrader asked why not now [on the show], Waltrip said the paperwork isn’t signed yet in which Schrader asked if there was a chance it wouldn’t get signed; Waltrip responded: “Domino’s Delivers” and then “Have it Your Way” the motto for Burger King,(6-13-2006)
UPDATE: Michael Waltrip will make an announcement about the future of Michael Waltrip Racing on Sunday morning, June 18th at MIS.(6-17-2006)
UPDATE 2 – The Announcement: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced Sunday it has formed a unique partnership with two marquee brands Domino’s Pizza and Burger King Corporation to be co-primary sponsors of its second 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team. “When we first approached Burger King and Domino’s Pizza, we knew we were thinking outside of the box and didn’t know if two food brands would be willing to work together to sponsor the same team,” said Michael Waltrip. “We took the risk and are very excited to have two of the world’s most recognized brands sponsoring the #00 NASCAR Nextel Cup team.”
“It’s not unusual for two or more sponsors to split a sponsorship season,” said Ty Norris, General Manager for Michael Waltrip Racing. “However, this is the first time that two companies within the same industry agreed to be sponsors of the same car during the same season. This is another example of the unprecedented approach Michael Waltrip Racing is taking to becoming a multi-car NASCAR Nextel Cup team organization.”
Domino’s will kick off the [2007] season at the Daytona 500 and continue as the primary sponsor through the May race in Darlington, SC. A Domino’s paint scheme will also adorn the #00 Toyota Camry at the August Nextel Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Domino’s will deliver its final five races during the Chase for the Nextel Cup Series championship. The #00-Burger King Toyota Camry will hit the track Memorial Day weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, and cap off the regular season under the lights at Richmond International Raceway. Five Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup races, including the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, will feature the Burger King paint scheme. The split-season sponsorship allows Domino’s and Burger King to continue their respective relationships with Michael Waltrip Racing, while positioning both companies at the forefront of the changing motorsports industry. The team along with input from both sponsors is in negotiations to secure a driver and will make a separate announcement once a driver has been determined. “I hope we find a driver who likes to eat,” said Waltrip. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with both Domino’s Pizza and Burger King in the past and believe we’re delivering a race team the fans will love.” Domino’s, the Official Pizza of NASCAR, partnered with MWR three times in 2005 as the primary sponsor on Waltrip’s #99 Busch Series car and will be the primary sponsor of Waltrip’s #55 Nextel Cup Series car at the Michigan International Speedway race in August [2006]. Burger King recently announced plans to join MWR for a partial season in 2006, sponsoring the #00 Nextel Cup car for five races beginning in July at Chicagoland Speedway [with Bill Elliott driving](Michael Waltrip Racing PR)
AND But the driver? It could be Dale Jarrett. Or it could be someone else. The announcement of Burger King and Domino’s could open the door for UPS to back a third Michael Waltrip Racing team with Jarrett as driver. “We want three teams,” Waltrip said. “That’s our goal. Until we define the third sponsor, we’re not able to say who’s going to drive the third car.” Last month, Waltrip announced Jarrett would join his team. UPS is said to be shopping its sponsorship and could follow Jarrett, stay with Robert Yates Racing or go to another team [#9? #16?]. Ty Norris, vice president and general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, said the team has set a deadline of mid-July on whether it will have three teams.(SceneDaily.com)(6-18-2006)
