THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SLOWS DOWN ON NASCAR INVOLVEMENT

          IN-based Thomson Consumer Electronics "is cutting back
     its NASCAR involvement" and won't be the primary sponsor of
     a Winston Cup car in '98, according to Bill Koenig of the
     INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS.  Thomson and its RCA brand had been
     the lead sponsor of Cale Yarborough's Winston Cup entry
     since '95.  Koenig reported Thomson "still wants to have
     some ties" to NASCAR in '98 and may return as a main sponsor
     in '99 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 9/6).  
          AROUND THE TRACK: AOL will sponsor an Automobile Racing
     Club of America (ARCA) car next season, owned by a new team
     formed by driver Andy Belmont.  The car will debut in the
     ARCA Supercar Series event at the Daytona Int'l Raceway in
     February (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 10/3)....NASCAR unveiled
     a NASCAR edition Monopoly board game, designed by CA-based
     USAOPOLY.  Sponsors include DuPont, McDonald's, Skittles,
     Goodwrench and Tide (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5).... NY-based
     Bully Hill Winery's sponsorship of NASCAR driver Eric Bodine
     is profiled in BRANDWEEK.  Bully Hill "became the first"
     NASCAR winery, and its logo has been on Bodine's car for 21
     races in 7 states (BRANDWEEK, 10/6 issue)....Sunday's
     CHARLOTTE OBSERVER featured an extensive profile on race in
     the auto racing industry under the header, "NASCAR's Rise
     Leaves Diversity In The Dust" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5).