The proposed tobacco settlement, which would ban
tobacco advertising of sports and other events, has been
examined by many in the media over the past week.
KEEP ON RACING: In Charlotte, David Poole wrote the
regulations are "by no means a death knell" for NASCAR, as
its "long-range future would be much brighter with another
major sponsor, one that doesn't carry the kind of corporate
baggage that has been hooked to the tobacco industry."
Poole adds: "If NASCAR finds the right product to match with
the sport, national promotion opportunities could flourish"
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/24). In Dallas, Holly Cain: "Would
R.J. Reynolds stay with the sport by simply using the name
of one of its other companies, such as Nabisco? Or instead
of using the product name Winston, call NASCAR's major
league the RJR Cup" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/26). In
Philadelphia, Bill Fleischman writes that McDonald's,
Anheuser-Busch and Disney "have been mentioned as having
interest in sponsoring the Winston Cup circuit." He added
that the sport is "too popular and too attractive as a
marketing tool not to find some company that will sign up as
title sponsor" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/25). In Tampa,
David Whitley: "The sport is the picture of financial
health, so it looks pretty stupid with a cigarette still
stuck in its mouth. The minute NASCAR officially
extinguishes the butt, other sponsors will jump in" (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 6/25). In Jacksonville, Tony Fabrizio: "As far as
we know, Jeff Gordon has not applied for employment at any
North Carolina Wendy's or Jiffy-Lube" (TIMES-UNION, 6/24).
PIT STOPS: MI-based automotive battery maker Exide will
sponsor the fall Winston Cup race at Richmond Int'l Raceway
"for at least the next three years" (TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/25).
