hearing that Martin Truex, current driver of the #1 DEI Chevy, could be headed to a 4th Penske Racing team with UPS as the sponsor.(5-4-2008) UPDATE – UPS denies negotiating with any team: UPS officials released a statement Monday saying the company is not currently in negotiations with any specific Sprint Cup team or driver. UPS currently sponsors the #44 driven by David Reutimann. Michael Waltrip Racing Vice President Cal Wells has said that UPS has had preliminary discussions with six teams about what cars and drivers they would have open for 2009 and “UPS is doing exactly what they should be doing. We either earn the business back or we won’t.” But to say that UPS has started negotiations with any team is not accurate, according to a company official. “As of this date, UPS is not engaged in formal active sponsorship negotiations with any NASCAR Sprint Cup driver or race team,” read the statement, attributed to UPS Director of Sponsorship & Events Ron Rogowski. With Dale Jarrett’s retirement this year, UPS is looking for another face for a long-term campaign. One of the drivers often mentioned is #99-Carl Edwards, who right now is sponsored by Office Depot. Roush Fenway Racing and Office Depot currently are in an exclusive negotiating period for Edwards. “UPS went to six or eight race teams, visited them, to get all the inventory that they all had,” Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith said Saturday. “And from that, they told us they would cut it down amongst the teams. There’s been no negotiating.”(SceneDaily.com)(5-6-2008)
