NASCAR'S SO EXIDED? SHORT TRACK SERIES GETS ONE SPONSOR

          PA-based Exide announced yesterday that it will pick up
     "part of the NASCAR short-track sponsorship dropped by R.J.
     Reynolds last week because of the tobacco industry's master
     settlement agreement," according to Mike Mulhern of the
     Winston-Salem JOURNAL.  But NASCAR officials "are still
     looking for major sponsorship for the Winston Racing Series
     for next season."  NASCAR has "temporarily renamed that
     series the Weekly Racing Series" (W-S JOURNAL, 10/18).  The
     short-track series competes at nearly 100 race tracks on a
     weekly basis and reaches 39 states.  Exide will "contribute
     $1,000 for each racing series track."  The sponsor also
     "will contribute $2,500 to each regional champion and $5,000
     to the national champion" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 10/18).