Indy car driver Dennis Vitolo will be sponsored by
SmithKline Beecham, makers of smoking cessation products
NicoDerm CQ patch and Nicorette gum, at the Marlboro 500
Sunday at the California Speedway. Through their "Race to
Stop Smoking" program, Nicoderm CQ/Nicorette will donate
$500 to the American Cancer Society for each team member who
quits smoking (SmithKline Beecham). USA TODAY's Bruce
Horovitz writes the deal "is an odd twist to the world of
auto racing sponsorships" and that marketing experts say it
could "prove especially embarrassing to Philip Morris."
Harvard marketing professor Stephen Greyser: "This is a
disaster for Philip Morris. And if the (Nicorette) driver
wins, it will be even more embarrassing for them."
SmithKline Promotion Manager Clark Brown: "No question,
there's some irony here. The tobacco companies are a part
of every single auto-racing event" (USA TODAY, 9/24).
NASCAR APPAREL: Nutmeg Mills has partnered with nearly
1,000 department and sports specialty stores in 39 states
for its Chase Authentics NASCAR apparel brand. Elements of
the promo include a gift-with-purchase poster of either Jeff
Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett or Terry
Labonte and an in-store sweeps for a trip for two to a '98
NASCAR Winston Cup race (Nutmeg Mills).