Marketplace Roundup

SCENEDAILY.com's Bob Pockrass reported Canadian businessman Steve Meehan "has purchased the assets from Baker Curb Racing and formed Go Canada Racing, which he hopes will become a vehicle for Canadian racers to break into the upper echelons of NASCAR." J.R. Fitzpatrick, "second in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series last year, will drive in about 10 Nationwide Series races this year and possibly two or three Sprint Cup events." The team, whose shop will remain in Nashville, "likely will focus on the Northern races so that it can take advantage of potential Canadian sponsors." Fitzpatrick already has deals with Schick and Energizer (SCENEDAILY.com, 4/20).

BEST FOOT FORWARD: In Boston, Michael Whitmer reports FootJoy, the "market leader in golf shoes, socks, and gloves for years," will enter the "golf apparel business, with a full line of men’s pants, shirts, sweaters, and other assorted items destined for a January 2012 public launch." Golfer Steve Stricker, who uses FootJoy products, "has been wearing some of the prototype clothing, which will feature the 'FJ’ logo." The initial focus "will only be on men’s clothing, with shirts expected to sell for between $55 and $75" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/21).

SYMBOLIC MESSAGE? In Phoenix, Bob Young reported Chicago Police Department Sgt. Kenneth Epich, an Arizona State Univ. alum, is "no fan of ASU's new Nike-designed 'pitchfork' logo." Epich, assigned to Chicago's Area One Gang Enforcement unit, is "convinced that it is a matter of time before what he described as a 'large, violent, mostly Hispanic Chicago street gang' called Satan's Disciples adopts ASU's new athletic gear because of the new trident logo." The gang "uses a trident similar to ASU's as one of its symbols." But ASU Associate AD for Revenue Generation Steve Hank, who spoke to Epich "about his concerns, said the Nike trident for ASU and the street art produced by Satan's Disciples members 'are not even close'" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/20).

SMOOTH-IE OPERATOR: Jamba Juice and Venus Williams announced yesterday the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to form a joint venture to develop up to five Jamba Juice stores in the DC/Maryland area over the next two years. The deal would provide Williams with certain exclusive rights to franchise the Jamba Juice brand in the DC/Maryland market. Terms of the agreement are expected to be finalized within the next 60 days, with the first store scheduled to open this summer (Jamba Juice).