Sources tell [ESPN’s Marty Smith] Kevin Harvick will have a split sponsorship on the #29 in 2011, and Budweiser will be on the car in the majority of points races, as well as the two exhibition events. There are still some hurdles to jump to get the Bud deal done. RCR had no comment when [Marty] asked them about it. Budweiser, either. Budweiser and Harvick are a good match. His edgy personality fits the brand well. He meshes with the no-nonsense good ol’ boy, red label demographic. I’m told Harvick did himself a huge favor with the way he conducted himself in Victory Lane at the Shootout in February — beer in hand while saying and doing the right things in front of the company’s new management.(ESPN.com)(8-7-2010)
UPDATE: Officials with Anheuser-Busch and Richard Childress Racing are close to finalizing a sponsorship package that would put the popular Budweiser beer brand on the team’s #29 Chevy with driver Kevin Harvick beginning in 2011, sources said. An announcement is expected to come within the next week. Budweiser currently sponsors the # 9 Ford of Richard Petty Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne. Kahne will drive for Red Bull Racing in 2011 and is slated to move to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, where he will replace veteran Mark Martin in Hendrick’s # 5 Chevy. Budweiser, which has a long history in NASCAR, is not expected to remain at RPM. “Budweiser has decided to go in another direction with regard to its driver/team sponsorship and will announce those plans in the very near future,” Mark Wright, Vice President, Media, Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said in a statement provided by the company. “We enjoyed our three-year relationship with Kasey Kahne and wish him all the best in the future.”(Scene Daily)(8-12-2010)
UPDATE2: Richard Childress Racing has called a press conference for Tuesday morning at team headquarters for a “major announcement regarding 2011 season and beyond”.(8-15-2010)
UPDATE3: Budweiser will sponsor the #29 Richard Childress Racing Chevy that Kevin Harvick drives, a three-year deal [2011-2013] and be the primary sponsor for the majority of Sprint Cup races each season (RCR/Bud Video Press Conference).
UPDATE4: Budweiser announced Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick will become the next star to take the wheel of the iconic Budweiser car when the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season begins in February. “Budweiser’s involvement in NASCAR dates back more than three decades, and we’re excited to have as successful a driver as Kevin Harvick to usher in a new era for Budweiser,” said Mark Wright, vice president of media, sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. “Kevin also benefits from having the support of a highly respected owner in Richard Childress and the great people of Richard Childress Racing, who will help put the #29 Budweiser Chevy in a position to challenge for Sprint Cup championships.”
Under the terms of the [3-year] deal, Budweiser will serve as primary sponsor of the #29 Chevy for 20 points races, two non-points races during Speedweeks [Bud Shootout & Gatorade Duel] and co-primary sponsor of the Sprint All-Star Race. Budweiser will remain an associate sponsor for the remaining races on the schedule. Harvick is the two-time and defending champion of the Budweiser Shootout (2009-2010).(RCR)(8-17-2010), see images of the car on my 2011 #29 Team Schemes page.(8-17-2010)
