[AStack75]

For the NASCAR-loving FReepers. I'd hate to see them go because of all the support RJR has give to NASCAR. Plus the free cigarettes at the races was great too!

[marron]

RJR is concerned about health hazards associated with fuel and exhaust vapors, and the injuries that are endemic to vehicular sports.

RJR aspires to be a good, socially conscious, corporate citizen.

[marron]

Just kidding...

[Alberta's Child]

An interesting bit of history here . . .

When Junior Johnson was a car owner in 1970 he found himself without a major sponsor for his team. He met with a bunch of potential corporate sponsors, but to no avail.

He finally got in touch with the RJR people (or whoever their corporate predecessor was), and since they weren't familiar with NASCAR they met with him, watched a race, did some research, etc. What Johnson didn't know was that they had a huge pile of advertising cash on their hands because cigarette ads on television had just been outlawed.

When they finally got back to him, he got a very unexpected answer.

"We'll do the whole thing," they said.

The whole thing? What did that mean?

"We don't just want to sponsor your car," they explained, "We want to sponsor all of NASCAR. Everything."

Hence, the Winston Cup was born.

[WSGilcrest]

I watched Winston Cup racing for years before I associated it with RJR. The McDonalds Cup just doesn't sound right.


Look for A.J.'s kid, Larry, this year in the no.14 Harrah's Dodge Intrepid.

[IowaHawk]

Sounds like trouble for the National Billboard Racing Association.

[The Duke]

So, in other words, the terms of the tobacco settlement reduced the value of the RJR/NASCAR relationship to RJR, so they are making a business decision to drop sponsorship.

I have never been a NASCAR fan, however I suppose I'm a kindred spirit with the fans in that I enjoy swimming pools with diving boards and deep ends - and of course the litigation ruined that for me.

So I guess we're all in the same boat. And my advice is... ...invest in Nerf! (because in a few years that's pretty much the only industry that will be left in the US).

[arly]

How about the N.O.W. Powder Cup ?

[southernnorthcarolina]

Greetings from the heart of NASCAR Country. I feel certain that fans of the, ummmm, "sport" have nothing to fear. Another sponsor will come along, because no one ever went broke underestimating the taste or intelligence of the public.

[PAR35]

It's news to me that Union 76 is still selling gas somewhere. I googled up their web site, and it looks like it's just a marketing front for ConocoPhillips these days.
http://www.76.com/cgi-bin/b2cpt01/scripts/home.jsp?Site=76
"ConocoPhillips Company
Copyright© 2002-2003"

[xp38]

For those with long memories...there was a time it was just called Grand National Stock Car Racing...the top division of NASCAR.

[Deadeye Division]

RJR official says sponsor not preparing to leave

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/thatsracin/5111119.htm