Split sponsorship package.in works for Earnhardt?
By Marty Smith
ESPN.com
Updated: July 30, 2007, 1:25 PM ET
No final decision has been made regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s future team sponsor at Hendrick Motorsports, but one is expected within the month and possibly within the next two weeks, multiple sources close to the negotiations said Monday.
It is widely speculated that PepsiCo. is the leading candidate to sponsor Earnhardt through its Mountain Dew brand, but sources with knowledge of negotiations say National Guard is also a top candidate as part of a split sponsorship package.
National Guard currently sponsors Hendrick’s No. 25 car, driven by Casey Mears.
Sources say the combined deal will be the richest team sponsorship in NASCAR history, somewhere between $25 million and $30 million annually.
Earnhardt said last week that Navy will continue its sponsorship of JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Busch Series entry in 2008, but sources said that would not conflict with a potential National Guard association in the Sprint Cup Series.
As for the other key piece of the Junior puzzle — his car number — DEI and Hendrick are actively negotiating. Hendrick has submitted a proposal to DEI. This is an intricate proposal that carries obvious emotions.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=2&id=2954576&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
JR Motorsports & Hendrick Motorsports to Combine Operations
“MOORESVILLE, N.C. / CONCORD, N.C. (July 30, 2007) - JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports will combine the two companies’ NASCAR Busch Series operations at the conclusion of the 2007 racing season with plans to field a joint effort beginning in 2008....”
and “Ultimately, Dale Jr. and I both want to win races and give our people the best possible chance at achieving success,” said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Instead of operating independently of each other, we have an opportunity to work together to field an even stronger Busch Series effort.”
Wow, so proud of Dale Jr.
Link: http://www.race2win.net/gn/07/07/jrmhm.html