KY-based Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. (B&W) signed
a new three-year, $50M deal to sponsor Team Kool Green, the
two-car Barry Green-owned CART team, according to Bill
Koenig of SPEEDNET. B&W Dir of Sponsorship & Promotions
Bert Kremer said a reason for the re-up is because racing
"has improved the image" of the Kool brand. Green said the
deal "will spare the team's owners the effort" of finding
several co-sponsors and that the team "likely will only
need" one co-sponsor. Koenig writes that the Team Kool
Green "could contend" for the CART championship next year
(SPEEDNET, 12/10). The deal "extends a partnership that
began three-years ago" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/10).
MATTEI FOR YOU? In Richmond, Rea McLeroy reported that
Mattei Motorsports Owner Jim Mattei signed Phillips Consumer
Communications to "another year of sponsorship," but the
NASCAR team "is searching for additional" deals. Phillips
will finance "only" the car's "upper quarterpanel and TV
panels," giving them less signage than last season. The
team also announced that it is switching from the Ford
Taurus to the Chevrolet Monte Carlo (TIMES-DISPATCH, 12/9).