Questions? Ask.com Inks Deal As NASCAR's Official Search Engine

ASK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE: ESPN.com's David Newton noted the Ask.com deals "bring new money into NASCAR at a time most of the industry is scouring the crumbling economic market for funding." Ask.com also is "exploring marketing, at-track displays and media opportunities with various track operators." HOF Racing co-Owner Tom Garfinkel said that Ask.com's management team has "proposed various new marketing ideas that will be new to NASCAR" (ESPN.com, 1/13). Ask.com CEO Jim Safka: "My feeling was, there's no better time to come in than now because there's less clutter. In our research, NASCAR fans really understand and support the sponsors. As others are pulling out, my hope is it gives Ask.com a better chance to earn their respect and their business" (AP, 1/13).

CARPOOL LANE: HOF Racing and Yates Racing yesterday formally aligned their two teams. Under the deal, Yates will operate HOF's No. 96 Sprint Cup Series entry for the full '09 season. Doug Yates and Max Jones will continue as co-Owners of Yates Racing, while Garfinkel and Jeff Moorad will continue as co-owners of HOF Racing (Yates Racing). FOXSPORTS.com's Lee Spencer reported DLP Technology, which has sponsored HOF Racing since debuting in '06, "will remain with the team and serve as primary sponsor" for the races not covered by Ask.com. HOF Racing will also switch to a Ford engine and "operate out of Yates' recently expanded facility" (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/13). In Charlotte, Poole & Utter report the No. 96 car is "likely to take the owner points from Yates' No. 38 team, with which David Gilliland drove in 2008 for much of the season" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/14).

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