March 22, 2006
- Latest on AT&T and Cingular UPDATE #31 news – NASCAR says NO: Life goes on for Cingular Wireless, even though the brand is mere months from dying away. AT&T, which plans to take full control of the cellphone provider as part of its acquisition of BellSouth, intends to drop the 5-year-old Cingular name. Although Atlanta-based Cingular has spent more than $4 billion advertising itself since the company was born, its services will be renamed with the historic AT&T brand. Cingular’s president and chief executive, Stan Sigman, supports the change, saying the company has been at a “competitive disadvantage” in pitting itself against rival Verizon Wireless, which shares the same name as other services offered by Verizon Communications. Cingular, meanwhile, has been distinct from its current corporate parents, AT&T and BellSouth. One thing isn’t up for debate: Because the Cingular brand will continue to exist for months, the carrier can’t afford to stop spending money on marketing. Thus you’ll see plenty of Cingular ads, notably during the NCAA men’s basketball tournament — which began this week — and during Fox TV’s hugely popular “American Idol.” Cingular will come full circle if, as expected, AT&T buys BellSouth for $67 billion in stock, taking full control of Cingular in the process. AT&T’s plans to eliminate the BellSouth and Cingular names, and move to the single AT&T name, would save hundreds of millions of dollars on ads.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), no mention in the column what happens with the #31 team, but would assume it will be rebranded AT&T at some point.(3-18-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR officials say they have informed Richard Childress Racing that if Cingular Wireless changes its name to AT&T, as expected after a recent merger, AT&T would not be allowed on Jeff Burton’s #31 car. NASCAR made the ruling based on its interpretation of its contract with series sponsor Nextel. Cingular and Alltel, as well as Samsung/Radio Shack with Texas Motor Speedway, were grandfathered in as existing sponsors when the Nextel Series sponsorship contract was signed in 2003. “It’s pretty clear that they can’t transfer a name due to a sale,” NASCAR Vice President for Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said March 17. Executives from Cingular would not comment March 16 when asked about what would happen to the company’s sponsorship. “Right now, Cingular is in it and is in it for the long haul,” team owner Richard Childress said March 19. “That’s about all I can say.” Hunter said that Cingular could negotiate with Nextel to try to transfer the name and keep the sponsorship. But Michael Robichaud, vice president for sports marketing for Sprint Nextel, said there are no plans to negotiate. One option could be for Cingular to move to the Busch Series, where any cellular company can provide sponsorship.(SceneDaily.com)(3-22-2006)
- Parsons moving ‘home’, starting a winery..NOT retiring: Like most people who left Wilkes for auto factory jobs and other work in Detroit in the 1940s and 1950s, Benny Parsons has returned to his native county. The Motor Racing Sports Hall of Fame driver and 1973 Winston Cup champion still has homes in Concord and Florida, but he’s building a house overlooking the North Prong of Lewis Fork Creek Valley in Parsonsville [NC] and surrounding mountains. The hilltop house is on land that’s been in his family for generations. On 10 adjoining acres where his forebears had an orchard, Parsons is planting rows of Chardonnay Merlot and Syrah grapes for a vineyard and winery. Parsons, 64, married and with two grown sons, has been in Wilkes a lot lately due to his new house and vineyard near where he was raised in Parsonsville. The motorsports radio show host and NASCAR TV analyst drew a big crowd when he was volunteer guest speaker at the Wilkes United Way Campaign Finale on Feb. 28. Parsons’ two brothers, Phil Parsons and Steve Parsons were born in Detroit and stayed with their parents. Steve still lives there and Phil lives in Denver.(In part from the Wilkes Journal-Patriot), also Parsons and wife Terri are building a vineyard on his old home place where he was born in Wilkes County N.C. The name of the vineyard is Rendezvous Ridge. Parsons has no plans to retire from broadcasting and hopes to be part of the ESPN or/and TNT TV package in 2007, NBC is in the final year of their NASCAR TV deal. Plans are to bottle and sell the wines under the label Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge.(3-22-2006)
- Hotel tax hike OK’d to help NASCAR hall: In an 8-1 vote, Mecklenburg commissioners agreed to raise the county’s hotel tax by 2 percentage points, from 6 to 8 percent. The money to be raised by the increase was a financial cornerstone of Charlotte’s bid to host the motorsports shrine. Commissioners held a public hearing on the increase, the public’s only chance to weigh in since the deal was announced. But no one came to object. Instead, half a dozen speakers — sporting buttons from the campaign to win the hall — stood up to praise it, saying the Hall of Fame will draw hundreds of thousands of tourists, and solidify the region’s status as home to the booming racing industry and the accompanying jobs. Mohammed Jenatian, president of the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance, said the tourism industry was involved in the decision to increase the tax, and believes the project is worth it.(Charlotte Observer)(3-22-2006)
- USG Scheme for #17 at Bristol: For the first of three times in 2006, Matt Kenseth will pilot the #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion. USG Sheetrock will also be the primary sponsor for the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in July and the November race at Phoenix International Raceway.(Roush Racing PR)(3-22-2006)
- Stewart’s Pit Crew Takes Top Honors in Atlanta: Tony Stewart’s pit crew captured the Checkers / Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition in Monday’s rain-delayed NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge is in its second season of rewarding pit crews, the unsung heroes in the Nextel Cup Series. The program awards $10,500 per week to the top pit crew. In addition, the pit crew with the most wins will be awarded a $105,000 bonus at the completion of the 36-race schedule. Stewart’s #20 Home Depot Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road (322.141 seconds) during Monday’s 500-mile race. The winning performance by the #20 crew lifted Stewart to a fifth-place finish. Stewart’s over-the-wall crew consists of: Jason Lee (jackman), Tom Dean (front-tire carrier), Ira-Jo Hussey (front-tire changer), Jody Fortson (rear-tire carrier), Todd Foster (rear-tire changer), Jeff Patterson (gasman), Brian Larson (catch can) and Scott Geerts (windshield). The team’s crew chief is Greg Zipadelli and the pit stop coordinator is Paul Alepa. The #20 crew, part of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, snapped a three-race win streak by Hendrick Motorsports teams. The first two Checkers/Rally’s Double Drive-Thru Challenge wins of the season went to Jimmie Johnson’s #48 crew. The round-three winner was the #5 crew for Kyle Busch. Daytona (2/19) Jimmie Johnson Team; California (2/26) Jimmie Johnson Team; Las Vegas (3/12) Kyle Busch Team; Atlanta (3/20) Tony Stewart Team.(DMF Communications PR), more at checkers.com.(3-22-2006)
- Congrats: Congratulations to Brent and Kathleen Sherman who welcomed their son, Brent Cooper Sherman, on March 21, 2006. Baby Cooper weighs eight pounds, five ounces and is 20.5 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well.(3-22-2006)
- DirecTV to sponsor RCR? UPDATE 2: looks like DirecTV will be an associate sponsor on the #07 Jack Daniel’s RCR Chevy Clint Bowyer will drive in 2006. See the schemes on my #07 Team Schemes page.(1-31-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR partner DIRECTV has announced an official partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), one of NASCAR’s premier racing teams. Through the partnership, DIRECTV will be an associate sponsor of the #07 Jack Daniel’s Chevy and its driver, Clint Bowyer, during the 2006 Nextel Cup Series season. The association with RCR aligns DIRECTV with one of the sport’s most well-respected racing programs and one of the sport’s most exciting young drivers. DIRECTV also will be primary sponsor of the #07 Chevy at three Nextel Cup Series races this season at Martinsville (April 2), Pocono (June 11) and Talladega (October 8).
As the nation’s leading digital TV service, DIRECTV has a long history with NASCAR, though this announcement marks the company’s first official sponsorship of a Nextel Cup team. The service has become an integral part of the sport by providing millions of fans the opportunity for the most enhanced, unique NASCAR viewing experience at home and trackside. DIRECTV has also become a critical piece of racing equipment for crew chiefs, as teams up and down pit road rely on the digital picture and sound to aid spotters and monitor car performance throughout the entire race. The partnership with RCR and Clint Bowyer will enable DIRECTV to create consumer marketing and retail promotions targeting NASCAR’s loyal fan base. In addition, the relationship will provide DIRECTV the opportunity to increase awareness of its new DIRECTV Plus ® DVR among race fans and emphasize current and future features that will enhance their race viewing experience.(RCR Site)(2-10-2006)
UPDATE 2: RCR, along with DIRECTV, will unveil a new look for the #07 Chevy Friday, March 24 at 10a.m. in Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway. The #07 DIRECTV Chevrolet will make its debut the following weekend in the DIRECTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Driver Clint Bowyer, crew chief Gil Martin and senior vice president of advertising and public relations, Jon Gieselman, from DIRECTV will be on hand for the unveiling.(RCR PR)(3-22-2006) - Milwaukee Mile Installs SAFER Barriers: The Milwaukee Mile has taken another step in the direction of recent safety and facility improvements, with the installation of the SAFER Barrier System, an energy-dissipating system that has been fastened to the speedway’s existing concrete wall.(Milwaukee Mile PR)(3-22-2006)
- Barr-Nunn to Sponsor O’Quinn at Bristol: Danny O’Quinn Jr.’s #50 Roush Racing Busch Series entry will have Barr-Nunn Transportation Inc., as a primary sponsor for this weekend’s Sharpie Mini 300. Barr-Nunn will run its first of two races as primary sponsor in the weekend’s event.(Roush Racing PR)(3-22-06)
- Norris Fined for Unapproved Jacking Bolt: NASCAR announced today that Chad Norris, crew chief of the #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, has been penalized due to rules violations at Atlanta. Norris was fined $5,000 for violating Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used that do not conform to NASCAR rules: 20A – 12.1A(7): unapproved front jacking bolt, excessive taper) of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Rule Book. The infraction was discovered during post-race inspection on March 18.(NASCAR Media)(3-22-2006)
- Superchips teams up with Mittler Bros. for Martinsville: The Mittler Bros. Motorsports team will carry sponsorship from Superchips on its #63 Ford for the upcoming Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday April 1. Superchips was the sponsor of one of Mittler’s protégés in the past, Carl Edwards, when Edwards drove for the Roush Racing team. Mittler will be debuting a new driver in Martinsville; one he hopes will follow in Edwards’ footsteps. “We’ll be bringing another young guy that no one has ever heard of to Martinsville, a guy we’re really excited about, Justin Martz,” Mittler said. “We’re really excited about him and we hope he’ll do as well in our truck as Carl and Jamie (McMurray) have in the past.” (truckseries.com)(3-22-2006)
- Martin signs #6 winning hood at Daytona: Per tradition, following this year’s GM FlexFuel 250 Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway, the hood from the winning truck is inducted into DAYTONA USA for the year. Mark Martin’s winning #6 Scotts Ford hood, with signatures from the entire team, will remain inside “The Official Attraction of NASCAR” through Speedweeks 2007. Martin, who is competing in select Truck Series races in 2006, will make the move to fulltime in 2007.(DIS PR)(3-22-2006)
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