Jack Daniel's Not Extending Deal With RCR; Jim Beam Also Leaving

Jack Daniel's Began Sponsoring Richard  Childress Racing's No. 07 Cup Car In '05

Jack Daniel's parent company Brown-Forman yesterday announced that it will end the liquor brand's NASCAR program and will not extend its sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing's (RCR) No. 07 Sprint Cup Series Chevy driven by Casey Mears. The sponsorship of the No. 07 car, which began in '05, will continue through the end of the '09 season. Brown-Forman cited a change in spending priorities for its exit from NASCAR (Brown-Forman). Jack Daniel's VP & Brand Dir Tim Rutledge: "The current economic environment has compelled us to re-evaluate our spending, and we've concluded that other areas in the marketing mix require additional investment." In Nashville, G. Chambers Williams III notes "much of Jack Daniel's recent growth has been abroad, specifically in China, Australia and South Africa, which are areas that don't get any help from NASCAR-related advertising" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/22). RCR officials said that the organization's "goal is to have four cars in 2010, but that is all dependent on sponsorship." Whether Mears, currently 20th in points, "remains in that car if sponsorship is found was not made clear" (ESPN.com, 9/21). 

JIM BEAM LEAVING AS WELL: Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. today announced its Jim Beam brand will not return to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in ‘10, and as a result its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) will expire after this season. Jim Beam will continue its support of RGM’s No. 7 entry, which it has sponsored since ’05, for the remainder of ’09 (Beam Global).

BLURRED VISION: Vision Racing co-Owner Tony George said that despite struggles in finding sponsorship, he "intends to field at least a one-car team in both the IndyCar Series and the Firestone Indy Lights Series next season." However, George indicated that lack of sponsorship "has clouded the future of his team." George: "I have no formal agreements with anybody in terms of sponsorship. ... Right now I don't have anything and I can't continue if I don't have funding" (SI.com, 9/21).