Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nextel set to replace Winston as NASCAR sponsor

Wireless company steps in as R.J. Reynolds bows out of Cup series

REVIEW-JOURNAL WIRE SERVICES

Following up reports in the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, ESPN.com reported that wireless communications company Nextel will replace Winston as the title sponsor for NASCAR's top racing series.

Though a few details may remain unresolved, sources told ESPN on Monday the deal is imminent and a news conference has been scheduled for 7 a.m. PDT Thursday in New York's Times Square, where NASCAR will announce the new sponsor.

At Sunday's Winston Cup race in Brooklyn, Mich., the imminence of the agreement barely was questioned, but the nature of the sponsor was, considering the volatility of the telecommunications industry in recent years. NASCAR sources told the Orlando Sentinel that research showed Nextel to be among the healthiest of the telecoms by the measure of cash reserves.

Teams with telecom sponsors, such as Ryan Newman's Alltel and Robby Gordon's Cingular Wireless, reportedly have been asked what effect having another such company as the overall series sponsor would have on their efforts.

The package with Nextel is believed to be for 10 years, for at least $30 million annually, and would take effect in 2004. It's not known if the new series name would be the Nextel Cup.

R.J. Reynolds, the parent company of the Winston cigarette brand, is believed to have spent no more than $25 million in any of its 30 years as series sponsor.

RJR notified NASCAR at the beginning of this season that Winston would bow out of the remaining three years of its current contract, should a suitable replacement be found.

• SKINNER FIRED -- Mike Skinner was fired from Morgan-McClure Motorsports, ending a short and unsuccessful stint with the Winston Cup team.

Last week in Michigan, Skinner failed to qualify the No. 4 Pontiac for Sunday's race.

Johnny Miller, the Trans-Am Road Racing series points leader, will drive the car this weekend in Sonoma, Calif. No permanent replacement was named, but John Andretti, fired last week from Petty Enterprises, is the logical choice to take over the ride.

Skinner has been with Morgan-McClure since the end of 2001, when he was released from Richard Childress Racing. He had one top-10 finish in 50 races with Morgan-McClure.

"We feel it is necessary to perform better for our race team and for our sponsor," McLure said. "We appreciate Mike's efforts in the car, but it is time for a change. We have to finish races, and that has not been happening."

Miller, a road course specialist, will be making his Winston Cup debut.

• ROUSH LOSES SPONSOR -- Roush Racing lost the primary sponsor on Jeff Burton's car when Citgo Petroleum Corp., said it was leaving at the end of the season.

Burton was confident car owner Jack Roush would find a replacement sponsor.

"I am committed to Jack Roush, Roush Racing and my entire team," Burton said. "Jack and I have had a very successful history together, and we look forward to sharing and extending that history with a new primary sponsor."

Citgo signed on with Burton and the No. 99 Ford late in the 2000 season after ending its longtime association with the Wood Brothers. Before joining Roush, Citgo sponsored the Wood Brothers' car for 16 years.

Burton's team becomes the fourth at Roush this season to have sponsorship problems.

Both Roush Truck teams lack sponsors, and Roush closed its No. 60 Ford team in the Busch series because of problems with sponsorship.