Just read this on Jayski:

I wonder what will happen to AT&T after they leave. I've heard rumors that they may go to the Nationwide Series next year.

Comments?

James

Glad to see another Burton sponsored by Caterpillar. I think we will see a Caterpillar sponsored car in victory lane this year and next year. Maybe AT&T will be the title sponsor of the Truck Series next year??

hmm that could be interesting. To tell ya the truth I am getting Really tired of Sprint. It seems like they can't deal with competition. But you know what I really enjoy it when a phone company wins a big race. Like the daytona 500

Good for the 31 team. Though, I hope the 22 will be able to get funding for next season.

Keep in mind that Sprint/Nextel paid big bucks for exclusivity in their sponsorship of the Cup Series. Meaning they paid to not have a competitor's name on one of the cars in the series they sponsor. Sunoco and Goodyear also enjoy the same exclusivity. Written into the contract Nextel signed was a 1-time option to change Nextel's branding of the series in case Nextel was bought, which it was a couple years later. That one-and-done change has created the new for '08 series name: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

at&t did not have a similar clause in their sponsorship contract, and they were rightly denied the ability to change their branding from Cingular, until they whined & complained loud enough for NASCAR to legally compromise on the 'sunset sponsorship' that ends after this year. This exclusivity also rightly denies Verizon to sponsor the #12 car now that they've bought Alltell.

However, this exclusivity does NOT carry over to the Nationwide or Truck Series. In the Nationwide Series, Nationwide enjoys an exclusivity from other insurance companies who'd want to come into the sport (Chrissy Wallace was denied the ability to drive a 2nd GEICO sponsored car). Whoever starts sponsoring the Truck Series next year will also very likely enjoy exclusivity from their competitors.

Keep in mind this exclusivity only prevents NEW sponsors from entering the series. Any pre-existing competitor is always grandfathered in, but is not allowed to change anything about its existing sponsorship. This is a very fair and attractive aspect to series sponsorship contracts. Companies heavily value being the only name in the respective market reaching the TV audience, and NASCAR needs those sponsor dollars to have attractive events that bring the best competitors, teams, and fans in the world each week.

Congrats to the #31 team for landing a great sponsor, and good luck to BDR on finding a good replacement!

--DF28

Be even funnier if Exide sponsored Burton next year. Wouldn't mind seeing Exide on the 22 either.

I think the 22 will go w/ Red Bull in 09

Why? They already own 2 race teams in the sport. The only reason they're sponsoring the 22 truck is because their driver, Scott Speed, is behind the wheel. They did the same thing when Speed drove the #46 earlier.

No, I think Blaney will go to the 23 or 27. I think that RBM will buy the 22 team. Scott Speed will go to the 22. But, congrats Jeff on landing a non-controversial sponsor lol.

i agree with burton... i see blaney driving for redbull in 09. he is already getting used to the toyotas and i do believe that the redbull team could use a third driver. skinner and allmendinger arent all that consistant in the 84 ride, so my reason behind my statement would be to bring some more consistancy and maybe another couple top 5's/10's to the red bull team of 09. vickers finally has the toyota down pat.

Blueclipse28