Wheels & Deals: AutoZone To Title NASCAR Elite Division

AutoZone has signed on as title sponsor of the NASCAR Elite Division, which will be renamed the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, consisting of four regional racing series in the Midwest, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. The series, which features Late Model cars, serves as a feeder to the NASCAR Grand National Division and NASCAR's three national series (Autozone).

RACING FORWARD: Winston Cup champion Matt Kenseth and NASCAR Chair Brian France appeared on CNBC's "Capital Report" last night to discuss the future of NASCAR. ("Capital Report," CNBC, 12/3). On FSN's "BDSSP," Kenseth said of NASCAR's new title sponsor Nextel, "I don't think a lot of things are going to change besides the name change. The only thing that will be good for the sport is that Nextel is going to be able to advertise more and market more in areas because there's no age restriction (like on tobacco companies)" ("BDSSP," FSN, 12/3).

KODAK MOMENT: Morgan-McClure Motorsports GM Larry McClure said, "We should have our major sponsor signed by Dec. 8. ... And Kodak will still be an associate sponsor on our car for the next three years." MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE's Allen Gregory noted Kodak, which had served as primary sponsor on the M-M No. 4 car for 18 years, has "heard proposals from six teams," including Roush Racing, Bill Davis Racing and DEI. But Penske Racing South "has suddenly

Andretti Will Remain Behind The Wheel Of The No. 1 Car

SPONSOR SEARCH: USA TODAY's Graves & Jenkins report John Andretti will drive DEI's No. 1 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500, but "sponsorship problems might prevent the team from racing a third full-time car" in '04. DEI has not found a primary sponsor for the No. 1 car, which will run in five-to-eight events next season with drivers Andretti and Martin Truex Jr. (USA TODAY, 12/4).