Wheels & Deals: Camping World To Remain Truck Series Sponsor

Camping World Will Remain Title Sponsor Of NASCAR's Truck Series Despite Rumors

SPEEDTV.com's Tom Jensen cited sources as saying that Camping World "intends to remain as the title sponsor" of NASCAR's Truck Series in spite of a recent report that NASCAR was "shopping for a replacement Truck Series sponsor." A Camping World spokesperson did say that the company is "helping locate a replacement sponsor" for the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series. Camping World had previously announced that '09 would be its last year sponsoring those series (SPEEDTV.com, 4/7). FOXSPORTS.com's Lee Spencer reported NASCAR is "putting out feelers for a sponsor to replace Camping World for the Truck Series" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/4).

COMPETITIVE BALANCE: ESPN.com's Terry Blount noted Tommy Baldwin's No. 36 Toyota and Jeremy Mayfield's No. 41 Camry "each have qualified for only three of seven" NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season, and with both cars outside the top 35 in owners points, they will "have to qualify on time at each event." Meanwhile, TRG Motorsports Principal & CEO Kevin Buckler has done "remarkably well," as driver David Gilliand has qualified the No. 71 Chevy in the past six races after the car failed to make the Daytona 500. But the team "doesn't have a sponsor and needs to find one soon," or the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix Int'l Speedway on April 18 "could be its last" race. Blount noted it is a "daunting task just to stay afloat while trying to convince sponsors you can make it work," and NASCAR "should explore ways to change the system and give independent new teams a fighting chance at competing" (ESPN.com, 4/7).

RPM Trying To Get Further Sponsorship For Allmendinger To Extend Season

THE SEARCH IS ON: ESPN’s David Newton reported Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) is trying to finish a deal giving driver A.J. Allmendinger and the No. 44 Sprint Cup Dodge “some further sponsorship that will extend his season.” Allmendinger has sponsors for the Coca-Cola 600 in May and the Coke Zero 400 in July, but "after that, he doesn't have anything." Newton: "If they can get this deal, this will enable him to run some more races and maybe buy some more time and get sponsorship to run a full season" (“NASCAR Now,” ESPN2, 4/7).

NOTES: Cash4Gold has signed a multi-car sponsorship with JD Motorsports for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Cash4Gold will be the co-primary sponsor of two JD Motorsports entries, including the No. 0 car driven by J.C. Stout and the No. 01 car driven by Danny O'Quinn Jr. (Cash4Gold)....Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the "directional voice on a new navigational device from Transplant GPS called the Spotter." Earnhardt says phrases including, "Hey, back'er down. You gotta turn around," and "Hang a right" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/8).