76 gas out as NASCAR sponsor
By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Has the big orange ball been bounced as a NASCAR sponsor?
ConocoPhillips announced Tuesday that its 76 brand of gasoline will no
longer be the official fuel of NASCAR following the 2003 season, ending
one of stock-car racing's longest-running sponsorships.
The brand's logo, a bright orange ball with the number 76 in blue in the
middle, has become a fixture at NASCAR tracks in a relationship that has
endured for more than 50 years but will end before Dec. 31.
The company will supply 76 brand gasoline for all Winston Cup, Busch and
Truck series events this year before returning the rights to NASCAR.
What remains to be determined is how such a change came about –whether
ConocoPhillips simply wanted out of the deal or whether the departure
was spurred by a potential NASCAR deal with another supplier.
A statement announcing the company's decision cited "changing business
strategies" that left ConocoPhillips "unable to take full advantage of
NASCAR's national and international marketing platform."
Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, said in
a statement of his own that the sanctioning body will "look forward to
welcoming a new official fuel supplier to NASCAR in 2004. We are in the
process of identifying a new official fuel supplier and will make an
announcement regarding that supplier at the appropriate time."
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By DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Has the big orange ball been bounced as a NASCAR sponsor?
ConocoPhillips announced Tuesday that its 76 brand of gasoline will no
longer be the official fuel of NASCAR following the 2003 season, ending
one of stock-car racing's longest-running sponsorships.
The brand's logo, a bright orange ball with the number 76 in blue in the
middle, has become a fixture at NASCAR tracks in a relationship that has
endured for more than 50 years but will end before Dec. 31.
The company will supply 76 brand gasoline for all Winston Cup, Busch and
Truck series events this year before returning the rights to NASCAR.
What remains to be determined is how such a change came about –whether
ConocoPhillips simply wanted out of the deal or whether the departure
was spurred by a potential NASCAR deal with another supplier.
A statement announcing the company's decision cited "changing business
strategies" that left ConocoPhillips "unable to take full advantage of
NASCAR's national and international marketing platform."
Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications, said in
a statement of his own that the sanctioning body will "look forward to
welcoming a new official fuel supplier to NASCAR in 2004. We are in the
process of identifying a new official fuel supplier and will make an
announcement regarding that supplier at the appropriate time."
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