[jks812]

I know Nascar has a deal with Nextel that no other wireless service provider can come in as a sponsor. Motorola is not a service provider, they just make the phones. So why did Nascar make Robby Gordon take off the decals before they would let him qualify? They said his Busch car is being sponsored by Verizon/Motorola and that Motorola linked themselves to a service provider in it. But his cup car was Motorola only. I just don't get that.

[simple simon]

wasnt he driving a blank car at Vegas ?

the plain black #7

[jks812]

Yep cause he had no sponsor. Motorola has been an associate sponsor this year and was gonna be the main sponsor this weekend, but Mike Helton said no. Mike Helton said all paint schemes and sponsors have to be turned in to them ahead of time so they can approve them. Then yesterday they told Robby he could not go thorugh inspection to qualify until he took the decals off. Helton said Motorola is a competitor of Nextel. But Motorola provides all the radios that the crews use. So what I don't understand is why they couldn't sponsor Robby's car.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

I know Nascar has a deal with Nextel that no other wireless service provider can come in as a sponsor. Motorola is not a service provider, they just make the phones. So why did Nascar make Robby Gordon take off the decals before they would let him qualify? They said his Busch car is being sponsored by Verizon/Motorola and that Motorola linked themselves to a service provider in it. But his cup car was Motorola only. I just don't get that.

An example of NEXTEL throwing its considerable weight around. Motorola is linked to Cingular and NEXTEL'd have Cingular off the #31 tomorrow if it could figure a way to legally do it.

Two things really make me wonder about this:
1. Why does NEXTEL allow Motorola to be an associate sponsor and not a primary one? If you look at Robby's car, the Motorola logo is quite visible on the "A" post.

2. This smacks of exclusivity and that is awfully close to monopoly. Yes, I know NEXTEL paid beau coup dollars to be the Cup sponsor but is it right for that right to be used to stifle competition? Of course, this isn't new with NEXTEL. RJR did it with gusto back in the 70's when Marlboro wanted to sponsor a couple teams and RJR about had a cow over that. Something about this whole thing stinks.

What is next? Because Budweiser has The King of the Red Army and Chief tee-shirt seller, will they tell NASCAR that they want Miller and Coors out of the picture or they'll take Junior and go make ARCA the major stock car circuit?

Impossible, you say? If NEXTEL and Sunoco can be successful in the crap they've pulled, then nothing is impossible, when it comes to NA$CAR and sponsorships.

Just me personal thoughts on the matter.

[simple simon]

Calling Motorola



NASCAR announced that Robby Gordon will be allowed to put Motorola back on the hood of his car, although not quite as predominant.


Gordon was forced on Friday to remove Motorola as the primary sponsor from his car because it conflicted with the contract NASCAR made with series sponsor Nextel -- now Sprint Nextel -- in 2004.


NASCAR officials spent the past two days working with Gordon and Sprint Nextel to reach a compromise.


"We've worked with members of Robby's team to come up with a reasonable paint scheme solution for tomorrow's race," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter told The Associated Press. "When the team unloaded here this week, the car had a paint scheme on it that had yet to be approved. Due to the limited time frame, we worked with Robby and his team to come up with a non-wireless solution.


"He will therefore run in tomorrow's race an approved paint scheme carrying a digital audio player Motorola design on the car."


Hunter said Gordon will be allowed to use those logos for the rest of the Cup season.

ESPN.com - Pole-sitter Newman to start last after blowing motor

well this is just a car load of elephant dung

[simple simon]

i can remember when it seemed like NASCAR was begging for sponsors

and now they are pissing them off and will end up making some of them leave

[Racer Duck]

You know what's really crazy about this? Most of the NEXTEL phones are made by .. guess who?

I know if I was calling the shots at the big "M", I'd tell Nextel (aka Sprint) to "stuff it"!!!

And NEXTEL's service had gone downhill bigtime since Sprint took took the reins.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i can remember when it seemed like NASCAR was begging for sponsors

and now they are pissing them off and will end up making some of them leave

It just shows the growth of NASCAR. When a sport grows, you need to expect more of this.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Mike24

It just shows the growth of NASCAR. When a sport grows, you need to expect more of this.

BINGO!!!

Be careful of what you wish for; you just may get it.