[BringBackWilkesboro]

I'm really confused on this one. As Jim Utter's articles says, the Sunoco deal signed in '03 stated that no new fuel suppliers would be allowed to sponsor a NASCAR team. RCR's deal with shell is for it's oil lubricants. My question is just how did Sunoco and Shell expect to pull this off? Whether Shell was promoting it's fuel or it's lubricants, the logo is the same. There is no distinction between the two, so Shell is promoting everything they produce with that one logo. Did Sunoco expect there was a separate logo for the lubricants? I really couldn't imagine they did. I'm no expert on these things, which is why I'm struggling to find a more difficult explanation as to why this problem arose, but I honestly can't. I don't recall Unocal acting like this when Sunoco was a sponsor for Billy Hagan's team.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Maybe I'm a bit dense but, to me, the big question is:

Why did NA$CAR enter into a contract with a sponsor which apparently gives the sponsor legal control over what happens in NASCAR?

That is the question of the year Bob. This sport is becoming so corporate it is laughable. While watching interviews after the Busch race, they were talking to someone that had on a gray ballcap. I can't remember who it was, but it was obvious Na$car didnt like his hat as they had the logo blurred out with that digital blur thingie they use. I don't ever recall seeing a sponsors logo on a hat being fuzzed out like that. It's just getting too crazy.

[Mike24]

Everything is about money these days it's not even funny. I guess these sponsors are just afraid of some competition with other sponsors. Can we just have a race and stop bickering about sponsorship? Get your sponsor and race. Typical corporate sponsorship.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Mike24

Everything is about money these days it's not even funny. I guess these sponsors are just afraid of some competition with other sponsors. Can we just have a race and stop bickering about sponsorship? Get your sponsor and race. Typical corporate sponsorship.

"Q" ... isn't this where you come in ??

Que the "Q" !!!!

[Buckwheat]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

But maybe Sunoco gave Brian a kiss after the signed the contract. That's the least they could do.

I'm sure there was a kiss involved.
Question is, To what area was it given? and Was there any tongue involved?


Sponsorship is getting so expensive, companies are looking to maximize their investment. Keep their products in the public eye, but keep competitors out.
Maybe they (Sunoco) didn't think there would be any other petroleum companies involved in NASCAR?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

That is the question of the year Bob. This sport is becoming so corporate it is laughable. While watching interviews after the Busch race, they were talking to someone that had on a gray ballcap. I can't remember who it was, but it was obvious Na$car didnt like his hat as they had the logo blurred out with that digital blur thingie they use. I don't ever recall seeing a sponsors logo on a hat being fuzzed out like that. It's just getting too crazy.

You know, now that you mention it, Don... I "think" (I can't be sure, but it seems to me) that either in the pre-race or post race section of the 500 there was someone of middle age in the camera's view and they fuzzed out his tee-shirt. I thought it might be something obscene but the guy wearing the shirt didn't look like anyone who wanted to make such a "statement." It slipped my mind until just now when I read your post.

Wilks was right. Union 76 (Unocal) never raised a fuss when Hagan had Terry's Sunoco #86 on the track nor when Cale (? I think) had Phillips 66 as a sponsor. But then I'm sure the sponsoring contract wasn't large enough to be bound and hard covered, either, as I'm sure the new one with Sun Oil is.

Look on the bright side. NASCAR could have gotten Citgo as an Offical gasoline of NASCAR. Wouldn't THAT have been a hoot?

This type of stuff may mean a lot to a PR weasel or a lawyer, but to the average fan...? Shut up and race!

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I have a stellar idea... let's get the Sunoco brass all together in one room... tell them to grow up and get a life.... b%#ch smack them and tell them they have to sit in the corner.

Then have a lovely rendering of the butt of a Sunoco "brass" of our choosing painted on Harvick's helmet so any NASCAR official who feels the need can pucker up at any time. Yup, I think I kinda like these "in your face" kind of solutions. I'd like to volunteer to be the
b%#ch smacker. It would make me feel a lot better.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

Then have a lovely rendering of the butt of a Sunoco "brass" of our choosing painted on Harvick's helmet so any NASCAR official who feels the need can pucker up at any time. Yup, I think I kinda like these "in your face" kind of solutions. I'd like to volunteer to be the
b%#ch smacker. It would make me feel a lot better.

You know, Space, your referencing "butts" and puffed-up corporate "shirts" in the same statement brings to mind a proverb I heard a long time ago and is proving more and more true as this "New NASCAR" (and, in many ways, today's society as a whole) evoles before us:

"There are always many more horses asses than there are horses."

[RUSTYFAN2]

I do not see how Nascar`s deal with Sunoco & Nextel is legal? That gives them a monopoly. How American is that? Sound like bulls___! I can`t believe that lawyers can`t do something about it!

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by RUSTYFAN2

I do not see how Nascar`s deal with Sunoco & Nextel is legal? That gives them a monopoly. How American is that? Sound like bulls___! I can`t believe that lawyers can`t do something about it!

Rights of exclusivity are completely legal. This isn't covered by monopoly laws.

Most sports have a ton of "official widget of the NFL/MLB/whatever" sponsors; NASCAR's just hopping on the big-money bandwagon.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

"Q" ... isn't this where you come in ??

Que the "Q" !!!!

"To Hell with Corporate Sponsorship"

[Buckwheat]

Originally Posted by Quality88

"To Hell with Corporate Sponsorship"

Without Corporate Sponsorship you could kiss NASCAR and many other things goodbye.

[trollmc08]

Originally Posted by Buckwheat

Without Corporate Sponsorship you could kiss NASCAR and many other things goodbye.

Not necessarily, old NASCAR and old school racing didn't and don't have corporate sponsorship

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by trollmc08

Not necessarily, old NASCAR and old school racing didn't and don't have corporate sponsorship

corporate sponsorship in one form or another is needed to have that level of racing

a quality team costs about $20 million to run

in the early 90's i knew Ricky Craven, i worked for the guy that built his cars for ACT (American Canadian Tour).....those cars cost about $60,000 each and that was a step below Busch North

many people have the money to race at a local track.....but no where near the money to run at Daytona

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by Buckwheat

Without Corporate Sponsorship you could kiss NASCAR and many other things goodbye.

I agree. As simple simon said, corporate sponsorship is needed in NASCAR for the level of racing. Without corporate sponsorship, NASCAR would not be here.