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July 7, 2007

AT&T Company Name on Car #31 A Headache for NASCAR

race carA fascinating article on Insider Racing News outlines the case between NASCAR and AT&T that seems to be full of twists and turns.

I believe this type of argument seems to be making NASCAR very confusing, not least because Bud is bowing out off the Busch Series, leaving the door open for Wal-Mart or Coke to step as the top name sponsor.

One interesting point, I feel, is that NASCAR’s 2003 naming of its premier cup the “Nextel Cup” instead of the “Winston Cup” allowed it to finally market to the under-eighteen demographic.

Now a name change will take place once again when the Nextel Cup becomes the and NASCAR execs try to maintain Sprint’s excusive ad rights by preventing AT&T from advertising on car #31, which used to display Cingular’s "bouncy guy" before the company changed its name to AT&T.

It looks as if NASCAR will have to cave in on this matter, allowing AT&T to advertise on Car #31, making Sprint’s hefty payment of $750 million to be the exclusive wireless brand name of choice somewhat questionable.

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Posted by William Lozito at July 7, 2007 10:57 AM
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