The sponsorship efforts of some "motorsports-related
companies" are examined by Bill Koenig of SPEEDNET, who
wonders if CART series title sponsor FedEx is "ever going to
broadcast a CART-themed" ad. FedEx execs said that they
"wanted to take a slow-but-steady approach implementing" the
property as part of its marketing efforts, but Koenig writes
that if "Columbus had taken this strategy, he'd only be
halfway across the Atlantic Ocean by now." Koenig also
writes that NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jeff Gordon's "early
race exits and lack of dominance thus far in the season
[have] dulled" the effort of his sponsor DuPont Automotive
Finishes. Also, Home Depot has "to be happy" with its
decision to sponsor rookie Winston Cup driver Tony Stewart,
and "it's not a big surprise" that the company will sponsor
the driver's IRL car in the Indy 500 (SPEEDNET, 4/16).
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF A NEW IRL SPONSOR? In Las Vegas,
Jeff Wolf writes that Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) "might
soon be shopping for event sponsors" for its Winston Cup Las
Vegas 400 and its IRL Las Vegas 500, as its title deal with
the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA)
expires June 30. LVMS GM Chris Powell said the speedway is
"awaiting word from the LVCVA as to whether they want to
continue" their sponsorship. Industry "insiders doubt" the
track will "have difficulty finding" a new sponsor for the
NASCAR event, but finding a sponsor for the IRL race "might
be more difficult" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/16).
NASCAR NOTES: AL-based grocery chain Bruno's Food World
division was named the official grocery store of the
Talladega Superspeedway (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 4/15)....Building
materials manufacturer U.S. Gypsum was named a marketing
partner of the '99 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NASCAR).
