Marketplace Roundup
 |
RFR In Talks With Crown Royal About Sponsorship
Following McMurray's Departure From Team In '09 |
In Charlotte, Jim Utter writes NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray’s departure next season from Roush Fenway Racing's (RFR) Sprint Cup Series team “could accomplish two important goals” for the organization. Sources said that RFR “has been in discussions" with Crown Royal, the primary sponsor on McMurray's No. 26 Ford, to “pair that sponsorship with driver Greg Biffle next season although a final decision has not been made.” It “remains unclear whether the sponsor would move to Biffle’s No. 16 Ford, or Biffle would move to McMurray’s No. 26.” McMurray’s departure also “could open the door for [RFR] to move from five to four cup teams by 2009, one year sooner [than] required by NASCAR’s four-car ownership policy” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/2).
PATRICK'S BRAND: In Milwaukee, Dave Kallmann wrote IRL driver Danica Patrick’s brand is “huge, arguably more so than the series itself.” She generates around $5M annually in "personal services deals, has appeared in the last month on the NBC Nightly News and the major morning shows and her memorabilia sales top all her rivals combined.” However, Patrick said, “No matter what happened outside of the car, I always make sure it doesn’t interfere with what I need to be inside the car and to prepare” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/31).
NOTES: Mets P Johan Santana will be a spokesperson for the "Play Sun Smart" program, a public service partnership to raise awareness of skin cancer prevention and detection. Santana taped a PSA that will be played at Shea Stadium beginning June 21 for the remainder of the year (N.Y. POST, 6/2)....Blue Jackets LW Rick Nash, who will be featured on 2K Sports’ "NHL2K8" cover, was in S.F. Thursday and Friday to “help put the game together.” Nash did “several voice-overs and modeling” for the cover shot and other promotional displays. The game hits stores September 9 (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/2).
|
