hearing that Budweiser could sponsor one of the Evernham Motorsports teams in 2008, leaving DEI and Dale Earnhardt Jr. it could be the sponsor for Kasey Kahne if Dodge lets him out of their sponsor deal of the #9 and if Bud feels Kahne meets their demographics, or even #19-Elliott Sadler team. Supposedly DEI could still be in play for the Bud sponsor, but looks like Bud will not follow Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports and that Pepsi/Mountain Dew will sponsor Dale Jr. in 2008.(7-10-2007) UPDATE: Budweiser officials are shopping around for their best sponsorship option in NASCAR, a clear indication that the beer company will not sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports next season, sources confirmed Tuesday. It’s expected that PepsiCo Inc., possibly with the Mountain Dew brand or a combination of Pepsi products, will sponsor Earnhardt next season in the #5 Chevy [or possibly the #8] for Hendrick. And Anheuser-Busch is negotiating with Evernham Motorsports to possibly move the Bud sponsorship to Kasey Kahne’s #9 Dodge next season. Budweiser officials also have contacted officials at Lowe’s Motor Speedway about the possibility of holding a news conference at the Lowe’s Speedway Club next week if a new team sponsorship agreement is reached. An Evernham Motorsports official said Tuesday that no agreement has been reached with Budweiser and that the Evernham marketing department was talking to several other companies about potential sponsorships for 2008. Team owner Ray Evernham has an agreement with Dodge, through the Dodge Dealers, to sponsor both Kahne’s car and the #19 Dodge of Elliott Sadler through 2010. The Dodge dealers would have to sign off on any deal to allow Budweiser to move to Kahne’s car. One source close to the negotiations told ESPN.com that it’s still possible Budweiser could stay at Dale Earnhardt Inc., depending on whom DEI signs to replace Earnhardt. Budweiser officials now have targeted four other drivers they would consider sponsoring next season, including Kahne. The other three drivers are not known.(more at ESPN.com) UPDATE: on Wednesday’s NASCAR Now on ESPN, Terry Blount said another driver Bud is interested in is Kyle Busch. Also it was reported that the Bud/Hendrick Motorsports parting before the 2000 season [when they went from the #25 HMS Chevy to the #8 DEI Chevy was not a friendly split and it is doubtful they would team up again. Marty Smith also mentioned Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s possible deal with Pepsi could be in the $25-30million range.(7-11-2007) UPDATE: Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham says reports that he is close to signing a deal with Budweiser for next season are unfounded. Published reports this week have linked Budweiser with Evernham driver #9-Kasey Kahne for the 2008 season, and while Evernham confirmed that conversations have taken place, he said there is no truth to rumors that he will announce the new deal next week. “We have talked to Budweiser, but they have also spoken to five or six other teams in the Nextel Cup garage,” he said.(Motorsports Soapbox).(7-13-2007)
