NASCAR: Roush Racing President Geoff Smith wonders why
computer and software companies aren't more active as NASCAR
sponsors: "To me, it's really a travesty that Winston Cup
racing hasn't been able to attract a really big computer
company. ... Everybody has pitched different people, and the
feedback we keep getting is that you can't use computers in
NASCAR, so why bother? NASCAR, that's a blue-collar sport.
... [But] the computer buyers are all in these stands --
business owners who need computers" (USA TODAY, 7/21)....The
Boyd Gaming Corp. has inked a deal for its Sam's Town Hotel
& Gambling Hall in Tunica, MS, to title sponsor the October
31 BGN race at Memphis Motorsports Park. The race will be
called the Sam's Town 250 (COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/20).
NOTES: In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission, Nike is recalling about 250,000 Nike
sport waterbottles because the drinking valve on the cap can
detach, posing a choking hazard. The company has received
one report of a valve detaching during use (Nike)....VF
Corp.'s Wrangler Hero "expects to be 25% more efficient in
reaching the core male" demo for its Mass Market jeans by
advertising on sports programming. Wrangler will "focus its
national TV buy heavily on football and a slate of other
sports" and will also serve as presenting sponsor of ESPN's
"Monday Night Countdown" (BRANDWEEK, 7/19 issue).
