R.J. Reynolds (RJR) announced yesterday that "it must
give up" its 26-year sponsorship of the Winston Racing
Series, NASCAR's long-running program of weekly stock-car
short-track races throughout the country, according to Mike
Mulhern of the Winston-Salem JOURNAL. RJR based its
decision in order to comply with new government regulations
regarding tobacco sponsorships that prohibit RJR from
sponsoring sports events involving athletes under the age of
18, which the Winston Series has. RJR currently "puts up" a
$1.4M points fund for the series and "has used high-profile
and sophisticated marketing for the series." Mulhern adds
that "finding a new sponsor willing to put up a good point
fund might be relatively easy for NASCAR officials, but
finding an equally savvy marketing operation might be much
more difficult" (Winston-Salem JOURNAL, 10/13). In addition
to its points fund investment, Nashville Speedway GM Joe
Earnest said that RJR "pumps around" $50,000 a year into the
track in direct advertising spending (TENNESSEAN, 10/13).
WAITING IN THE WINGS? In N.Y., Richard Huff reports
that the series, which is run at "nearly" 100 tracks in 10
regions of the country, "is expected to soon announce" a
deal with NASCAR sponsor Exide Batteries for a major
sponsorship role. It is "also expected" that NASCAR will
rename the program the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 10/13). In Richmond, Rea McLeroy puts the
number of companies interested in sponsoring the series at
five. Southside (Richmond) Speedway Promoter Wayne Wyatt:
"Can another company come in and money-wise match Winston,
yeah I'm sure. But can they match what one on one Winston
does? I don't know" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 10/13).
ESPN's John Kernan reported that RJR's decision "does not
affect Winston's sponsorship of the Winston Cup and Winston
West Series" ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 10/12).
