[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Mike24

Now, you are starting to think way out of proportions!

Not to worry, Mike. You young fellers got 18 years to fix NA$CAR before my prediction comes true. And I have faith in you 'cause you're passionate about your racing.

[Team Yates]

Here's an interesting read:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...03-22-14-10-57

[LSC9901]

I'm sure I'm like most and have litle concept of how the law actually works. That said I find it interesting that all the owners combined don't have more say in matters like this than they currently do. If I sign a multi million dollar deal with a sponsor I guess I just don't understand why NASCAR itself gets roped into excluding sponsors because of who they sign with. I understand the idea of not having a competing sponsors but isn't that a type of monoplay ??? I'm sure the courts will get it all figured out but fights like this will only hurt the sport in the long run. No one stops Jeff Gordon from hoisting a Pepsi when Coke is a race sponsor. What about when Tony wins in Charlotte ???

Reality Racing or Sim racing .... oh yeah ... it's coming !!!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I'm sure I'm like most and have litle concept of how the law actually works. That said I find it interesting that all the owners combined don't have more say in matters like this than they currently do. If I sign a multi million dollar deal with a sponsor I guess I just don't understand why NASCAR itself gets roped into excluding sponsors because of who they sign with. I understand the idea of not having a competing sponsors but isn't that a type of monoplay ??? I'm sure the courts will get it all figured out but fights like this will only hurt the sport in the long run. No one stops Jeff Gordon from hoisting a Pepsi when Coke is a race sponsor. What about when Tony wins in Charlotte ???

I think the law is actually on NA$CAR's side (as much as it pains me to say so ) No matter how "open" one may think NA$CAR is, fact is you have to "join" and follow the "rules" in order to participate.

NA$CAR will take anyone's money, so the "join" part is easy...

But only NA$CAR makes or modifies the "rules" without anyone else's approval or oversight. The decal/paint scheme approval rule is where they have taken control of which sponsors are "approved" and which ones aren't (unfortunately, a sponsor isn't likely to shell out $$$ if they don't get recognition for doing it.)

As long as they treat everyone equally (bad) they aren't doing anything illegal (sux doesn't it?). Unfortunately the only power the owners have is to take their ball and go play elsewhere .. but there isn't anyplace else where a Cup car is "legal" to race = that's called "gotcha by the gonads"!

The only way they could be "brought up on charges" is if it can be proven they were somehow "manipulating" the results (mysterious late race debris cautions or "it's just racing" when the leader -who's not one of the NA$CAR chosen- gets spun on a restart are a couple that come to mind)

[Team Yates]

NASCAR wins in appeals court vs. AT&T: NASCAR won a major court decision Monday as the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a temporary injunction issued by a district court judge that had allowed AT&T logos to be placed on the #31 Richard Childress Racing car under NASCAR's grandfather clause for telecommunication sponsors. "Because Cingular [now AT&T Mobility] was neither a party to nor an intended beneficiary of the [grandfather clause], it has not itself suffered a legally cognizable injury as a result of NASCAR's interpretation," the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to overturn the May 18 decision of U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob. The decision by the Atlanta-based court could result in removal of the AT&T logos from the #31 Chevy driven by Jeff Burton as soon as the Aug. 17-19 race weekend at Michigan International Speedway. AT&T still has the option of asking the court to reconsider. "Obviously we're pleased," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "This is good news for every driver and team in the sport, which benefits from our exclusive relationships. As we've always said, there are three key sponsors that benefit everyone in the industry - the tire manufacturer, the fuel supplier and the [series] title sponsors. This decision confirms those relationships." NASCAR, citing its exclusivity agreement with Sprint Nextel for the sponsorship of its premier series, had barred AT&T from using its logos to replace Cingular on the RCR car. AT&T and Cingular merged in December 2006. AT&T went to court, arguing that NASCAR's grandfather clause (which went into effect in 2004 when Nextel signed a 10-year deal to replace Winston as the Cup Series sponsor) in its annual contract with RCR did not preclude the change in logos. The appeals court ruled that NASCAR did not intend for AT&T Mobility to benefit, and therefore couldn't be a third-party beneficiary to the NASCAR-RCR agreement, which included the grandfather clause in an addendum. Because RCR was not required to renew its relationships with Cingular, AT&T did not have a legal right for its logos to be put on the car, the court ruled. "The Addendum to the RCR Agreement was intended to protect RCR from the potential harm caused by a sudden loss of sponsorship due to Sprint Nextel's exclusivity," the three-judge panel wrote. "Any benefit to Cingular (now AT&T Mobility) resulting from NASCAR's commitment to grant RCR the option to continue and renew its sponsorship agreement was merely incidental to NASCAR's intended purpose of preserving RCR's choice of sponsorship." The decision likely ends the injunction phase of the case. The case, which includes a $100 million countersuit by NASCAR against AT&T, still is scheduled to go to trial.(SceneDaily.com)(8-13-2007)

[Quality88]

Bullfeathers.... Here's a question.... Nextel originally signed the deal to be title sponsor, then they merged with Sprint, did they sign a new contract or were they allowed to grandfather themselves into the original agreement like AT&T can't?

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Bullfeathers.... Here's a question.... Nextel originally signed the deal to be title sponsor, then they merged with Sprint, did they sign a new contract or were they allowed to grandfather themselves into the original agreement like AT&T can't?

If I remember correctly, I think I read that they said they could have a "one time" change!!! Go figure!!

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Bullfeathers.... Here's a question.... Nextel originally signed the deal to be title sponsor, then they merged with Sprint, did they sign a new contract or were they allowed to grandfather themselves into the original agreement like AT&T can't?

I was gonna ask that same question. This is so stupid of Nextel. If people are gonna buy their phone, AT&T being on a race car won't change their mind. I had considered a Nextel phone til all this came up. So I got an AT&T. Can't stand folks(sponsors) that are in a competitive sport being scared of competition.