Burger King released its '97 NASCAR Burger King racing
team, including an exclusive multi-year deal with Dale
Earnhardt (Burger King). Earnhardt will endorse the Burger
King brand and its products in national ads and local
promos, and will be featured in NASCAR-related premium
items. Promos will coincide with the start of NASCAR's
season in February at Daytona (AD AGE, 1/10). This is the
third year of Burger King's NASCAR affiliation (THE DAILY).
LABONTE DEAL: OH-based Cintas will sponsor NASCAR
driver Bobby Labonte for the '97 Winston Cup campaign, and
will be the "Official Uniform Supplier of Joe Gibbs Racing."
The sponsorship will see the Cintas logo on the Labonte car.
Cintas has been a NASCAR sponsor since '92 (Cintas).
MOTORSPORTS NOTES: Toshiba Copiers & Fax renewed its
deal as title sponsor of the IMSA California Grand Prix at
Sears Point Raceway in July (IMSA)....USA TODAY's Beth
Tuschak examines global partnerships in auto racing.
Formula One team Owner Jackie Stewart has signed deals with
Texaco, Sanyo, Bridgestone/Firestone and the Hong Kong
Shanghai Bank (USA TODAY, 1/10).
