NASCAR NOTES: TIDE TO GO TO THE WELLS AFTER DUMPING RUDD

          Procter & Gamble's move to end its Tide brand's nine-
     year partnership with the Ricky Rudd-driven Ford is examined
     by David Poole of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, who writes that
     Tide will "apparently move to a new [Winston] Cup team"
     owned by Precision Preparation, a company being formed by
     IndyCar team owner Cal Wells.  There is "something of a
     gentlemen's agreement among car owners" not to "initiate
     contact" with the sponsor of a "struggling" team, but Wells
     "swears he didn't go out trying to steal anybody's sponsor." 
     Mike Skinner's crew chief Larry McReynolds said that he
     "thought he had Tide lined up for the team he wants to
     start" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/6).  Rudd, on Procter &
     Gamble's decision: "Had they gone with Robert Yates or Rick
     Hendrick ... I'd probably step back and say, 'You know, that
     was not a bad call.'  But I don't understand going with a
     team that doesn't have a shot" ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 7/4).
          SPONSORSHIP SHUFFLE: Oakwood Homes has signed a two-
     year deal with an option for a third to become the primary
     sponsor of the Winston Cup's Ken Schrader-driven No. 33
     Chevy owned by Andy Petree (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/4)....In
     Winston-Salem, Mike Mulhern reported that Radio Shack "may
     be the next" Winston Cup sponsor, and Rick Hendrick "may be
     the guy signing the deal" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL,
     7/3)....Outback Steakhouse has reached a deal to become the
     "Bloomin' Favorite" of NASCAR.  As part of the agreement,
     which is effective immediately and runs through the 2001
     season, Outback receives exclusivity in the casual dining
     category and the rights to use NASCAR marks in its marketing
     (Outback)....SPEEDNET reported that Valvoline will
     "discontinue its sponsorship" of CART's Walker Racing at the
     end of this season (SPEEDNET, 7/3).