Hendrick Motorsports on Thursday announced a three-year contract extension with driver Kasey Kahne through the end of the '18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The race team also announced that garage door opener brand LiftMaster will be a primary sponsor of the No. 5 Chevy driven by Kahne during the '15-17 Sprint Cup seasons. LiftMaster will be a primary sponsor for three races annually and an associate sponsor for all other events. In '15, the brand will be the primary sponsor for the May 24 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, July 11 at Kentucky Speedway and Oct. 18 at Kansas Speedway (THE DAILY).
KEVIN'S BACON: ADWEEK's Lauren Johnson reported Thunder F Kevin Durant as part of a multiyear agreement "will star in national television ads with Sonic's famous 'Two Guys' campaign, rolling out this summer." It is the first time a celebrity "has starred in a commercial with Sonic's funny duo, played by actors T.J. Jagodowski and Peter Grosz." Durant, in addition to promotions, "will also be involved with Limeades for Learning, Sonic's foundation that gives back to the education industry." The program "funds items that teachers need in local cities" (ADWEEK.com, 11/20).
NET WORK: In N.Y., Algar & Saul cite a Brooklyn Supreme Court lawsuit as claiming that the Nets "stiffed" Borough Park Physical Therapy "by not providing any of the promised perks" the company gained after it signed a deal with the club. The Nets "scored more than $250,000" for the deal by selling the company a "corporate sponsorship complete with advertising at games and player appearances." The suit also claims that the Nets "even revoked the practice’s season tickets" (N.Y. POST, 11/21).
SHOOTING STARS: The Stars on Friday launched Five Minute Major (5:MM), a new line of team merchandise designed for Stars fans by Stars fans. The brand will be carried exclusively at Hangar team store locations, including at American Airlines Center. The line will be available for the first time this Saturday during a game against the Kings. The initial launch of the line features casual tees for men, women and children in a variety of designs created in partnership with Dallas-based branding agency Tractorbeam (Stars).
